Leaving a Cushy Lifestyle for Tanzania
The Autumn 2009 issue of Kappa Alpha Theta magazine features a wonderful article on Washington and Lee alumna Alexandra Schaerrer of the Class of 2002 and her work with The School of St. Jude in Arusha, Tanzania, East Africa. The piece refers to Alexandra’s work with Head Start during her undergraduate days at W&L, quoting her as remembering: “It was a wonderful thing to pay attention to these little ones, as they obviously craved it.” St. Jude has 1,200 of the brightest and poorest children in Tanzania, and each student has a sponsor who covers all their costs. By choosing to become the marketing director of the school, Alexandra told the magazine: “I wanted to put my money where my mouth is. Not just talk about making a difference, but actually really get up, leave behind my cushy lifestyle, and get my hands dirty.”