In today's episode of This Hits Different, Shelby Cassesse tells the story of Sewickley Academy's Jayne Miner, a world traveler who is helping people with MS locally.
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For Sewickley Academy Senior soccer and track player Jayne Miner, the world has always extended far past her Western Pennsylvania backyard.
"We have all these traditions and they're really passionate about their culture," Miner says. "And so, from a young age, I've been inspired to learn about other cultures around the world."
Her passport, already marked with an impressive amount of stamps for a teenager. But behind each stamp, new perspectives and connections.
Traveling with a Holocaust survivor in Poland. Hosing a free medical clinic in Belize. Immersing herself in Swiss culture for three months.
All through her school's global studies program.
"This program basically allows you to try different travel experiences, learn about the world around you," Miner says. "It's happening you into a global citizen, that's the main goal of the program."
And while helping and learning about communities around the world, she also dedicates time helping a community that hits much closer to home.
"My grandmother, she passed away from MS when I was younger," she says.
Jayne's family threw themselves into helping those impacted by multiple sclerosis, something she's continued through her high school years.
"For Christmas we'd go to nursing homes and hospitals and would give gifts to MS patients," she says. I" also attend the MS walk every year, sometimes the Bike MS and other things like that. Last year, I signed up and interned for the MS Society for a year."
World traveler, two sport-athlete, chronic giver may seem like a lot.
Add choir, student body president, acting, playing the trumpet, and that's just a glimpse into her life, soon headed toward college to study pre-med.
But no matter how busy she is - or where the next flight lands, Jayne hopes to better the world with each step.
"You're introduced to different communities and different members of your own community that you may not have had connections with before," Miner says.
"Obviously, I'm very lucky with everything I have and the education that I have and the opportunities that I have. So, I'm using the skills I've been given to give back and help out other people."
