2023 was another year of growth as I continue my career in education on Martha’s Vineyard. It is my third year working at the West Tisbury School – now in my new role as a Math Interventionist. In this role, I support students to meet their individual math goals and boost their confidence as math students. I am in the process of applying to graduate schools for a Master’s in Education with a focus on teaching middle school math. I hope to start classes next fall. In addition to supporting students in the classroom, I am one of the adult supervisors of the Student Council which helps to organize community service projects and school-wide events. I also coach the volleyball team in the spring, and am the Assistant Director for the school play. Everyday I am thankful for the opportunity to work in the same elementary school and community that helped to shape the person I am today. The teachers and mentors that provided me with an incredible education and passion for learning are a huge reason why I fell in love with teaching as an adult. I hope to be able to create the same positive impact for the next generation of island kids. MVYouth’s continued investment in the young people on this Island allows kids like me to keep dreaming to achieve whatever they aspire to. I am so thankful for MVYouth and its passion for supporting students across the island. I am excited to join their Advisory Board this year to help give the same gift to other island kids that was given to me almost ten years ago.
Annie Ollen - Barnard College
This year has been full of growth and transition as I continue my career in education on the Vineyard. I am still working as an Educational Support Professional (ESP) at the West Tisbury School where I assist middle school students in their math classes. I began the process of taking my license exams to become a math teacher and hope to start graduate school in the fall. In addition to supporting students in the classroom, I am one of the adult supervisors of the Student Council which helps to organize community service projects and school-wide events. I also coached the volleyball team last spring, and am assisting in this year’s school theater production of Matilda.
Working in education in the same school and community that raised me has been more rewarding than I could’ve ever imagined. I feel so fortunate to have received such an incredible education as a child, which was integral for my success in college and beyond. I hope to be able to create the same positive impact for the next generation of Island kids. Building a career and a life on the Vineyard as a young adult has not been easy with the increased cost of living and housing shortage. However, not having the burden of undergraduate student debt has allowed me to start this next chapter exactly where I want to be - back at home.
MVYouth’s continued investment in the young people on this Island allows kids like me to keep dreaming to achieve whatever they aspire to. This spring will mark eight years since my family and I learned that I would be one of the first scholarship recipients, and with each passing year my appreciation continues to grow for the impact this support has had on the trajectory of my life.
Anne Ollen - Barnard College
This past year was a time of many challenges and changes, but also a time of reflection and renewal. This September, I left my previous job in digital marketing and started a new position at the West Tisbury School as an Educational Support Professional (ESP). As an ESP in the middle school, I assist classroom teachers and provide one-on-one support for students throughout the day. Having gone to the West Tisbury School as a child, it has been great to return as a teacher and carry forward the same positive educational experience that I received years before. It certainly hasn’t been an easy start to the year with continued complications from the pandemic, but I have immensely enjoyed this new chapter in my life and look forward to an ongoing career in education.
Outside of working in the school, I have appreciated spending as much time outside as possible either walking my dog, going to the beach, or exploring the different trails across the island. I also have spent more time in the kitchen than ever before, trying out new recipes and cooking techniques. While we continue to adapt to the challenges caused by COVID, I am grateful for the increased time that I have been able to spend with friends and family.
As I begin this new chapter in my career, I am forever thankful for the support of MVYouth and its donors. To be able to look forward to applying to graduate school without the worry of undergraduate debt opens so many doors. Thank you again for all that you have done and continue to do for the students of Martha’s Vineyard!
Anne Ollen - Barnard College
In an unprecedented and challenging year, I feel extremely grateful to be continuing my work at Blue State, a digital strategy and marketing company based out of Washington D.C. My team and I collaborate with progressive non-profits to execute successful fundraising and advocacy campaigns. This work was crucial in 2020 when our clients needed to raise money to help ensure that everyone has access to essential services, such as health care and safe housing, and that people were able to make their voices heard by casting their ballots in November. During a time of great hardship, I am once again thankful to be able to partner with such great organizations that are working tirelessly for families and communities across this country that are in need of support. I am also proud to have collaborated with my colleagues at Blue State to form a union this fall. After months of planning, we were formally recognized by company leadership in October, and are now in the process of negotiating our contract. Through this collective bargaining, we are hoping to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable work environment. Outside of work, I left Washington in the spring to move back to the Vineyard to be with my family during the pandemic. Throughout this unexpected time at home, I have explored new walking trails, tried countless vegan recipes, and read more books than ever before. In November, we also adopted a sweet puppy named Bowie who has added so much joy and love to our family. Though 2020 was not the year that I, or anyone, predicted, I am endlessly thankful to have spent this time at home and am hopeful for the year to come.
