A junior at Academy of Notre Dame, Anna O’Neill is an energetic International Scholar, and has participated in plenty of international dialogue periods on matters reminiscent of “Decoding the Information” and the conflict in Ukraine, and she or he additionally has been concerned in “pen pal” fashion international periods with Notre Dame’s sister faculty in Singapore. She was chosen to be a member of Congresswoman Mary Homosexual Scanlon’s Congressional Youth Cupboard, and not too long ago utilized for the Citizen Diplomat Academy. O’Neill will probably be one of many members within the STEM Symposium, a one-week occasion subsequent summer time with six sister colleges in six international locations – Argentina, Canada, Japan, Peru, Singapore, Taiwan and the UK. She is also a member of Mannequin UN, Mock Trial, Spanish Membership, Pupil Council, Pupil Ambassadors, American Signal Language Membership and Ladies in Management in addition to Academy of Notre Dame’s Inter-Ac champion cross nation crew.
Principal Line Media Information: Are you able to inform us a bit concerning the International Scholar program, and what you might have gained from it?
Anna O’Neill: Being a world scholar is studying to take a look at international points, worldwide affairs, and completely different cultures and creating a capability to maintain an open thoughts to see different views. This can be a key high quality to intention for not simply as a world citizen however in life. After we see others’ views on points, it permits us to work collectively which is the important approach we are able to collectively develop and alter the problems we need to be resolved. It is rather clear that all of us have variations, however within the international scholar program, the primary aim is to search out our similarities to hunt the change we want to see. This 12 months’s focus in 12 months two of this system is recognizing views, final 12 months’s focus was investigating the world, and I look ahead to combining our focuses subsequent 12 months after we discover the communication of concepts.
Principal Line Media Information: What has been probably the most fascinating factor you might have realized by the worldwide dialogue periods?
Anna O’Neill: Getting to attach with individuals my age in varied components of the world is unquestionably fascinating by itself, however discussing sure matters or present occasions and the way they have an effect on us otherwise or equally has completely modified my views on issues. I used to be chosen to the GEBG pupil management council the place we get to provide suggestions and ideas to assist create the dialogues. The council comes up with matters which can be aimed to create an efficient dialogue for collaborating college students. In a dialogue this fall concerning the Battle in Ukraine, a lady in a breakout room from Turkey shared the deep results this conflict has on her and her nation being so shut geographically to each international locations. In one other expertise, the worldwide periods with the St. Nicholas Ladies’ Faculty in Singapore, I keep in mind being so intrigued when the women in Singapore stated how ladies usually are not anticipated to maneuver out of their properties till they’re married.
Principal Line Media Information: Are you able to inform us a bit about Congresswoman Mary Homosexual Scanlon’s Congressional Youth Cupboard, and a few of its most fascinating actions? What has been your most memorable expertise with this system?
Anna O’Neill: Congresswoman Mary Homosexual Scanlon launched the Congressional Youth Cupboard (CYC) as a nonpartisan initiative to supply highschool college students in Pennsylvania’s fifth Congressional District with a chance to be taught extra about Congress and the policymaking course of. Members of the CYC get to share their concepts about fixing urgent points dealing with younger People. We meet month-to-month, at her district workplace in Chester. At our final assembly we mentioned with Congresswoman Scanlon the election and voting rights roundup; it was very memorable to listen to firsthand from a Home consultant. In spring, the congressional youth cupboard might have the possibility for a day journey to DC to see the legislative course of up shut.
Principal Line Media Information: What sparked your curiosity in becoming a member of the Citizen Diplomat Academy?
Anna O’Neill: My curiosity in making use of was sparked by the truth that half the academy could be made up of Philadelphia college students and the opposite half from exterior the US, all of whom have an interest on this planet’s most urgent challenges and studying about social innovation and entrepreneurship. I benefited from listening to from visitor audio system, particularly Benislos Thushan, Founder and Chief Architect of Digital Storytelling. He’s from Sri Lanka, and supplied his expertise in social innovation and the way he navigated by it. When signing up, understanding the change meets nearly each Saturday for just a few weeks and having assignments weekly would maintain me linked, engaged, and excited to construct connections with my classmates. The change has given me some ways to use what I’ve realized to my research and life. I’ve now acquired my diploma from the academy, which provides me one 12 months of free entry to the academy, entry to the Alumni Portal, details about change applications, examine overseas and mentorship alternatives, volunteer tasks, and worldwide internships.
Principal Line Media Information: What’s your favourite e-book, and why?
Anna O’Neill: My favourite e-book is To Kill A Mockingbird. Once I first started studying it for college just a few years in the past, it felt like an task, however as I caught with the e-book, it began to piece collectively for me and was one of many sparks that made me within the regulation system.
Principal Line Media Information: Who’s your favourite creator, and why?
Anna O’Neill: My favourite creator is Bryan Stevenson. Once I learn his memoir Simply Mercy within the eighth grade, it opened my eyes to incarceration in the US. Studying about his personal expertise as a lawyer working along with his deprived shopper impressed me to analysis extra concerning the non-profit he began, The Equal Justice Initiative, which works to finish mass incarceration, extreme punishment and racial inequality.
(To be chosen as Principal Line Pupil of the Week, a pupil should first be nominated by his or her faculty.)
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