Meet the Collegiettes™ Behind She's the First – An Amazing Nonprofit Promoting Girls' Education

One of HC's favorite not-for-profits, She’s the First is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for girls' educations across the globe. Started in 2009 by Seventeen web editor Tammy Tibbetts, She's the First and Her Campus aim to promote this cause by highlighting women who have made a difference in their college community. Here, meet collegiettes™ across the country we think exemplify the power of being the first. Then, you can pay it forward by starting a chapter of She’s the First at your university. 

Name: Kayla M. Le Goff

Age: 19

School: Fordham University

Major: Communication and Media Studies

Twitter: @kaylamlegoff

Website/Tumblr: http://bigappleappetite.tumblr.com/

Favorite Blog: Toss up between “Cupcakes and Cashmere” and “Amy Blogs Chow”

Favorite Book: Born Round by Frank Bruni

Mentor Who Marvels Me: Hands down, my mom

App That Makes My Life Easier: Twitter! Found my first internship because of it.

Favorite Quote in 140 Characters or Less: "If you take short cuts you get cut short."-Rev Run

I am the first in my family to: go to college! Growing up with parents who didn’t have the privilege of getting a higher education instilled a tough work ethic in me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their endless encouragement and support.  

This time next year I hope to be: Interning at Food Network.

Three words that describe me: curious, funny, friend

I want to change the world by: eating. Sounds silly, but we are all connected through food. It brings people together, and there’s no better way to explore a culture than with a great meal.

Name: Christina Myers

Age: 22

School: Hofstra University

Major: Broadcast Journalism and Sociology (double major)

Twitter: @ChristinaMyNews

Favorite Blog: http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/  Nicholas Kristof, writer for the New York Times

Favorite Book: The Lovely Bones

Mentor Who Marvels Me: Danielle Campbell, reporter and anchor for News12 Long Island.  I interned for her and she became like my second mom. She is such an incredible woman in that she has succeeded in this business without losing herself, her personal life or her love for other people.  She’s a rare breed—a journalist with a heart!

App That Makes My Life Easier: Twitter! It lets me follow the news every second from multiple sources.

Favorite Quote in 140 Characters or Less: “Eventually, we all become our own doppelgangers.”

I am the first at my college to: shoot a documentary in Ghana, Africa about communication and education in the developing country, while volunteering at a village school and orphanage. 

This time next year I hope to be: Working somewhere that makes me happy to get up every morning to do work that I am passionate about (now I just need to figure out exactly where that will be!)

Three words that describe me: trustworthy, determined, accepting

I want to change the world by: sharing the stories of people around the world, and promoting understanding by bringing people together over similarities and sparking discussion about differences.

Name: Tess Quinlan

Age: 18

School: Marquette University (Home of the Golden Eagles!)

Major: Broadcast and Electronic Communication

Twitter: @TessQuinlan

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TessQuinlan

Favorite Blog: PerezHilton--It's my guilty pleasure!

Favorite Book: The Great Gatsby

Mentor Who Marvels Me: Mike Quick

App That Makes My Life Easier: iStudiez Pro—It keeps track of all my classes and assignments. Once a semester, I sit down and enter all the information from my syllabi, which turns out to be incredibly convenient.

Favorite Quote in 140 Characters or Less: Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.-- John Wooden

I am the first at my college to: co-host and produce a sports radio show done entirely by women.

This time next year I hope to be: gearing up to go abroad to London.  

Three words that describe me: Enthusiastic, Genuine and Driven.

I want to change the world by: I want to teach the next generation of broadcasters proper and ethical journalism.  I also want to set an example for other women that it is fine to be knowledgeable about sports, while still maintaining a sense of independence and credibility.