Worcester Public School female seniors were offered the opportunity to submit a form as well as an essay or video to attend The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 12th annual Worcester Women’s Leadership Conference at the DCU Center, in accordance with the Susan Mailman Aspiring Young Women Leaders Scholarship.

The girls had to share something about themselves in the essay or video. Michelle Tran, a senior at University Park Campus School, couldn’t decide which format to do, so she chose both.

For her essay, Tran explored her leadership experience.

“I called leadership as being part of a family,” Tran said. “It’s not like you’re listening to one person. In a family, you’re listening to everybody.”

The video specifically talked about her own family. She said that both of her parents are retired, and one of the reasons she decided to participate in the Susan Mailman Aspiring Young Women Leaders Scholarship was for the financial aid for colleges.

“It’s a lot of work and work studies that I have to go through,” Tran said. 

Tran became one of the seven young women who were able to attend and take part in the networking, female empowerment, and discussion workshops. 

Tran attended multiple sessions throughout the day, including a session led by Adriana Vaccaro, the CSO of Culture Redesigned.The talk, “Building Dream Teams: Three Things Every Leader Must Know to Lead Effectively” focused on Vaccaro’s personal leadership journey and how leaders can effectively operate in today’s work environment.

“It was honestly great. Even though I’m someone who’s still in high school, I do a lot of teaching,” Tran said. “Today’s mainly an opportunity to get to know people, network, and be open to more opportunities.”

Tran teaches middle school students. Over the summer, she did a course through her school on middle school history. At her church, Tran leads a group about religion and god.

“It was really great to know how to make a team better, especially since after Covid,” Tran said. “My church group was around 200 kids. We’ve went down to less than 100, and we have less adults there to teach with us.”

Tran, as one of the older student teachers now, has to keep everyone organized and on track, while also managing course plans.

In addition to the teaching, Tran tutors members of her family, volunteers within her community, and helps out at her church.

“It means a lot (to be here), especially since a lot of people are looking for volunteers,” Tran said. “They’re looking for people to help out in the community, and that’s what my school is really all about.”

University Park is set in Main South. Tran said that since the school is on the smaller side, with about 240 students throughout seventh through twelfth grade, there is a lot of focus on the community around the building.

“By being here, I’m able to reach out to other people and let them know that we’re here and we want to help,” Tran said. “Please give us opportunities to be able to do this.”

Throughout the day, Tran said she met people who worked at organizations focused on ending homelessness. She said that the field of work is one that always touches her heart.

“It’s awesome there’s someone here that does a lot of work with that,” Tran said. “There’s also someone here who does a lot of work with nonprofit communities. I’m hoping to get part of my school involved with that.”

Tran though was hoping to find someone as a mentor throughout the day. She saw the Women’s Leadership Conference as an opportunity to look up to the other women, follow what they do, and be able to have someone to ask questions to.

Tran wants to go into anesthesiology.