The Profile of a Graduate: Villars Ghana-Bound, Ready to 'Save Someone's Life'

Anne Frank wrote in her diary:

"In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart … I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again."

Sixty years later, Chatham resident Jessica Villars was astonished to learn a Holocaust-like genocide was happening again in Darfur. Moved and encouraged by the diary, which she had just read in her eighth grade English class, an incensed Villars raised $500 to donate to the Genocide Relief Network, an organization committed to stopping genocide in Darfur and other countries.

That was in 2005. Since then, recent Chatham High School graduate Villars has raised money and awareness—through bake sales, door-to-door solicitations, and "awareness parties"—to stop genocide and human trafficking. Villars has decided to continue her volunteering efforts in Ghana, a West African country over 5,000 miles from Chatham. She deferred Oberlin College for a year.

Chatham Patch sat down with Villars to talk about her upcoming trip to Ghana, where she will be living with a host family and working in rural medical clinics.

How was graduation?

It rained, but it was a lot of fun. I really liked it. I loved (Valedictorian) Cam (White)'s speech. He's an incredible public speaker. He talked about how our grade was united. It was nice.

Instead of heading off to college in September, you're taking a gap year to live and volunteer in Ghana for eight months. Why?

I always knew I wanted to take a gap year. I always knew I wanted to volunteer abroad. I love volunteering. I wanted to experience a different culture. I heard about [taking a] gap year from my friend who had backpacked through Europe.

How did you decide on Ghana?

[The program] needed to be affordable, since I was paying for it myself. I wanted a program to work one on one with people. I chose Ghana over other countries because understandably, my mom is nervous, so we looked at the CIA fact book. Ghana is reasonably politically stable.

My mom kept saying, 'Go to Europe, Spain, France.' I wanted to go someplace where I felt there was a little more need, [where I] would make a more significant difference.

What will you be doing there?

Volunteering in rural medical clinics. I'm getting my basic EMT this summer.

Why's that?

I wanted a little more experience behind me. If I'm certified as an EMT, I've got more to offer.

Are you nervous?

A little nervous. I'm going to miss my family a lot. That will be the hardest thing. I'm excited more than I'm nervous.

What are you excited about?

I'm excited about meeting new people, experiencing a new culture.

Where else have you volunteered?

I volunteer a lot in the local community. I used to volunteer with EPIC at the YMCA for mentally handicapped. I volunteer at Morristown Memorial Hospital. I organize a group to make and serve a meal at St. Paul's men's emergency service, which is proving to be difficult because I can't cook at all. I've fundraised for the Genocide Intervention Network.

When did you start organizing volunteer efforts for yourself and others?

In eighth grade I started organizing things myself. I wanted to take control of my volunteering and go with causes I thought were important. I read Anne Frank in eighth grade and was really moved. I was appalled to hear that genocide was happening again in Darfur. For lent, I raised $500 (for the Genocide Intervention Network).

Where does your passion for volunteering come from?

Probably from my parents. They've always been generous. They kind of instilled it in me. They have that kind of attitude.

What kind of attitude?

An attitude of giving back. An attitude of a worldwide perspective.

What did your parents say when you told them about Ghana?

(Laughs.) We had many an argument about it. (My mom) freaked out. At first she thought, there (was) no way I'd go. (She wasn't) going to pay for it. I said, fine. I'll pay for it myself. After working for a year or two, I had enough money. My dad just wanted the facts: (the) place is safe, stable country, legitimate organization. He might think I'm too young for it.

Do you think you're too young for it?

I don't think so. I think it'll be a maturing experience, but this seems like the time to do it because it might be the only opportunity I get.  I know this is something I want to do and it's going to be a good experience and I'm ready for it. I've always been very independent.

What do you hope to gain from the experience?

Doing this will give me new perspective and help me to focus more (on what I want to do with my life) when I go back to college.

What is the best-case scenario of your time spent in Ghana?

I'll have helped a lot of people. I'll have a lot of stories. To be incredibly cheesy, I hope I save someone's life.

Finally, have you been watching the World Cup? (Ghana became the third African team in history to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament by beating the U.S., but eventually lost to Uruguay.)

It was awful! It was absolutely heartbreaking. I watched the U.S./Ghana game—we scored!

Wait, you mean Ghana scored or the US scored?

Ghana. I scream, yes! My mom is like, 'Jesse, sit down and shut up. Do the eighteen years you've been in the US not matter at all?'