Katiana Upton has been part of the TEA community since third grade, and in that time she has grown into a thoughtful leader who is deeply committed to service, both on and off campus.
Now a freshman, Katiana has taken on impressive leadership roles through Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada, where she has enthusiastically led nine badges for the troop, including Comic Book Artist, Screenwriter, Good Sportsmanship, and Bookmaking. Leading a badge requires learning the material first, then guiding the rest of the troop through the steps to complete it themselves.
Katiana has already completed both her Bronze and Silver Awards, which were earned through major service projects. For her Bronze Award, she created sensory blankets and fidget boards for Alzheimer and dementia patients. For her Silver Award, she sewed 100 sensory dolls designed to comfort memory care patients.
Now she is preparing for the Girl Scouts Gold Award, the organization’s highest honor and one earned by only 5% to 6% of eligible Girl Scouts annually. The project requires at least 80 hours of work and must create a sustainable impact in the community.
In addition to her troop leadership, Katiana recently joined the Girl Scout board as one of only two youth representatives, participating in conversations with organizational leaders about the future of the program. She credits her time at TEA with helping her feel confident stepping into that role.
“Without TEA, I don’t think I would have been able to sit in a room full of adults who hold the power,” she said. “The teachers here make you feel like you’re on the same level as them, like you can ask questions and share your ideas.”
At school, Katiana participates in Chess Club and enjoys the academic challenge TEA offers. She appreciates that the work is meaningful. She also values the opportunity to revise and improve her work, a process she sees as an important part of constructive adversity.
“If you don’t meet the criteria or you want to improve something, TEA lets you revise it and do better,” she said. “As long as you’re revising it, it’s still your work, just put to your high standards.”
After seven years at TEA, she says the school’s strong community is one of the things she appreciates most.
“You feel like you’re not just some person. Your teachers know who you are, your entire class knows who you are, and other classes know who you are. You feel like a part of the whole community. I love being here.”
