Nov 12, 2024
Topic: Meet our Alumni
Maya Belorusskiy has not always been the confident and outgoing individual she is today. She described herself as shy and anxious when looking back on her days at Longfellow Elementary School and Cooper Middle School. Belorusskiy credits her favorite teachers, Bari Bagby and Angela Schlender of Longfellow Elementary School, for contributing to her growth into the person she has become, stating they were “pivotal” in helping her with public speaking as well as her overall confidence.
Her growth continued when she joined the CCSD21 orchestra program as a cello player, where she found a great sense of self and community. “What helped me become the person I am today, just how I hold myself, is the music program by being involved in something and dedicating myself to learning a new instrument,” she states. “It’s truly a great program, and it pays dividends in high school because you enter high school with this whole new family.” Belorusskiy also spent her time running with Longfellow’s cross country club and playing basketball at Cooper. She continued her involvement when she started attending Buffalo Grove High School, where she founded the TED-Ed club, and organized a TEDx event hosted at BGHS this past spring.
Belorusskiy’s growth in confidence allowed her to put herself out there and create numerous opportunities for herself, including her current internship role for Local State Representative Mary Beth Canty (IL-54). This summer, Belorusskiy has been working alongside a group of interns to raise support for Local State Rep. Canty’s office. Her role is to assist with state office functions, including door knocking and conducting research on bill proposals. This opportunity aligns perfectly with her next steps in life, including college.
Belorusskiy has just wrapped up her senior year at Buffalo Grove High School and will be heading to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., to study at their School of Foreign Service in International Political Economy. The decision to apply to Georgetown was an easy one, as the university checked every box for her. “I knew that I wanted to go into politics, I knew that I wanted to go into economics, and I knew that I wanted to study the world with a lens on peacemaking and diplomacy.” Her ultimate goal is to pursue higher education, and to work in international law to travel the world and help those in need. When she has a free moment, Belorusskiy enjoys many outdoor activities such as running, biking, tennis, and hiking, especially if it’s along the shore of Lake Michigan. She is an avid reader, a poetry writer, and also loves to continue her passion for music by playing the piano.
Belorusskiy’s time in District 21 taught her many valuable lessons. The main takeaway she had, though, was to take as many opportunities as you can gather. She states “There are so many connections and so many different opportunities that are there to serve you. District 21 has some pretty awesome programs and pretty awesome people that are good to get to know.” CCSD21 is very proud of all that Belorusskiy has accomplished and cannot wait to see what she does next!