“I think it’s important to be involved in your community because it makes you a better individual, and the exposure you get to other people and their experiences is invaluable,” says Margot Marie Roussel, a Junior at Isidore Newman School.
In her community, Roussel participates in Breakthrough New Orleans and the Miracle Leauge of Greater New Orleans. While at school, Roussel is involved with ACTIONS, a community service club, and the Newman players improv club. She is also the editor for the school newspaper, plays varsity soccer and acts.
Roussel participated in the Miracle League of Greater New Orleans, an organization that serves children who cannot play traditional sports due to their disabilities, and has had the same buddy, Olivia, for the past four years. The two young ladies have bonded over the years, which has given the opportunity to get to know each other.
“I am able to see firsthand that such a simple thing of going and playing baseball can have such a tremendous impact,” says Roussel.
Each volunteer experience allows Roussel to gain leadership skills and courage.
“I have become more confident in my own voice and seen my hard work make an impact,” she says.
Earlier this year, Roussel attended a conference for student leaders called The Student Diversity Leadership Conference. At this conference, Roussel was able to explore her identity through a series of workshops and speakers.
After the conference, Roussel organized a series of student-led workshops in which the entire upper school of Newman participated.
Kim Causey and Albion Sumrell are the two adults who have inspired Roussel to become a student activist. Causey is the leader of community outreach at Newman and is always willing to take on new projects and get students involved. Roussel worked closely with Causey to help plan the student workshops. Sumrell is also the director of Breakthrough, and taught a social justice elective that Roussel took this year. Roussel believes that because of this class she has grown exponentially.
Roussel doesn’t know where she wants to go to college, but she wants to work with organizations that are fighting to protect human rights, like the American Civil Liberties Union.
