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Meagan Davidson '11 |
Even though she's only in her sophomore year at Champlain, Meagan Davidson is keeping extremely busy.
In addition to her studies in secondary education, she also manages to find time to act as a campus tour guide for prospective students, and to be a mentor for Champlain's DREAM mentoring program for local children.
Through DREAM, which stands for Directing through Recreation, Education, Adventure, and Mentoring, Meagan plans student activities that greatly enrich the lives of children. She meets with her mentees every week to take trips in and around Burlington, and to the mountains of Vermont for summer and winter activities. She's planned trips to the beach for children who have never seen the ocean, and has brought her kids down to Boston for new cultural experiences. "It's great working with the kids and building a sense of community," she says.
Meagan loves living in Spinner Place, the suite-style apartment complex located in nearby Winooksi, affectionately known as the "Brooklyn of Burlington." She cherishes the combination of independence and community Spinner offers. "It's the next step into the real world," she says. "It's an excellent option for students who want more independence, but doesn't want to fight with a landlord."
As an avid runner (and a member of Champlain's running club), Meagan loves to hit the trails in and around Burlington, especially the bike path that runs along the shores of Lake Champlain.
Working as a tour guide has been a great opportunity for Meagan to speak with high school seniors, the grade she plans on teaching when she graduates. "I wanted to become a tour guide because it was a great opportunity to meet new faces, learn about my school, and pay for tuition without committing to a full-time job. The job fit me perfectly because I'm a people-person, and giving tours is a great way to help me prepare for speaking in front of people." While she fields a variety of questions from the tours, she admits the most common question she gets involves her dexterity.
"A question a lot of prospective students ask is if we are taught to walk backwards. The answer is yes, were taught to walk backwards. I don't trip because I've had lots and lots of practice."