Rustic Spirit Spotlights: Poluk, Kayley and Ka’Laiya

Teens have the power to change the world! At Rustic Pathways, we witness students make lasting impacts on communities every year.

Students on our travel programs return home ready to lead positive change. But they aren’t the only teens making an impact.

Young changemakers around the world are doing amazing work. We are recognizing and celebrating these teens in Rustic Spirit Spotlights.

Poluk Sharma
Age 17
The Quarry Lane School
Dublin, California

Poluk created Project STEAMBOT, an initiative aimed at enhancing global accessibility to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education. The project aims to open up possibilities for a future in STEAM for anyone, anywhere through free online courses teaching the basics of robotics, focusing not just on how to make a robot, but why it works.

Through various forms of outreach, the team has enrolled over 650 students in STEAMBOT courses across 80 countries. Poluk and her team also teach live courses. In addition to year-round workshops, they host several summer programs at homeless shelters and enrichment programs in the San Francisco Bay Area.

They have also connected with and shared the course with school districts in rural Himalayan villages, where the kids often have limited access to technology, robotics experience, and role models in the field. On weekly Zoom calls with the kids in India, the team helps them understand any confusing topics and provides support in their STEAM journeys.

In college, Poluk plans to study computer science and business, and aspires to one day start her own business or nonprofit that makes a positive impact on the global community. Poluk enjoys contributing to her school’s robotics team, volunteering, dancing, and trying out new dance styles.

Poluk says get others involved in your efforts! There’s always people who will support you and your goals. You can accomplish so much more with a team, and any project is more fun if you work on it with your friends.

Kayley Maynard
Age 17
Symmes Valley High School
Chesapeake, Ohio

Kayley makes a notable impact in her community through her consistent dedication to assisting peers both at school and while participating in sports. She actively strives to encourage and motivate individuals, like her cross country teammates and runners on the course. Her positivity always uplifts others.

In college, Kayley intends to pursue a major in education, aiming to become a history or English teacher. She strives to embrace a compassionate leadership style that inspires and uplifts those around her. Kayley currently enjoys cross country running, volleyball, basketball and being an active member of groups like the Young Women’s Lead and FFA.

Kayley advises others who want to make an impact to always keep working and pushing yourself, even when you feel like giving up.

Ka’Laiya Martin
Age 17
Frontier High School
Newport, Ohio

Ka’Laiya seeks out opportunities to address existing needs within her community. Whenever she identifies a need, she dives head on into planning to achieve the desired goal, whether it be fundraising money for food, clothing or toy drives. Some of her recent efforts include creating Thanksgiving Blessings Boxes for 80 families served by the Newport Food Pantry and spearheading efforts to donate five bicycles to a local women’s home.

Simultaneously enrolled in college and high school, Ka’Laiya is focused on her major in criminal justice accompanied by a minor in psychology. In the future, she would love to join law enforcement, and ultimately work in the field of forensic pathology. Ka’Laiya enjoys reading anime, playing the piano and playing video games.

Ka’Laiya says anyone can help make a difference somewhere to someone. No gesture of kindness is too small.

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.