Zaika Mahorowala (she/her) has years of experience in children’s education, and in volunteer work. She attended Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon, where she initially gained exposure to volunteering for different communities. Throughout high school, Zaika dedicated herself to helping the residents at Avamere Assisted Living, and she founded the club “Representation for Children,” which aimed to increase the amount of racial diversity in youth-oriented books and toys. Additionally, during her junior year of high school, Zaika was fortunate enough to host an exchange student from France, and to travel to France as an exchange student the following summer. Through these experiences, she strengthened her abilities to engage with a wide array of people. Moreover, these opportunities have also shown her the importance of learning about diverse perspectives in order to foster an individual connection to the global community.
In this light, Zaika believes every child should have the chance to explore novel ideas and environments. Since her junior year of high school, Zaika has sought to live out this ideal by working as a swim instructor. Instructing students and managing pool facilities on a regular basis has allowed Zaika to build upon her interpersonal, professional, organizational, and mentorship skills. But, most importantly, her job has highlighted the immense joy that is derived from facilitating the learning process for young children.
Beyond her passion for children’s education, Zaika loves to spend her free time reading, hiking with her dog, and horseback riding. A perfect day for Zaika would include an afternoon spent reading her favorite book, “1984,” in the park as her dog basks in the sun beside her. Currently, Zaika is entering her sophomore year of college as a history and political science major at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. While she may not have many moments to lay outside with her dog during the school year, she is looking forward to spending time this summer at some of her favorite hometown parks. Plus, above all, she is especially excited to join the community at Saturday Academy!