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Tristan Emery puts her communication skills to work promoting smoke-free lifestyles. The agricultural communication major advises high school students who volunteer with Lafayette, Ind.-area tobacco prevention programs. (Photo by Tom Campbell) |
Role models
In her position with TCP's new Stop Tobacco, Encourage Prevention (STEP) Program, Emery advises ninth–12th-graders who promote smoke-free lifestyles and cultivates the next generation of student leaders. “STEP is a youth-run program,” says Emery. “I provide resources and help pull all of their ideas together.”
With Emery's assistance, STEP held a “Tobacco Free Day” at the Tippecanoe County Fair, created balloon bouquets for 128 smoke-free restaurants in the Lafayette area and attended the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation state youth summit in Indianapolis.
“The best part of my job is working with youth,” says Emery. “The kids get really excited about the program, which gets me excited about it, too. I've also had the opportunity to network with a variety of business professionals in the community by serving on TCP's adult advisory committee.”
The experience opened new career options for Emery. “I'd like to work in communications with a public health organization, something that I'd never considered before working with TCP,” she says.
Ammend, too, found herself helping young people when she began working at the museum as a livestock technician in August 2003. “In addition to taking care of the animals, I helped with tours and worked with at-risk youth,” says the December 2004 graduate. Once a week, boys from Lafayette's Cary Home for Children come to the museum to get hands-on experience with the livestock. The boys learn about early 20th-century rural America and work in teams to help care for the animals. At the end of the day, they sit down to a home-cooked meal at the farm.
“I've seen a definite improvement in the boys' attitudes since they've been in the program,” says Ammend. “They've learned a lot about animals and working with each other.”
An activity that Ammend started to satisfy her curiosity has led to a research project, as well as a career. She is currently studying the effects of using animal-assisted therapy with troubled youth while working full time at the museum as an agriculture manager.
“Prior to working at the museum, there wasn't anything that I was really passionate about, and I didn't know what type of work I wanted to do,” says Ammend. “The museum allows me to work with animals and youth—two things that I really enjoy. I've also gained a lot of leadership experience that I can apply to the real world. Many times the hardest part of the job is managing the people, not the livestock.”
Leading the way
Student involvement in the community often evolves from participation in extracurricular activities. In the year prior to arriving at Purdue, Emery, a state FFA officer, traveled throughout Indiana to promote agricultural education and participate in leadership activities. She spoke to more than 6,000 people, which became a springboard for speaking competitions at the collegiate level. Last December, Emery was named one of three winners in a nationwide spokesperson competition sponsored by the National Young Farmer Education Association.
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