“I think we need to know who we’re living in this world with. By being involved I’ve been able to see and experience many walks of life that I wouldn’t have seen had I not been active. Being active in the community makes me appreciate all that I have,” says Maya Barrett Dancisak, senior at St. Mary’s Dominican High School.
Dancisak is involved in many clubs both at Dominican and within her community. She is the secretary of Christian Leadership Council, a senior staff member of the Yearbook Club and a member of the French Club, Book Club and Drama Club. Outside of school she’s a part of the YMCA Leaders Club and St. Augustine’s Episcopal Youth Group.
This past summer, Dancisak participated in Krewe de Camp, where she was assigned a camper with Down syndrome. Dancisak was extremely happy to help the camper throughout the summer and made a friend for life.
“Daily she writes me notes, and when I have a rough week I look through the plethora of notes she’s written and my spirits are renewed,” says Dancisak. “I believe persons with disabilities are angels on earth.”
Megan Fry, Dancisak’s cousin, inspires her to become active in her community. Fry, who has cerebral palsy, is always assisting children with disabilities.
“Her selfless attitude makes me want to help her improve her lifestyle after all she does for others,” says Dancisak. “She takes so much time out of her day to talk to other kids who are less fortunate than her.”
Dancisak hopes to attend Our Lady of Holy Cross College next year and study to become a neonatal nurse anesthetist. She wants to continue to work with special needs camps and organizations to improve the lives of the handicapped.
While in college, she hopes to study abroad in France and Hungary and become fluent in the languages. She hopes to continue Irish dancing for McTaggert – both as a student and teacher – and travel to Ireland for training to open her own Irish dance company.