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Meet the 2007 Student Ambassadors

Hanae

I am a tenth grade honor roll student at McKinley Senior High school enrolled in the Broadcast Technology Program. I am blessed to have a strong family foundation with my mother, sister, grandmother, uncles and aunts supporting me in all that I set out to do.

My involvement in various groups and organizations, such as the Mayor’s Youth Leaderhsip Program, the Best Friends Foundation, and the jazz choir, has helped to be a positive influence in my life. I am also a member of two dance groups: “Smooth N EZ,” a hand dance group, “2 The Extreme,” a hip-hop group. Dancing is one of my passions. Being a part of these groups and organizations has allowed me to meet all types of people and to stay focused on the positive things in life.

Going to South Africa would be a wonderful experience that would allow me to see some of the hardships Africans are facing. This will allow me to actually see the affects of Apartheid, which is a topic I have been researching. I would like to see how the African youth live. It seems the things we take for granted are luxuries to them. Not only do I want to learn about their culture but I would like to inform them of mines as well. I believe that being able to share our stories will be beneficial to us both.

Kiara

I am an eleventh grader at Marriott Hospitality High School. Throughout my life, I’ve liked helping people with there problems, giving them advice and being there as a shoulder to lean on. I would like the opportunity to talk with kids from other countries, and learn about problems they face. It would be great to find out how other countries go about their everyday lives. I appreciate all of the things that I have in my life, and I do not want to take any them for granted. If I get picked to travel on this trip, I know it will. Traveling to South African will change the way that I look at things and help me to better myself, as I learn more about different cultures.

Aside from working hard in school, and wanting to help people, I like hanging out with my friends and dancing. I am currently a member of two dance groups: “2 The Extreme,” and another dance team I started at my school.

Natasha

I am in the 11 grade and attend The School Without Walls. As a girl scout of the nation’s capitol for the past twelve years, I have continuously been motivated to venture out of America to study abroad. I wanted to learn more not only academically, but culturally as well. The only question was where? I visited Niagara Falls , Canada and felt motivated to journey to other places after that experience. In my eighth grade African-American history class, I learned of the movement powered by Marcus Garvey to get Blacks back to Africa . After this lesson, I was determined to make it to the motherland and witness the importance of more United Nations and African Union support in and around Sudan ’s Darfur region. I have a yearning for international politics and plan to go into international medicine. I love having this opportunity to experience the lifetime rewards of visiting Capetown , South Africa .