My name is Sean Whelan (he/him/his), and I am a student at Andover High School in the graduating class of 2024 and will be attending Cornell University in the fall. Like many communities, when the pandemic struck in the spring of 2020, various aspects of life were uprooted. Entering high school in the fall while classes were still almost entirely remote created a constant feeling of isolation in both my academic and social lives. In hopes of reintegrating with my community after being separated, I turned to Global Pathways. Not only did the program provide a community for the early stages of my high school life, but it also opened my eyes to ongoing social issues across the globe. It introduced a unique set of perspectives and cultures that diversified my understanding of the world. Of the social and cultural issues the program has unveiled, the issues related to youth education have piqued my interest and guided my service and community engagement. 

The Andover High School Global Pathways Program is a series of experiences for students and faculty to thrive as global citizen-scholars, in our complex, dynamic, and diverse global society. Students are guided by faculty advisors as they travel their global path through world language study, immersive travel, service learning, a Global Research Project, global course work and other experiences that lead toward the Endorsement for Global Engagement. 

The Global Pathways Scholars Endorsement Program is built on creating students who can thrive as global citizen-scholars in a complex, dynamic, and diverse society. Through a variety of angles, such as language study, immersive experience, service learning, and a Capstone research project, students explore societal issues surrounding the 17 UN Sustainable Goals. In my time with the program, I have dedicated much of my service work to exploring the UN Sustainable Goal of Quality Education. I have let my passion for music and youth education guide my service and shape my knowledge of this diverse issue. The arts, and specifically music, have been essential in my life, and I believe that they serve as one of the most crucial forms of expression. Despite their importance in educating the populace on social issues, and promoting peace, the arts continue to fade as a point of focus in the education of students, specifically in low-income communities. 

In hopes of reinvigorating the arts within my own community and around the world, as a way of promoting a quality education for all, I have dedicated myself to spreading the joy of music to youth. I volunteer as a teacher and community outreach coordinator for the Do Re Mi Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing musical experiences to youth throughout the country. As the vice president of my school's Tri-M Music Honors Society chapter, I organize an instrument step-up day for elementary students, to encourage them to become involved in the arts at an early age. I have performed at schools throughout my district, and in surrounding low-income areas, such as Lawrence. In this specific case, the goal of performing was to create enough excitement surrounding music to establish a middle school jazz program. I also volunteer with youth as a counselor at SHED Children's Campus, founding my own engineering club, in an attempt to bring quality education to children with a unique interest in the STEM fields. 

Read more about all of these endeavors in the service tab!