My name is Ashiya Gillette, I was born in Mirik, India but grew up in America. My parents met in India while my dad served there with the Peace Corps; their inter-racial marriage brought together two different worlds, and I am grateful to coexist within both. My parents both received degrees in science, and I share their passion for nature. I plan to major in Environmental Science, and promote awareness around issues of conservation. My sophomore year of high school I lived in Kathmandu, Nepal where I assisted with research that demonstrated global warming through the documentation of fishes. I witnessed the direct effects of environmental change on native people, and as a result my view of conservation, and its correlation with the wellbeing of people and ecosystems broadened. Outside of academics, I am involved with the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, a community building program in which groups of middle schoolers are assisted by youth to develop their powers of expression and perception of the world around them, in the context of service within their communities. Having spent two years upon graduation serving as a youth mentor, I now support older youth in analyzing their neighborhoods, how they can be of service to them, and starting their own junior youth groups. Serving as a coordinator and mentor within this program has given me a conceptual framework for my thoughts and actions, and inspires me to work to give back to my community and society at large.
