Rustic Spirit Spotlights: Jessica, Jade and Ava

Rustic Spirit Spotlights feature amazing young changemakers who are inspiring others and working hard to make a positive impact. Not only have they made a difference, but they’re showing other teens they can change the world too.

Jessica Ketola
Age 17
Clearwater Valley High School
Kooskia, Idaho

As head student coordinator for Ram Pride Day, Jessica has planned school beautification activities such as repainting school logos on buildings and bleachers or flower bed clean ups and plantings. Last year she extended the spirit day to include the elementary school and organized a litter cleanup. Jessica has had a passion for keeping her community clean of garbage along local roads since an early age.

Jessica plans on majoring in sports medicine and aspires to become a technician or physician for a high-level sports team someday. In her free time she loves to watch school sporting activities, ride dirt bikes with her little brother and nephew, clean anything that’s not her room and spend time outdoors.

Jessica says making an impact isn’t easy, but if you strive for the change you want to see, it’ll be worth it. Don’t let people stand in your way, stay determined and believe in yourself. Push to accomplish your goals and give it your all.

Jade Boudreaux
Age 17
Jefferson Virtual High School
River Ridge, Louisiana

Jade is on the Teen Wellness Advisory Council that’s working with school board officials, such as superintendents, to better tactics in handling mental health in schools.

Jade may major in chemical engineering in college. She aspires to create inventions that improve the safety of the world.  In her free time, Jade enjoys drawing.

Her advice for others who want to make a positive impact is to have the right motive. Jade says not to do it just for praise.

Ava Lamers
Age 18
Rhinelander High School
Rhinelander, Wisconsin

At her high school, Ava is a member of the executive board of student council, a National Honors Society inductee, a member of HOSA, an AP scholar, a Link Crew and Hodag Empower peer mentor, and volunteer for multiple community organizations. She enjoys giving back to the sports programs she’s been a part of by helping out with the youth programs and events.

Ava plans to major in kinesiology and wants to pursue a doctoral degree in physical therapy. In her free time she enjoys working out, being active indoors or outdoors, reading, water sports, and spending time with family and friends.

Ava’s best piece of advice to students who want to make a positive impact in their communities would be to put in the unseen hours. She says small details can result in the biggest outcomes and although everyone might not see the extra work, it makes the most difference in the long run. Not everyone will understand the process but the only thing that matters is that you do. Exceed your own expectations through hard work and lead by example even when no one is watching.

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.