For Amara, Girls Inc. has been a constant source of support as she grows into the person she wants to be. 

As the newly appointed East Campus intern, Amara sits at the front desk, the signature Girls Inc. red painted on the wall behind her. She describes herself as a “friendly face” on campus, greeting girls as they arrive after school and helping connect them with tutoring or counseling services at the Clayton Campus. 

She remembers her first time at Girls Inc., feeling anxious about trying something new but excited to spend more time with friends and become part of a community of like-minded girls. Now a senior at East High School, Amara is helping create that same welcoming environment for younger girls, just as she recounts the older girls doing for her when she first joined.  

“Girls Inc. has a lot of things to offer,” she says, reflecting on how her interests and goals have evolved since seventh grade and how Girls Inc. has consistently encouraged her to follow her passions along the way.  

Initially interested in marine biology, Amara joined Eureka STEM programs to explore her budding passion for science. But by ninth grade, her interests had shifted toward Bold Business, where she discovered opportunities to develop professional skills through internships and career-readiness programs.  

“You don’t have to know what exactly you want out of this program, but do what you’re interested in, and they’ll accommodate to it,” she says.  

Of everything she has experienced at Girls Inc., Amara considers the internships the most impactful. Throughout high school, these opportunities have exposed her to potential career paths and allowed her to explore her interests early on. As a freshman, she interned with Denver City Council, becoming the first Girls Inc. participant to do so. During this internship, she met and collaborated with council members, contributed to social media projects, and even spoke publicly about the need for more veterinarians in Denver.  

From exploring her own future to advocating for her community, Amara has learned that finding your voice is only the beginning. What matters just as much is using it to make a difference.  

These days, Amara spends most of her time filling out college applications—but has her heart set on attending CU Boulder. While her passions for public advocacy and local politics may lead her to pursue legal studies, she also has a love for making music as a singer and guitarist, taking inspiration from some of her favorite artists, like Billie Eilish. 

At the heart of Amara’s many interests is a desire to make her voice heard—and to inspire others to do the same. As an advocate for youth voting rights, she believes everyone deserves a say in their community and wants to make civic engagement more accessible to people who may not have had the opportunity to learn about public policy.  

At 17 years old, Amara is already taking steps toward becoming an active voter—and you can count on seeing her at the local polls in 2027.