Anne Ollen - Barnard College
After spending the summer interning at Blue State, a digital strategy and marketing company, I received a full-time offer in September to join their team as an Account Coordinator in Washington DC. My team is responsible for helping progressive non-profits launch successful, national fundraising and advocacy campaigns. Our non-profit clients work to protect access to health care for all, preserve funding for scientific research, and provide safe and secure housing for those in need, in addition to other important causes. Being on the account management team, I have a unique position which allows me to collaborate with the entire office, including the communications, design, analytics, and strategy teams, to learn about the necessary components that help our digital campaigns succeed. For the past eight months, it has been great to work for a company that truly puts people first in every campaign or project in order to create real and meaningful change every day. Outside of work, moving and acclimating to a new city has been challenging at certain times, but it has also been exciting to discover all that DC has to offer. There are countless museums, historical sites, restaurants, and events to explore each weekend. I am thankful to be in this next chapter of my life equipped with all the knowledge and skills that I learned during my time at Barnard. I am excited to see what the future holds these next few years. As always, I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of MVYouth. To be able to enter my post-college life without the burden of student debt is a gift that I cannot put into words. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
Anne Ollen - Barnard College
It is hard to believe that my college experience is almost over. My senior year is off to a fantastic start. I have been taking interesting classes, working at my internship, and enjoying all the great things New York City has to offer. I also was recently invited to join Phi Beta Kappa as a fall inductee, which is reserved for the top 2 percent of the senior class. This is an incredible honor, and I want to thank the donors of MVYouth again for their continued support.
After four years, I have learned a lot about myself and my future ambitions, but I am still unsure about exactly how I see myself as a professional. The past two semesters I have had political internships with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and now New York Assembly Member and DNC Vice Chair Michael Blake. These experiences have taught me a great deal about the copious issues facing New Yorkers including safety concerns in public housing, disagreements over the closing of Rikers Prison, and problems with the public transportation system. Additionally, these internships have allowed me to meet constituents, politicians, and activists from all over the city, which provided me a more holistic understanding of the City which I have come to call home.
While I am still uncertain about a future career in politics, I certainly recognize the power that it has to make a difference in people’s lives if used correctly, as there is no aspect of society that is not affected by government policies or practices. In the next year, I hope to get a job as a political staffer in New York or Washington D.C.. By doing this I hope to have a better understanding of whether a career politics is something that I can see myself doing in the future, and perhaps go back to school to get a Master’s in Public Administration. I am excited to see what these next years have in store for me!
Anne Ollen - Barnard College
This fall I was fortunate enough to spend the semester studying at New York University’s campus in Accra, Ghana. There I took classes with some of Ghana’s best professors in the fields of African history, sociology, literature, and psychology. I also had the opportunity to take a traditional drumming class at the University of Ghana where I learned to play music from the Ga and Ewe people of southeastern Ghana. Studying in Accra allowed me to challenge my prior understandings of the legacies of slavery and colonialism in West Africa, and learn more about how Ghana’s identity as a post-colonial nation effects its socio-political climate today. In addition to taking classes, I volunteered at B.A.S.I.C.S. International, which is an after-school program, in a fishing village near Accra, that provides academic assistance and social services to children of the community. There I got to learn more about certain challenges facing the Ghanaian school system, and how NGOs like B.A.S.I.C.S. are working to alleviate these issues. This semester was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allowed me to live a new country, learn about a different culture, and meet lots of amazing people. I would never have gotten this opportunity if it was not for the support and generosity of MVYouth. I am so grateful!
Anne Ollen - Barnard College
I had another wonderful semester this fall! Sophomore year has proven to be challenging as my classes have become increasingly rigorous. Yet, I am continually amazed by the programs, the professors, and my peers at Barnard. The opportunities that the college and city have provided to me are incredible. Studying at Barnard and living in New York City is a dream come true! This spring I am declaring my major to be Political Science with a minor in Africana Studies. I am also planning to study abroad next fall in Accra, Ghana. I’m excited to travel to another country to pursue my degree and immerse myself in another culture. I’ve had an amazing experience in college thus far, and I am eager to see what my future holds at Barnard and abroad. Thank you again for your continued support!
Anne Ollen - Barnard College
My first few months at Barnard have flown by, but I have already experienced so much. My academic classes are challenging but rewarding. Everyday I learn a great deal from my professors and peers. Since arriving I have joined a youth-mentor group, the Columbia Against Cancer Society, and the Committee for Student Life at Barnard. These groups have allowed me to actively engage with my new community. Life in New York has given me a variety of new opportunities. I have attended a UN Committee Panel, a TED talk, a fashion show, and even a few Broadway shows. I am excited to see what the next three years have in store for me. As a result of my scholarship, I can take advantage of every opportunity without the worry of debt. I am so grateful to be attending my dream school and to be living in this amazing city!