Samantha Johnson
Drexel University
Samantha, a third year English major at Drexel University, has been a strong student leader with the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement since October 2017. She began her civic engagement journey as a student advisor for the Lindy Scholars Middle School Mentoring Program. As a literacy advisor, she utilized her passion for working with youth, as well as the skills she has acquired as an English major, to teach students the mechanics of reading and writing after school and on Saturdays. She quickly proved herself to be an incredible asset to the program and was selected as the Lindy Scholar's co-op student for the spring-summer 2018 cooperative learning experience. As the Lindy Scholars co-op, Samantha played a critical role in the evaluation and restructuring of the Lindy Scholars literacy and math curricula. She was instrumental in helping to lead a six-week STEAM-intensive summer program in collaboration with the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships, the ExCITe Center, and the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation. She has continued her service to the Lindy Scholars Program as a lead advisor overseeing student advisors, performing day-to-day operations such as data management, and fostering school partnerships.
Samantha is involved in several other civically-minded organizations on campus. She serves as president of the Multicultural Greek Council, secretary and event coordinator of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and is an active member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity, the College of Arts and Sciences Student Advisory Board, the Society of Collegiate Leadership and Achievement, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Personal Statement
My first encounter with Civic Engagement was in high school, when I participated in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth: Civic Leadership Institute program. Based in Baltimore, MD, I had the opportunity to learn about the fundamental problems within a community, and to be a part of the change within the city. Throughout the three-week summer program, I volunteered at soup kitchens and shelters around Baltimore. I made and served dinners for the homeless, read to children and helped out-going residents make their final preparations. Even though the program was short, it was enough to make me realize that I needed to be a more active citizen in my community and in others.
In college, I've continued to be civically engaged. My desire to be civically engaged has led me to be more involved in working with children and helping them develop into the next leaders. I have volunteered at the Wright Rec Center, helping the facility's after school program. I continue to volunteer at Drexel's local Chosen 300, and my time working at the Lindy Center and with the Lindy Scholars Program continues to give me an active role in helping kids academically excel and become great people.
