Student Spotlight

Nicole M.

Nicole M. is an outstanding student at our school. So great in fact that she has been accepted into People to People. She has been invited to spend twenty days in 4 different countries. She will be leaving July 21^st and will return either the 8^th or 9^th of August.

In 1956, People to People Ambassador Programs was made by Dwight D. Eisenhower. They take 30-40 students to experience different cultures, and also earn credits for high school and college. These 30-40 students are made up of students who have great academic skills, and go above and beyond average. Dwight D. Eisenhower had made this organization because he believed that if ordinary people from different nations were able to talk face to face, they would be able to solve their differences and find a way to live together in peace. The representatives of the People to People organization represent hope, courage, openness, and a love of peace for our country.

These amazing students will visit 4 different countries: France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy. They will learn about confidence and leadership, cultural understanding, world awareness, and friendship and memories. In France, they will learn about cultural understanding while they view Paris from standing on the Eiffel Tower. Then, in Austria they will ride a bobsled down the Alps. They will also spend some time cooking with Austrian chefs. They will also be able to gaze upon Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” in the Louvre.

In an interview with Nicole M. she had told me that she never knew she was eligible for it so it was a big shocker. “No I never knew about them until I got the letter,” says Nicole when I asked her if she ever heard about People to People. She also revealed that she was both nervous and scared about going over seas to different countries and being so far away from home, and she doesn’t know any other kids going on this trip. “We go to meetings every first Sunday of the month to discus where we will go and what we will do. We have to complete worksheets for this trip too. We even have to learn how to do our own laundry!” They talk about visiting even more places like the Coliseum and they will even have the opportunity to listen to a Mozart concert. And instead of just being able to talk to a survivor of a concentration camp in World War II, they will be allowed to go see it! “I have done a lot of fundraising because it costs a lot to go on this trip. I have also had to buy dress clothes because we need to dress up.”

She sounds really excited to be going on this trip and she has definitely earned it. Way to go Nicole!