Leah Koch – Founder, Project Laughter

By Muriel Vega

Aiming for University of Southern California, Leah Koch, 17, is crossing her fingers for that acceptance letter in April. “I really want to go to USC,” she says. “I’m hoping to study theater in college, keep working with the Girl Scouts and lead my own troop one day.”

Koch has the innate skills of a leader. A resident of Chicago and part of the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, she was among the 10 young women recognized for extraordinary leadership in 2009. They earned the Girl Scout Gold Award – the highest award in Girl Scouts; received by fewer than six percent of all Girl Scouts. She created Project Laughter to bring joy to hospitals and school programs citywide. It’s now used as an educational tool in many schools.

She talks to PINK about her original play, her love for chocolate and how one day you might see her in the Oscars, holding her own gold statue.

PINK: Tell me about Project Laughter and its ultimate goal.
Leah Koch: I wanted to work with kids and reach kids around Chicago. The way to do that was through theater since that’s what I’m passionate about. I’ve been doing theater since I was 10. I wrote a play for kids for my Girl Scout Gold Award project. It’s called The Wonderful and Amazing Adventures of Princess Clementine. I got some friends from my theater troupe at school and we performed at children’s hospitals, after school programs and reached a bunch of different kids. When the project was done, I wanted to find a way to continue so I turned the play into a picture book for kids. The goal was to spread the message of self-esteem and confidence in a way that was fun and accessible for kids.

PINK: How did you come up with the idea for Princess Clementine?
L.K.: She is a regular girl but she doesn’t quite fit in. It’s an important lesson to teach young girls, something I’ve always been taught in Girl Scouts, that you need to love yourself. I wanted Princess Clementine to show that once you have self-confidence, it’s easy to make friends and be a part of what’s around you.

PINK: What do you think about women leaders today? Do you have any that you look up to?
L.K.: I think we’ve come such a long way with women and power and there’s still a long way to go. There are so many terrific role models for girls. Like Christina Fernandez, President of Argentina. I love her; I think she’s amazing. We still need more women in power and in more places so girls can look up to them.

PINK: If there was one thing you wish you knew when you were younger, what would it be?
L.K.: Never be afraid to ask for help, because that’s a hard thing for people to do. That’s a very important lesson when you are young., I would’ve loved for someone to have told me. So reach out to the person who can help you achieve whatever it is that you want. All someone can say is “no.”

PINK: How do you feel about being a role model for younger girls?
L.K.: It’s really amazing and humbling. Something that shouldn’t be taken for granted or lightly at all. I cherish this opportunity to reach younger girls and whenever I see younger girls looking up to me, I see it as an opportunity.

PINK: Who’s your mentor and how have they helped you grow as woman leader?
L.K.: My dad – I know, not a woman. [laughs] He encourages me and supports whatever it is I want to do. He helps me work out my problems and makes sure that I’m not giving up. If I feel like giving up, he’s not going to let me. He’s always pushing me to be the best I can be.

PINK: How do you stay grounded with so much going on (school, extracurricular activities, friends, etc.)
L.K.: It’s definitely hard, especially when you are a teenager and you kind of forget that you are not the center of the universe. I think that’s what friends and family are for – to remind you of the important things that are going on in the world and to have perspective. The idea that we want to make a better world for those coming after us. That keeps me motivated. I want to make them proud. I also love baking.

PINK: What is one personal goal you haven’t yet achieved?
L.K.: I want to win an Oscar. [laughs] Really!

PINK: What don’t people know about you?
L.K.: I don’t think it’s much of a secret, but I’m addicted to chocolate. I hate the snow – I love Chicago but I wish I lived someplace warm.