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MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y. After receiving crucial help from others, Rozeline Curran felt the need to give back herself.
A lot of people helped me out when I was in need so I figured it would be nice to do something to help others out, Curran said.
The ninth grade student at Westlake High School moved to Mount Pleasant three years ago from Belo Horizante, Brazil and did not speak any English. She said it took her almost a year and a half to understand and use the language and become familiar with customs. However, with the help of her teachers and classmates, she has become a successful student in the Mount Pleasant schools. That work has inspired Curran to use a certain skill of hers to give back to others. Over the past month, Curran ran in two separate four and five mile races in support of deadly diseases, one for HIV/AIDS and the other for brain cancer.
Curran comes from an active family. Her mother is a personal trainer in New York City and she, along with Rozeline and her older brother, are all members of the New York Road Runners Club. On top of the runs, Curran and her family also take time to visit shelters for women that are victims of domestic abuse to speak with and cook meals for the women. After her first time helping others, Curran said she is addicted.
The first time you do it you just feel great and you want to keep doing more and more, Curran said.
Karyn Palladino, an English teacher at Westlake High School, was one of the instrumental figures in helping Curran understand the English language. Palladino had nothing but praise for her student.
Rozeline is just phenomenal from where shes come from to where she is today at this point with all shes accomplished, Palladino said. Shes great.
Curran also utilized her running skills by joining the Westlake cross country team this fall. Although she enjoys running, she said her true passion is actually in competitive weight lifting and that she typically trains three days a week for competitions. Despite school work and extracurricular activities, Curran has no plans to stop giving back.
In Brazil I didnt have the opportunity to help others since I was sort of sheltered, Curran said. Now I plan to take advantage of that opportunity.
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