Desirae Kindley

School: East Mecklenburg High, sophomore

About: She is a member of the Echo Foundation, Kids’ Voting precinct captain, volunteers for Project Unify with the Special Olympics, and is a special needs prom volunteer.

How do you see your life unfolding in the next 10 years? In 10 years, I would like to see myself active in my community and civically engaged. Hopefully (I will) have completed law school and continued on to practicing family law.

Brenden Carol

School: South Mecklenburg High, senior

About: He is a member of Mecklenburg Ministries Youth Council, the Echo Foundation, and B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. He also interned with Congresswoman Sue Myrick.

How do you see your life unfolding in the next 10 years? In 10 years, I hope to be a congressional staffer, fighting for the issues I care about through writing laws and influencing congressmen and women.

Sarah Kerman

School: North Mecklenburg High, junior

About: She is a member of GenerationNation and hosts her own blog, called Speak the World.

How do you see your life unfolding in the next 10 years? Advocacy through my writing, educating others, commitment to effecting positive change.

Poulumi Banerjee

School: Myers Park High, senior

About: She is president of Mecklenburg Youth Voice/GenerationNation, president of March of Dimes and Amnesty International at Myers Park, and is a member of the tennis team and the Echo Foundation.

How do you see your life unfolding in 10 years? At this time, I am attracted towards various different career options, and will ultimately pursue one where I can expand the frontiers of knowledge, create opportunities and make a difference in society ...I know my future will be defined by what I can build to make our society a better place.

Damian Walker

School: Harding University High, junior

About: He is a member of the Echo Foundation and Model UN; president of Future Business Leaders of America; and volunteers with Crisis Assistance Ministry and the Northside Hurricanes.

How do you see your life unfolding in 10 years? In the next 10 years I see myself becoming a very successful attorney. This past summer I had the opportunity to experience the “everyday life” of an attorney by participating in a law internship and I know that this will be the career I would like to pursue.