our volunteers help to create a community of future leaders
Young adults face one of life’s biggest milestones, marking an important step to becoming an adult with greater emphasis on independence and self advocacy. DTBY leverages community leaders and develops support systems to help nurture the resilience of these young adults.
Youth Inspire CommUNITY day hosts
Join us again on November 9th. We’re looking for volunteers for Nov 9th YICD: Pre event prep, Day of event Set up, registration, during the day, afternoon, evening.
2023 Youth Ambassadors
Alexa
Alexa Bio
Hello! My name is Alexa Fairfield, and I am honoured to be a youth ambassador for DTBY!
I am currently in my first year attending McMaster University and am committed to advocating for youth within our community because we are all leaders who help to inspire and initiate change in our future! DTBY has provided me with the opportunity to pursue my love for public speaking by become a voice for others.
In my spare time, I love to spend time with family and friends, exercise, read, and write! I am so excited to start this new chapter with an amazing group of individuals!
Kassia
Kassia Bio
Hi! My name is Kassia and I am so honored to have the opportunity to be a Student Ambassador for DTBY!
I am currently in my second year at Western University studying for my Bachelor of Science with an Honors Specialization in Biochemistry and Genetics. As the eldest of four, I went into university away from home with a reality that was a lot different from my expectations. I am constantly learning new life skills and hope to teach others what I have learned. Fun fact – every semester seems to bring me a new challenge to deal with.
Outside of school you can find me baking, learning to drive manual using my boyfriend’s car, making TIkToks, dealing with an injury (LOL), talking to my friends, and answering a Facetime call from my younger sisters to get the latest on seventh grade drama while virtually visiting my dog. In the summer, I love to go on big rollercoasters at Canada’s Wonderland and while I’m camping, go tubing and water skiing. I can’t wait to see what this year has in store!
Martyna
Martyna Bio
Hi everyone! My name is Martyna and I am super excited about fulfilling my role as one of DTBY’s Student Ambassadors!
I am currently taking a gap year, and in the fall, I’ll be starting my Bachelor of Science in Psychology program at the University of York. I enjoy playing piano, reading, biking, and going to lots of indie concerts!
Throughout my years of adolescence, I have been given the opportunity of meeting all kinds of individuals, and what pained me to see is that the vast majority of youth today struggle with a positive sense of self and consequently being able to show up as their authentic selves. As a student ambassador, I endeavour to help youth recognize their worthiness and inner power so that they are able to flourish and become a leader in the community.
I am so honoured to be granted this role and I look forward to what’s to come!
Madhav
Madhav Bio
Hi everyone! My name is Madhav Satija! I am a grade 12 student at Appleby College, in Oakville! I love spending time in nature, watching sunrises, and spending time with my loved ones! I am passionate about business and computer science, as well as inclusion, equity, and helping those around me feel happy and fulfilled each and every day!
I am happy to serve as a Student Ambassador for Dare To Be Youth, and feel excited and inspired by this organization’s efforts of providing youth with the resources to grow and succeed.
Liam
Liam Bio
Hi, my name is Liam, and I’m proud to be a Student Ambassador at DTBY! I’m currently studying in my 4th year of my Bachelor of Commerce – Management & Marketing at the University of Ottawa. Being someone who has moved away from the support systems I’m familiar with in my hometown of Georgetown, I understand first-hand the many issues students face daily. I wish to offer the tools I used to overcome the stress of transitioning from high school to post-secondary education. When I’m not studying, you can catch me swimming, playing video games, skiing, hiking, and binging the occasional Netflix series. I’m looking forward to meeting you all!
Tara
Tara Bio
Hi, my name is Tara, and I am excited to be joining the DTBY team as a Student Ambassador!
I am currently studying in my 4th year of my Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Marketing at the University of Ottawa. In my spare time, I enjoy playing soccer, painting, reading and spending time with my friends.
I know firsthand that entering university can be challenging and intimidating especially when moving away from home and trying to make new friends in a new environment. I look forward to sharing my experiences and helping others work through the stress of this transitionary period.
Thank you for welcoming me to the team and I look forward to meeting you all.
Community Engagement & Fundraising Committee
Barb Guilfoyle
Walk off the Earth
“If I could go back and share one piece of advice with my younger self, it would be to stop worrying so much about things that are out of my control. This sort of recurring anxious behavior is something that many of us struggle with, and we’re fortunate to be at a point where the public conversation on mental health is more out in the open than ever.”
“If you’re currently dealing with depression or anxiety issues, please know that you’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to open up to a friend or family member about it, and be sure to look inward as well. Taking the opportunity to regularly check in with yourself and create moments of mindfulness every day is incredibly valuable, and is something that I really didn’t understand the value of until I was into my late 20s. If only I’d had someone tell me about it back when I was in high school!”
“I was privileged enough to receive the grand honor of being Corpus Christi’s Valedictorian of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. And when I was writing my speech, I thought about the advice I would like to share with the current students and future graduates. I want to start by congratulating them on their strength, resilience, and bravery during this unprecedent time, but I also wanted to motivate them to be even better than they are now.”
“One of my favorite quotes from Disney’s Cinderella is to “see things not for what they are but for what they could be.” This means that when you are faced with times of trouble or uncertainty, don’t see it just as it is, but see it for something that is going to make you better. Is going to make you stronger. Is going to make you brilliant. With that being said, if you are a future high school graduate, or a teacher, or a parent, my advice to you is to simply accept the hard times, learn from them, and keep your eyes forward and focused on the beautiful life ahead of you.”