Since her arrival in the United States, Anesa has shown her commitment to embodying the core values of the FLEX program and representing both herself and the program well. “I took the responsibility of being a good student, accepting diversity, and representing the mutual understanding between cultures[; these] are some of the ways I’m trying to represent FLEX and its goals. One of my favorite memories is sharing my culture during International Education Week.”
Anesa is a straight-A student with a full schedule that includes two college-level courses. This semester she is challenging herself even further by joining GBTV, her school’s Radio and Television team. Anesa participates in Business Professionals of America (BPA), the National Honor Society, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Anesa also started a culture club where she serves as president. The new club is focused on bringing a slice of all cultures to Shelbyville High School (SHS) and has provided opportunities for other exchange students from Balkan countries, Belgium, Italy, and Spain to present on their home cultures.
She is well liked by all her teachers and was selected as Student of the Month her very first month at SHS! Anesa spent her first semester as a student assistant, during which time she gave tours of the school to new students and showed them the location of their classes.
Beyond being selected as SHS’s August Student of the Month, Anesa has earned several additional honors this school year, including BPA-Diplomat Torch Award (December 2021), BPA Regional Conference First Place in Administrative Support Research Project (December 2021), BPA Regional Conference Second Place in Economic Research Individual (December 2021), and Civic Education Week Representative in April. Anesa’s first place winning research on Administrative Support discussed the advantages businesses would experience from partnering with artificial intelligence, and how the presence of robots and advanced technologies can help improve productivity and a wide range of activities. She will also be awarded the BPA Statesman Award during the State Conference Torch Awards Ceremony.
Anesa is on track to complete 100 hours of volunteering during her exchange year, with 87 hours already completed! Each morning before school she volunteers at the Student Bookstore. She has also volunteered at the SHS library, SHS food pantry, a Sunday school class at St. Joseph Church, a Refugee Camp Foundation enhancement activity, a Special Olympics Bowling Tournament, and more! Anesa even served as a Page for Indiana State Senator Jean Leising, where she was able to learn about lawmaking.
Anesa thrives on setting goals and achieving them. Reflecting on her ability to manage a wide variety of activities, Anesa’s host mom said, “I think her focus and dedication are tremendous and it showed real self-awareness on her part to identify what her true exchange year goals were.” Anesa is willing and determined to make the absolute most out of her exchange year.
Congratulations, Anesa!
