Teen shows how to be a leader

"I wanted to give back to a community that showed my family deep compassion," said Megan Sedlak, a senior at Catholic Central High School in Troy.

She was referring to being a member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Teen Board during her junior year. Megan agreed to serve because she had lost her father to cancer and wanted to repay the kindness shown to her family during his illness.

But, the board membership is only one example of how Megan has demonstrated a deep commitment to her community, school and parish.

School and parish

At Catholic High, Megan is president of the student council, vice president for the Key Club, a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and captain of the varsity tennis team.

As a junior, she was a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions and the school's Ski Club. She volunteers to help with income tax preparation for needy families, and has won the Prudential Local Leadership Award and the Wells College Book Award.

A member of St. Bonaventure parish in Speigletown, she has been a catechist and led the Confirmation retreat, using her own experiences to guide her. She has also served as a volunteer tutor.

Winner

Megan has also participated in various competitions, using the leadership skills that she learned at National Catholic Youth Conference and the Albany diocesan Christian Leadership Institute.

Competing against seniors from across the country resulted in her getting scholarship offers from several colleges, including Johnson & Wales University in Florida, St. Joseph's in Connecticut and St. John Fisher in Rochester.

Although she has yet to decide exactly which college she will attend, she is thinking about her future, which will include a major in business.

Faith first

"All of these activities have prepared me to make decisions about my future," Megan told The Evangelist. "I did this stuff because I wanted to. I have enjoyed it all and sometimes wonder what my high school years would have been like if I didn't do what I've done. I can't imagine it.

"At the end of each day, no matter where I am and what I am doing, I want to still have my faith. A person's faith is between yourself and your God, no one else. You must be able to live with what you have done each day.

"Being a leader means that you know what your responsibilities are. Everyone won't always agree with you or believe in what you are doing. As long as [your efforts] are for the betterment of the group, you'll always know you have been successful."

(3/10/05)