Peru seventh-grader no stranger to civic affairs
Kayla Schuster was selected to spend a day at the Maine House of Representatives during the Jan. 13 session.
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer
PERU
On the surface, 12-year-old Kayla Schuster is an aloof, shy and quiet middle school student.

Closer scrutiny, however, paints a portrait of a young girl who has overcome self-esteem problems through participation in dance classes, and behind-the-scenes volunteer civic and community work.

Last week, that interest in public service garnered Schuster a trip to the Maine House of Representatives, where she worked as an honorary page for Rep. Randy Hotham, R-Dixfield.

“It’s exciting to see young people like Kayla, who take an interest in public service,” said Hotham, who serves in the 121st Maine Legislature representing Dixfield, Mexico, Peru and Roxbury.

He said Schuster helped distribute communications to members of the House during the Jan. 13 session.

“I got to deliver papers that talked about what they were talking about, and I got to meet all these cool people who work there, like Randy,” Kayla Schuster said Friday.

“It was cool being there for a day and seeing how things work,” she added.

Her parents, Bill and Janna Schuster of Peru, accompanied their daughter to the State House in Augusta.

“She was quite excited, and really surprised by all the attention she got there,” said Janna Schuster. “She likes to be in the public eye, and she likes to help the younger kids at school.”

Working for a day at the House also tied into her social studies class with homeroom teacher Jeff Mayo.

Mayo said the reserved seventh-grader had just completed a course in American government. She had even submitted a computer project on the Bill of Rights, he added.

“She’s a good kid, and she’s a very fierce competitor on the athletic fields. She’s involved in dance, softball, soccer and basketball, and she carries a full load of dance classes,” Mayo said Friday.

Janna Schuster said Kayla has attended dance classes with Debbie’s School of Dance in Rumford for the past eight years, learning tap and jazz styles.

“It’s really helped her self-esteem,” she added.

She also said her daughter, a church altar server, finds time to do youth ministry work at St. Joseph’s Church in Dixfield.

Additionally, Kayla has helped prepare the school’s athletic field for her parents, both members of the Peru Recreation Committee.

But her drive to participate in civic and community work is something she’s learned on her own.

“She’s come up with it all by herself. She’s much braver than her father and I are,” Janna Schuster said.

In September, Kayla did volunteer work at Mexico’s town office where her mother is employed as a bookkeeper. Janna Schuster said her daughter helped file documents and move materials during the end-of-year process. She also assisted with sewer billing needs.

“I had nothing to do, and I wanted to go to work with my mom,” Kayla said.

Town officials then honored Kayla, giving her Mexico’s special award for junior secretarial volunteer work.

That caught Hotham’s attention, causing him to send the youngster a congratulatory letter, and granting her an invitation to be an honorary page.

“Youth participation in civic activities strengthens our communities. Real life experiences are wonderful ways to foster youth involvement,” Hotham said Thursday.

Students interested in serving as a legislative page may contact Hotham at 287-1440.

“Hopefully, Kayla will share with her peers this experience, and encourage them to also be involved in civic activities,” Hotham said.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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