Sam (Samantha) DeCarlo
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA)
Sam DeCarlo, a third year student at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), is a student leader active in addressing issues of youth engagement and mentorship. For two years she has been coordinator of Mentoring for Tomorrow, an MCLA community service program providing local at-risk youth with college mentors in the classroom. The mentors help youth to engage in a healthy manner with their peers, provide academic support, and serve as real-time reminders that college and/or further education is within their reach.
During academic breaks, Sam works as a Personal Care Aid for Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR). Before coming to MCLA, she worked as a camp counselor throughout High School as well as a counselor at her local Boys and Girls club. Sam also volunteers through sports clinics, community days of service, and other volunteerism events on campus. This experience, along with the above mentioned involvement, provide invaluable experience for her future as she hopes to form her own non-profit to work with inner-city at-risk youth. Sam hopes that her work with youth will help to provide healthy alternatives for them to get involved and engaged within their community.
Personal Statement
My passion is to educate those who do not understand the presence or impact of privilege, especially youth who are still developing their perspectives on the world. I am most passionate about working with at-risk youth.
This passion is rooted in the circumstances in which I grew up. In Pittsfield, MA there is a major disparity of opportunities and privilege from one side of town to the other. It takes a coordinated community effort to ensure those who are disadvantaged have equal opportunities. At MCLA I have pursued this passion as Coordinator for Mentoring for Tomorrow, a program run out of the Center for Service and Citizenship. This program matches students at MCLA with local at-risk youth to serve as mentors and role models. I also work for Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR) as direct care staff for adults with disabilities. In that position I have connected one of the individuals I support with the MCLA women's basketball coach and she is now serving as their team manager. My passion grows as I gain more responsibility in the community and I feel empowered to know that I can have a positive impact in service of others.
