Rustic Pathways firmly believes in youth. Teens and young adults worldwide are making positive contributions to their communities.
These remarkable individuals serve as role models, showcasing how each person can create meaningful change. Rustic Spirit Spotlights acknowledge and celebrate these inspiring young leaders!
Greer is actively raising awareness about grief within her community. Having experienced the loss of her father at the age of twelve, she recognized the need for support and connections among youth facing similar situations. To address this, Greer created a pamphlet detailing four grief camps tailored for ages five to seventeen, providing a space for young individuals to connect with others who have also lost a parent.
Greer plans to major in nursing and aspires to become a nurse-midwife where she can create a comfortable and safe environment for mothers to welcome their babies. For fun, Greer enjoys cheerleading and reading.
When trying to make a positive impact, Greer advises to focus on something you know. Do something you know because that’s something personal to you. Also, don’t be afraid to be judged–be the person to break down that wall and don’t be afraid to talk about it.
As part of the Climate Leaders Fellowship, Khadeejah and her project partner Yusur are fostering sustainable practices at the community Mosque. Their focus is on educating the Muslim community about environmental issues and implementing recycling practices.
They have introduced new recycling procedures, recycling boxes and replaced disposable utensils with reusable ones at the Mosque. They have provided educational sessions to the community, particularly the youth, emphasizing the positive impacts of recycling.
Khadeejah’s suggestion of using a PowerPoint presentation followed by a lively game of Kahoot captivates and educates the young audience. Additionally, Yusur’s idea of planting trees and creating a garden at the Mosque provides an interactive and fun way for the youth to learn about the environment.
Having an interest in science and nature since she was little, Khadeejah plans to major in Biomedical Engineering to achieve one of her biggest goals of becoming an Orthopedic surgeon. In her free time she loves to play softball, surf, horseback ride, read and is currently writing her own sci-fi novel!
Yusur always dreamt of becoming a dentist and plans to major in biology in college. He also aspires to become a professional boxer in the future. In his free time, he loves playing sports and participating in after school activities like clubs.
Khadeejah advises to just jump in and don’t be afraid to make a splash! Doing simple things like recycling a water bottle, or using a reusable water bottle make huge impacts. As soon as you have an idea, just go ahead and try it. You’ll be amazed at the things you’ll accomplish!
Yusur advises to be mindful of others and others will mind you. Make sure to be outgoing and leave a positive impression of yourself wherever you go because you’ll be rewarded back with what you gave to others.
Nominate a Student
Do you know a student doing valuable work that deserves to be recognized? Nominate them here! Are you making an impact? Tell us about your work here.
Make Change
Interested in creating change in your community? Check out our guide and learn how to make an impact as a student.
At Rustic Pathways, our goal is to make positive contributions to the communities we visit through responsible travel operations and community service projects that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Kayla Anzalone is Director of Marketing at Rustic Pathways. A student travel and cross-cultural engagement specialist, dedicated to empowering high school students through global experiences, Kayla leads student travel initiatives, accessibility programs, and international education outreach. With a background in global communications and marketing, Kayla has developed student mobility programs, safety initiatives, and cultural immersion experiences. She spearheaded ‘Travel For All’, increasing accessibility in educational travel, and launched the Global Perspectives Scholarship, supporting international student opportunities. Her expertise extends to visa guidance, travel safety, and program logistics, ensuring students and parents have practical, research-backed resources for seamless travel. Kayla’s international travel spans the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific, shaping her commitment to responsible, sustainable travel. She is a trusted authority on student mobility, international education logistics, and youth-focused travel safety, equipping families with comprehensive, expert-driven travel guidance.