LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 12 Up & Comer: Meet Cameron Guidry I have always wanted to help people during my life. It is a beautiful thing to see others be happy and succeed with their endeavors. Knowing that you were able to help them in some way to get to that point makes it even more meaningful. It is a great feeling to see your impact on the world, no matter how small it may be. My name is Cameron Guidry. I am a 17 year old Ju- nior at Town of Webb High School, in Old Forge. That being said, I'm not actually from the Adirondacks, I was born and raised on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. I only moved to this area around 5 years ago for my 7th grade year, since my mother grew up in Old Forge. Being from another country has given me a unique perspective on the world and my place in it. Part of this perspective I think comes from know- ing two languages, as growing up I had to speak both English and Spanish. Being able to speak Spanish has allowed me to hear about and relate to more peo- ple's stories and lives. Being able to understand the perspectives of so many other people is part of what has driven me to want to help others. Knowing Span- ish has also been quite useful not just for helping my peers in Spanish class, but I have also been able to help out with a 3rd grader who is still learning English but is fluent in Spanish. I have been working with her recently on trying to catch up in math class. One of the larger challenges of this process has been not only her language barrier with the teachers, but that she was taught to do math in a different way than the teachers are teaching it. One of my main projects I have been working on recently is a peer-to-peer tutoring program in my school. I have found that many students who struggle academically often have a hard time asking for help or don't think they can understand the material even with help from a teacher. This problem only intensifies when a struggling student isn't close with the teacher of a class that they find difficult. A few months ago I reached out to my 7th and 8th grade math teacher Ms. Beck, as I had heard she was also interested in starting a similar program. When talking with her she helped strengthen my thoughts that this program could greatly benefit our school. She made me realize that not only would it help students academically but it could also help students socially, making bonds and connections with each other that might not have ever formed without it. Left: Cameron receiving the Web Wall of Distinction award for his high school.

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