Dedicated to making a difference

It was during a trip to Puebla, Mexico, that Lakeland High School’s Charli Shaw began to see the world through the eyes of others – seeing the reality of the poverty and inequality that exists between her life and much of the rest of the world. It was during this trip, while helping those less fortunate, that Shaw’s budding interest in social issues became a life commitment.

“The trip was so much more meaningful than I even thought it could be,” she said of the time she had spent helping others.

Those around her noticed the difference, too. Shaw returned home different than she had left – stronger, more focused and dedicated to make a difference.

Shaw, daughter of Traci and K.C. Shaw, is no stranger to adversity. Born with severe scoliosis, she underwent corrective surgery while in the eighth grade. Although two permanent steel rods corrected the curvature of her spine, the 12-inch stabilizing rods also became something she had to learn to live with. But, Shaw didn’t waste time feeling sorry for herself, choosing instead to focus on doing well in school and fostering her growing social consciousness.

Shaw said she enjoyed the usual teenage activities – hanging out with friends, going to the movies or spending an afternoon shopping – but she knew pretty early on that she was interested in bigger issues than the latest fashions or the most recent video release.

“I’ve always been interested in things like social equality, but I couldn’t talk about it to any of my friends because they weren’t interested in it,” she said.

It wasn’t until her junior year that her urge to learn more about the world around her took root. That’s when she began taking part in conversations her chemistry teacher, Trent Derrick brought up for discussion every now and then – and it wasn’t chemistry. “I hate chemistry, I just liked what Mr. Derrick talked about – other things, like social issues,” said Shaw, “but there was never enough time to talk.”

Finding he had some students interested in digging into the social issues facing the world today, Derrick formed a small discussion group called Adsideo, which means, “to come alongside; to talk and to find truth with passion and diligence,” according to Shaw, who became one of the original members. “It was cool to be able to talk to other kids who were interested in the same things,” she said. “It was really cool that we could talk about other stuff and not worry about chemistry,” she added with a grin.

It was through the Adsideo group that Shaw went to Mexico on a 10-day humanitarian trip. During their stay at Puebla, the group of 13 helped reconstruct an old building, “a shack really,” said Shaw, into a usable building that will become a free dental clinic. During the evening the group visited an orphanage, giving supplies and playing soccer or watching movies with the children. Once the building was completed, the students spent two days at the orphanage before heading for the village of Teteles to work on a water system.

“The town is in the mountains, and had no running water. The people walked over a mile down a huge cliff, a ravine, to get water,” said Shaw. “I had trouble just walking down it, let alone carrying water.” The group spent the next five days digging a trench from the bottom of the ravine to the top of the village where another group from Rathdrum, a group of basketball players Derrick took to the village two years ago, had installed a huge pump. When they left, a large, concrete cistern was in place, providing clean water for the villagers.

Once home, Shaw realized she felt angry with those around her. “They complain about stuff that isn’t important all the time,” she said. “I don’t complain because I know how it really is. I wish they could see things through their eyes.” It was in an effort to help bridge this gap, between what they learned in Mexico and the lack of understanding most Americans have for the rest of the world, that the Adsideo group planned a Hunger Banquet. Adsideo members, including Shaw, were impressed with the large turnout and know their message reached others in the community.

Shaw’s future plans include college. She still has hopes a scholarship will come through, but for now is continuing to work at Adorable You Salon in Rathdrum, where she has worked for the past two years – saving money for college. With dedication to helping others a key goal in her life, she plans to major in finance at Boise State University, which she hopes will give her the ability to become self-sufficient and still be able to focus on what inspires her most, “seeing a need and answering it.”