Cool Kids: Lakeland teen’s life goal to make difference

For Charli Shaw, making a difference in the world is what is important in life.

A far cry from the stereotype of a self-centered teenager, this 18-year-old Lakeland High School senior credits her teacher, Trent Derrick, for bringing awareness of social issues into her life. Although Derrick teaches chemistry and physics, Shaw said Derrick still finds time to engage in conversation with his students on various world issues.

“Mr. Derrick wants education to be meaningful,” Shaw said. “He likes to talk about social issues.”

But because there is a curriculum to teach there is never enough time to discuss the news of the day. So instead Derrick formed a group that meets outside of school hours. During their meetings, the group discusses issues such as poverty, drugs, homelessness and racism.

“We meet each Wednesday,” said Shaw, who adds that the group is not necessarily a club but instead an informal gathering. “We don’t take attendance or anything like that.”

The group calls itself Adsido – which is a Latin word meaning to come alongside – and has approximately 15 members.

For Shaw, the time she spends learning about and discussing various social issues has proven to be a life-altering experience. After graduating in the spring, she plans to attend Boise State to study sociology and anthropology. Her goal in life is to make a difference.

Since forming late last year, Adsido has participated in various projects such as a visit to the Children’s Hospital in Spokane where they interacted with some of the kids, and a tour of St. Vincent de Paul. A few weeks ago some of the members camped out in the cold. The goal was to bring awareness to the homeless in society. The group also used the campaign as an opportunity to hold a blanket drive. They plan to distribute the blankets to the homeless in Spokane during mid-December.

Shaw said some of the information they have learned is astonishing. Recently two of the members of Adsido attended a hunger banquet at the University of Idaho and returned with information they shared with the rest of the group.

“If everyone in the world used as many resources as we (in the United States) do on a daily basis, then the world’s resources would be gone in just two weeks,” said Shaw who adds that she hopes to one day travel to visit developing countries in Africa so she can help the poor there.

It is activities such as the visit to the Children’s Hospital and the upcoming visit to the homeless in Spokane that Shaw says are important to help people stay grounded.

“When we visited the hospital, there were drug babies there, and we also saw a lot of kids who had cancer,” said Shaw. “It was really sad.”

Shaw and some of her fellow Adsido members are looking forward to spring break when they will travel with Derrick to Argentina on a mission trip.

“We’re going to Argentina to help out an orphanage,” said Shaw. She shares a story of how just interacting with the kids can make a world of difference and said it is important work they will be doing.

“There was this 3-year-old boy who could not walk, and when he had a volunteer playing and interacting with him for two weeks, he could then walk,” said Shaw.

But the sadness Shaw feels from the things she witnesses firsthand or learns about from others does not deter or discourage her; instead it motivates her to do more so she can help make a difference.

However, she also is realistic and knows it won’t be easy.

“People are apprehensive to change, and there are so many stereotypes that it makes it hard to make a difference,” said Shaw. “People shut their eyes to what’s going on, so they don’t have to feel responsible.”

And while she knows she can’t change everyone, she does know that by bringing awareness to issues such as hunger, disease and homelessness, she is doing her part to help make a difference.

“It makes me feel really good to know I’m attempting to help,” said Shaw. “Something so little can really change a life.”