Jessica Barragan receives Presidental Award from Bobbi Kulas, Health Careers Coordinator.

Being a member of the Youth Health Service Corps is not for everyone… it IS, however, for anyone with a little bit of heart, a little bit of empathy and a little bit of passion for helping others.  Once in a while, we find that student with more than just a little bit of those things, that makes us wonder who IS that girl… and where can we find more of her?

A member of YHSC, and HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America), Jessica Barragan – a junior at Stratford High School – has shown an unfathomable amount of passion and dedication to helping and inspiring others.   She is that girl and not only devotes much of her “free” time to volunteering in her community, but also takes the initiative to motivate other students and community members to do the same.  She is a true leader and role model by anyone’s standards.

On November 23, 2009, Jessica made her debut as the state Historian for Connecticut HOSA.  At a conference of 40-plus students and advisors, she gave some insight into her ongoing journey as a member of YHSC and what it means to her.

“Hello Everyone.  My name is Jessica Barragan, a junior at Stratford High School and proud member of the Southwestern Area Health Education Center’s Youth Health Service Corps.   It has been a pleasure this past year to work with YHSC in a number of volunteer opportunities presented at my school and in my community.  My journey has been long and hard, but it ultimately gave me the most precious gift: the opportunity to help people in order to make a significant difference in my community and in the lives of people less fortunate than myself.

It all began when I was a freshman in 2007.  One day after school, I noticed that my little brother, Andy, was struggling with homework.  After working with him one-on-one and helping him learn to read, he got much better and felt more confident walking in and out of school.  Then I thought to myself, ‘How can I help more kids like my brother?’  It occurred to me that I should start a tutoring program at his elementary school so I could tutor more kids who were struggling, and ultimately help them from falling behind in class. After contacting the town’s volunteer coordinator and recruiting interested high school students in Stratford, the program was started just weeks later at Andy’s school. I called it Smart Buddies. Corny, I know… but it worked.

Every week for one hour the kids who signed up would come after school, and with our help, read stories at their grade level and answer questions about what they read.  Each tutor had one or two kids to make for a more personal and effective tutoring session, because each kid needed special attention.  The next year, Smart Buddies was established at two more elementary schools in Stratford, because of its success, and the difference made in the students’ lives.

The following year, I joined the HOSA Chapter at my school, after learning they did many community service projects and worked closely with the organization, the Youth Health Service Corps.  These activities included volunteering at a nursing home, being a key part of a community Martin Luther King Day event, and many other exciting opportunities to help those in my community.  I enthusiastically continued tutoring with Smart Buddies every week, and at hospitals on the weekends.  This past summer, I also volunteered over 150 hours at a summer camp.

Ultimately, my 447 hours earned me the honor of the President’s Volunteer Service Award in the Gold Honor, and the title as Southwestern AHEC’s top volunteer.  Our YHSC was also honored as the number one branch in the country, with over 5,000 recorded volunteer hours.

All in all, I encourage YOU to go out there and volunteer whenever you can.  At the end of the day, you’ll feel proud that you contributed to your community and lent a hand to the people who need it most.  It is our responsibility, or better yet, our duty as citizens of the United States, to give up some time to make a difference.  It’s not only rewarding, but fun… and trust me, you won’t regret it.”

From Corporate Track, To Giving Back

My Path as a Public Ally by Erin McDermott

After graduating from the University of Tampa with a Marketing degree focused in Sports Management, I found myself stuck in a monotonous corporate setting in which I could find no satisfaction or happiness.  However, I had a job and an incoming cash flow – isn’t that ultimately what it’s all about?  When I graduated in 2007, I certainly thought so, along with the majority of society.

In late 2008, I caught wind of something that would not only change my mind, but the rest of my life.  On a particularly stressful December morning at the office, I opened an e-mail from my mother – the subject line simply stating “new direction…” Inside that e-mail was an article about “this guy in Chicago… a civil-rights lawyer and community organizer.” That guy was our future United States president, Barack Obama. The article detailed the story of 2 young women, Vanessa Kirsch and Katrina Browne, who created a new organization in 1992 to train young people for public service.  Obama served on the board of the Chicago branch, led by his wife, Executive Director Michelle Obama.  This organization, Public Allies, has since spread to 18 regions across the country with more than 2,800 graduated Allies, ages 18-30.

“Public Allies mission is to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits and civic participation. We are changing the face and practice of leadership in communities across the country by demonstrating our conviction that everyone can lead, and that lasting social change results when citizens of all backgrounds step up, take responsibility, and work together.”

I was hooked – I applied for the Connecticut program and by mid-April 2009 began to pack up my five years as a Florida resident into boxes and suitcases being shipped back to my hometown, Monroe, CT.  After the next few months, and a rigorous interview process, I was finally placed in my nonprofit organization.  As of September 1, 2009, I was officially a Public Ally, as well as the Health Careers Assistant at Southwestern AHEC, Inc.

As the Health Careers Assistant, I was thrown into a world of daily baptisms by fire.  Me, public service, high school students, health careers…?  But… I’m a corporate sports and special events planner – what do I know about any of this stuff?  As it turned out, it didn’t matter.  Thanks to an intense and arduous training period in Public Allies, and the indisputable knowledge, experience, and dedication of my SWAHEC supervisor, Bobbi Kulas, and Executive Director, Meredith Ferraro, I settled in quite nicely.

I now work with over 100 students in the Youth Health Service Corps program in four Stratford and Bridgeport schools on a weekly basis.  The students are trained topics such as Leadership and Service, Vulnerable Populations, Ethical and Legal Issues, Health Career Exploration and Health Care Skills, as well as CPR training/certification and they participate in 50 hours of community service.  The 2009-2010 YHSC program is committed to students completing Learn & Serve projects in the community relating to Oral Health Prevention and Education, Childhood Obesity Prevention and  Health and Social Issues of the Aging Population.

In two short months I have recognized the impact I can have on these young students.  If I can make a difference – give an opportunity, teach a new skill, give new direction – for even one of them, I have succeeded.  Although throughout my college career I did plenty of volunteer work with my sorority, Delta Zeta, I never had the opportunity to make such a sustained and direct effect on such a young and vulnerable population.  Without Public Allies, and its partnerships with nonprofits all over Connecticut, such as Southwestern AHEC, Inc., I would never have had such an extraordinary opportunity to give back … and that, is really what it’s all about.