Fanelia, 17 years old, 12th grade, Originally from Haiti, International High School of Prospect Heights

Fanelia, who hates the cold and would like to live her whole life in tropical weather, is interested in a lot of topics but is pretty sure that she will be a psychologist or pediatrician. She cares a lot about people and “I always put people before me”. As a natural leader, Fanelia has participated in leadership trainings and has been a mentor for kids in English for the last 4 years. She wishes to share with others the same opportunities she has been presented with in life “to help them new things that will help them in the future”.

Fanelia is very active in her high school, with the debate team, student government, Chinese Planning Council, her Church, Haitian club and much more. Fanelia has never traveled before in her life and understands potential as “an important possibility that you can become something in the future, to have the ability to make a change”. Fanelia wishes to address the needs of the homeless as well as health problems such as obesity and smoking. She says “I love it when people are living happy and content”.

Fanelia wished to participate in this program because “it is a good program that can provide me with lots of opportunities. Global potential will give me the opportunity to travel, learn a new language, meet new people, and most importantly, it will give me a chance to learn about myself while helping others. When I come back from DR, I will be a totally new person. I know that for real.”