Ruth Metcalfe Courtesy Photo
KENNEBUNK – It was a weekday morning, late in the school year, and Ruth Metcalfe was applying paint on the walls of one of the women’s bathrooms at Kennebunk High School, creating a garden mural and another, with a tree theme.
It is her senior project, one that she wanted to do.
“I’m so lucky to have mentors to help foster creativity, and a shout out to my art teacher Betsy Mahoney, she’s awesome,” Metcalfe said.
Metcalfe, 18, has been an involved student throughout her school years. The Kennebunkport resident is a student representative of the RSU 21 School Board, a position open to juniors and seniors.
She’s been involved in environmental causes, working with other young people in the Maine chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby to support legislation that addresses climate change. She has been the Maine chapter’s president for the past two years.
While students made the trip to Washington, D.C. pre-pandemic, the lobby has since met with federal legislators or their representatives online. A year ago in June, the group met online with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and with her representatives in the winter. The Citizens’ Climate Lobby of Maine is currently focusing on the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, H.R. 2307, that supporters say is the most effective tool for reducing America’s carbon pollution to net zero by 2050.
“It’s great to see younger people going through this process, coming up with how to introduce this complex legislative issue to our senators and representatives, and include why it’s so important to us as young people,” Metcalfe said.
Metcalfe is among 208 members of the senior class. Commencement ceremonies for the class of 2021 is set for 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 6, at Memorial Field. The rain date is 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 7, in the same location. Valedictorian is Nicholas Albaum, salutatorian is Kevin Finn, and social studies teacher Thomas Dupuis is guest speaker.
Being on the school board, Metcalfe said, has proved to be interesting. “I do like it,” she said. “At times it can be frustrating but it is also definitely a learning experience … dealing with complex issues that seem to have no solution. You see problem-solving playing out at times, and that has helped me see issues from so many more perspectives.”
Planning fall classes during the summer of 2020 was a prime example, said Metcalfe. Every stakeholder had a different opinion, there was a leadership transition with a new superintendent, and more.
“Watching this group listen to all the concerns of the community and come up with a plan was very interesting,” she said.
Metcalfe is a member of the curriculum and programming subgroup of the school board’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, which is currently working on a strategic plan.
“It’s a great experience,” said Metcalfe, “I give credit to the school board for elevating the leaders in our district – including teacher Rachel McGlashan and Amede and Adora Olise, who are all active in the community and the effort.”
Overall, Metcalfe said she hopes the school board prioritizes students, listens to their voices and encourages their action and creativity.
“It’s been a great learning experience for me. (It is) eye-opening to the way public committees work,” said Metcalfe.
Given that, is she eyeing future public office?
Metcalfe said it is something she’s thought about, but for now, she is looking ahead to the fall, when she’ll attend Pomona College in Claremont, California. She has applied as a political science major, but said she’ll likely take many exploratory classes before declaring a major in her sophomore year. She said she chose Pomona over other colleges where she’d been accepted, in part because it is part of the Claremont Consortium of five undergraduate schools in close proximity; students can take classes in any of the five independent colleges in the consortium if they wish.
Her other school related pursuits have included the KHS debate team, where she competed on state and national levels. She also captains the Southern Maine High School sailing team.
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