Samira Todd is HeartShare St. Vincent’s Youth of the Year. She currently is a sophomore student at SUNY Oswego through the school’s Educational Opportunity Program. This semester, Samira is taking courses in statistics, psychology, and English. “My favorite is creative writing because I’m able to express myself,” she shared. Samira volunteers her time at campus events and at the career center, where she assists other students with polishing their resumes and finding suitable job opportunities. Samira hopes to graduate from college with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and hopes to get in Master’s degree.

Samira hopes that her educational and personal experience will allow her to work as a psychologist who serves children and teens who are experiencing “rough patches” in their lives. When asked to describe herself, Samira says she is “determined.” She attributes her success to setting goals and sticking to them no matter what. “I want to give one hundred percent to whatever goal I am working on,” she said. “One excuse can transform into ‘I’ll do it later’ and then, ‘I cannot do it.’ Instead, I take action to move, step by step, towards my goals, and my American Dream,” she concluded. Samira is a role model to her sibling and hopes to inspire others that they can achieve anything they put their mind to.

Congratulations to our 2017 HSVS Youth of the Year!