Rustic Spirit Spotlights: Nicole, Sheyenne and Kaitlin

The ‘Rustic Spirit’ lives in young changemakers around the world. They prove themselves to be community-oriented and positive impact-minded through their actions.

They inspire you and motivate you to get involved in your community. Teens with Rustic Spirit assist others in need and brighten people’s days through acts of service. The following students embody this spirit and are making a positive impact wherever they go.

Nicole Martinez
Age 17
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Eastvale, California

Nicole helps students who have just arrived in the United States and makes them feel more at home. She works to give them the “American Experience” by organizing events for traditional American celebrations like halloween and school dances. Not only is she trying to help them get accustomed to U.S. life, but also create friendships and a welcoming space.

In college Nicole plans to major in computer engineering. She aspires to work at a big company like Google or Microsoft and eventually own her own company in the future. In her free time Nicole enjoys video games, crochet, and other artistic projects.

Nicole encourages others to not fret over how other people are making an impact, but instead on the outcome. Additionally, needing help to make an impact is not a bad thing and does not decrease the value of the work. Instead, it is a positive thing to bring in help make an impact.

Sheyenne Wright
Age 15
Jefferson Virtual High School
Jefferson, Louisiana

Sheyenne motivates her fellow classmates with being inclusive during discussions, having a professional attitude and enthusiasm, and taking on leadership roles with assignments. Her positive attitude in class helps her connect with students, and also helps others get along.

Sheyenne plans on majoring in psychology in college. Her career aspirations include being an open mind for people in need, ideally as a counselor for children and teenagers. Sheyenne is an actor, a huge fan of musical theater, and also loves to read in her free time.

To students who want to make a positive impact, Sheyenne advises to be relatable and be kind. Be the person someone would come to when they need help or advice. Be the person a teacher would come to if they need some extra help.

Kaitlin DeMaria
Age 13
Brooke Middle School
Weirton, West Virginia

Kaitlin always finds ways to help people in her community. She is the manager of the wrestling team and went above and beyond to create signs and fliers for sign-ups. She is also planning a Christmas spirit week and aims to raise money for a local organization. Over the summer Kaitlin cleaned a baseball field and swimming pool to create a better environment for people in her community.

In the future Kaitlin would like to attend West Liberty University and major in education. She enjoys reading and hanging out with her family in her free time.

Kaitlin says to keep a positive mindset. Be a part of the community and show them what it’s all about.

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.