Sensational Summer Experiences

by Mylah Howard ’10 :: Features Editor

Hanging at the pool, going to the movies, and random family trips! You think your summer was amazing? Take a look at our students’ experiences. Summer ’09 was full of excitement, pride, and compassion for many of them.

Hope Wiseman ’10 won the title of “Miss Outstanding Teen District of Columbia” in mid July. She later traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete against fifty-four contestants in the Miss America Outstanding Teen contest. She describes the experience as “Exciting!” and said, “I wish I would have cherished the experience more.”

Daniel Artin ’10 traveled to Addis Abab, the capital of Ethiopia, for volunteer work with Artist for Charity. Artist for Charity is a non-profit organization that is founded on the belief that all people, regardless of place of birth, sex, or current medical condition; are entitled to certain basic rights, especially education and healthcare. Daniel worked with sixteen orphans who were all living with HIV. He taught different subjects such as English, Math, and Chemistry.

Kendall Williams’10 landed a job working with Novel Teens Ink as a journalist. Her work was published five times in the District Chronicles, a free publication in D.C, and 360 Secz, a Hip-Hop Magazine. Her Work Can be found at the restaurant Bus Boys and Poets.

Ava McCoy ’12 had the chance to travel to China with the People to People Student Ambassador Program. On her seventeen day adventure, she saw The Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors, and she went to the location where the 2008 Beijing Olympics took place. Ava describes her experience as “Eye opening!”

Jacqueline Wills ’10 was selected to participate in a two week musical theater and drama intensive workshop at Signature Theatre in Shirlington, Virginia. On July 23, the fifty participants performed in a showcase on the Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C. She describes her experience as “Extremely intensive.” She said, “I would eat, sleep, act. It taught me a lot about the business.”

Shannon Anderson ’10 participated in a Lead America Medical Conference. The conference was held at the California Berkley Medical Center. She was able to learn about various types of medical fields, get to know teens that all had the same love for medicine as she does, and visit Pier 39 and the Golden Gate Bridge. She said, “It was amazing, I learned a lot. I made so many friends; everyone was so different!”