Alexandra Adams got her start in 4-H in sixth grade when she joined her local poultry club. From there, she learned leadership and public speaking skills that helped her launch her career as a teacher.
No matter what they choose to do after leaving the program, 4-H alumni make a difference wherever they go. In our series of alumni highlights, Pennsylvania 4-H explores the work and achievements of former Pennsylvania 4-H'ers around the state and throughout the country. This month, we are featuring alumna Alexandra Adams, who was a 4-H member in Delaware County for seven years.
Adams got her start in 4-H in sixth grade when she joined her local poultry club. From there, she quickly branched out into garden, beef, swine, and dairy clubs. "It was a special experience in Delaware County at that time because all of the animals and the gardens were located at the 4-H farm as we lived in a very suburban part of Pennsylvania," she notes, "We would have a chore day, and we would go to the barn and do chores for that day."
She also became involved in leadership experiences through her local teen club. "Being a part of the teen club was a very special experience," Adams explains. "The teen club got to go to the State Leadership Conference every year and that was what really opened me up to public speaking and experiencing all the different things 4-H had to offer across the state. Visiting the Pennsylvania Governor's mansion, visiting Kentucky 4-H, and many more experiences like that were central to me becoming the person I am today." Eventually, Adams also became a member of the Pennsylvania 4-H State Council. She notes that her time with State Council was a unique experience. "It truly gave me the opportunity to grow my leadership in new ways I never would've experienced otherwise," she adds.
Since aging out of 4-H, Adams has pursued a career in education. She is currently an elementary school teacher in Delaware in the Colonial School District. She is also working towards becoming a school principal and is in the midst of earning a master's degree in school leadership. "As a teacher, public speaking is very important in my interactions with families and staff," she notes, "I present often to my district, and the presentation skills I gained in 4-H guided me to be such a strong presenter today."
"4-H taught me so much that has been applicable to my college and career," adds Adams. "There were simple things like taking notes in a meeting as secretary, crafting an agenda as club president, and remembering snack when I signed up to bring it were all skills that I continued to use in college and my career as a teacher. Then there were more advanced skills such as public speaking in my role as a state representative. I learned how to write thank you cards to show my appreciation to others. In college I ran multiple conferences, held leadership roles such as president of organizations, and was a student teacher. In each of these experiences, I was able to lean on my skills I gained in 4-H."
When asked what advice she has for current 4-H'ers, Adams says, "I would tell current 4-H'ers that everything they do in 4-H is amazing experience for their future lives," she adds, "take every opportunity 4-H gives you."
