by Lara

Expression and passion form a powerful pair. Put one and one together, and the yield is Andrea Staley, this issue’s Girls By Design Amazing Teen.

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii’s Andrea Staley may live on an island, but she’s seen enough of the world to know that there’s too much suffering. Her passion for helping others in need has fueled her life. She says, “All I want to do is make everyone happy, equal, and content. I know I can’t do this, but I like to think that by trying, I’m making the world a better place and maybe changing at least one life, which still makes all the difference.”

So she spends her time where her heart is. Andrea volunteers with Interact Club, a national organization sponsored by the Rotary Club that raises money to provide polio vaccines (oh, that little thing) and fund awesome projects like Smile Train. Club members also participate in local community projects and they raise money to support an orphanage in India.

In her spare time (since this was not already enough?), Andrea is the President of an international group that raises money and awareness for displaced children in Uganda. Ya, OK, now we’re super-sized-impressed!

Andrea also express her philanthropic passion through photography. “When the world gets people down, I snap a picture to try to catch the beauty that the world still has to offer.”

Dealing with the dread

Andrea deals with war, poverty, illness and more, but this does not bum her out. “I look for the good in everyone and in all situations,” she says.

Andrea is currently taking AP and Honors courses at Kealakehe High School and Columbia University is top on her to-do list. She’d like to study Medicine and Journalism. We’re certain that whatever path this Amazing Teen takes, the people around her will be happy she did.

Andrea says “I truly want to help people more than anything else in the world. I would gladly live in a crappy apartment barely making enough to survive, doing work that I love.” And at Girls By Design (and GoodGossipgirl.com!), we’re lovin’ that.

Got Amazing? Girls between the ages of 13 -19 living anywhere in the world are invited to explain in 300-500 words why they are amazing. One entry that best supports the values of Girls By Design will be chosen for each newsletter. Those values are: Compassion, honesty, integrity, kindness, and mindfulness.

So get your writing on and get your submissions in asap to be considered for our upcoming newsletters! Send them to: amazingteen@girlsbydesign.com Just a reminder that entries with photos or attachments will be deleted.

About Lara

GoodGossipgirl, Lara Piu is all about good things celebrities do and how anyone, anywhere can Live the Good Life too. Check her out at www.goodgossipgirl.com.
Photo of Lara Piu courtesy of Barbara Stitzer Photography, www.barbarastitzer.com