Maresh Campbell

Campbell__maresh-web

“I am grateful that the Young Scholars Program has provided me with so many opportunities. I feel that these opportunities have had a positive influence on who I am now. I think that they’ve made me more independent, mature, and college ready.”

  • Program: 2012 College Scholarship Recipient
  • Hometown: New Orleans

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: New Orleans native Maresh Campbell said the program “allowed me to engage in opportunities that I previously had to pass up and has also provided me with many avenues of help.” But one of the most important aspects of Young Scholar status was giving Maresh the opportunity to participate in summer programs. “Before I became a Young Scholar I had always wanted to attend a summer camp, but my family could not afford to send me to one,” Maresh said. Her first summer as a Young Scholar Maresh went off to a Summer Institute for the Gifted program at the University of Texas. But it was the following year and her participation at the Duke University pre-law institute that really strengthened Maresh’s interest in the legal system. “I was very glad to be able to participate in this program because I had been interested in law since the fourth grade,” she recalled. “Participating in this program helped me start to focus on identifying the type of law I was interested in.”

 
Profile: When asked to describe Maresh, an advisor at her high school in the Big Easy said the young lady is “always gracious, thoughtful and patient.” To her fellow students she is considered a bit on the shy side, but if you know her well, as do a small cadre of friends at Benjamin Franklin High school, she’s extremely talkative. “When I'm around family and friends, I hardly cease to talk,” Maresh said with a smile. Her schoolwork load and volunteer commitments are nothing short of amazing. Maresh gave countless hours of her time at New Orleans Children’s Hospital while maintaing an A average during her years at Franklin. And Maresh, like thousands of other natives of New Orleans, was victimized by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For two years she lived in Mississippi while the city recovered. 
 
Inspiration: While he will remain anonymous, Maresh said her 5th grade teacher “always told his students to believe in themselves.” Maresh said he made the class learn how to spell the word “antidisestablishmentarianism.” His rationale was that if everyone in the class could spell that word, “we'd be able to do or spell anything.” That particular teacher helped Maresh to become more confident. “Even now, I think back to the 5th grade when I need a boost of confidence.”
 
Aspiration: At the ripe old age of eight Maresh knew she wanted to be an attorney and so began her love affair with the law. A summer program at Duke University during high school reinforced that commitment and the icing on the cake was an internship in New Orleans with the SE Louisiana Legal Clinic.
 
Making a Difference: In 2011 Maresh and her best friend organized the “Harry Potter Alliance,” a non-profit service organization. “We're very into Harry Potter, so we decided to start our own chapter in New Orleans.” They celebrated the chapter’s one year anniversary in March of 2012. Under the auspices of the Alliance, Maresh and the group’s membership helped build Palmer Park, held a book drive, held a food drive, participated in fundraising walks, held a fund-raiser for Children’s Hospital, and promoted and sold fair trade chocolate.
 
Accolades: Maresh was named a National Achievement Semifinalist and won both the Gold and Silver Awards for her excellent showing on the National Spanish Examination. During her sophomore year of high school as a participant at the Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair she earned two awards – a 2nd and 3rd Place Grand Award. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.
 
Interesting Fact: ACHOO!!!!! In the late autumn of 2011, believe it or not, Maresh organized a facial tissue drive at Children’s Hospital that was cleverly titled: “NOSEvember.”

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