Student of the Week: Aniyah Brown (Stripes Europe)
Aniyah Brown is a senior at Wiesbaden High School who has made her mark with her compassionate and positive character.
Brown did not expect to be experiencing high school overseas, but for the last two years she has embraced living in Germany.
“When I came my first day, I was a little bit lost and confused, but there were multiple people ready to come and help me. There were multiple people coming to ask me who I was to get to know me, so I got very comfortable very quickly and I found myself a group of friends very, very quickly.”
Brown clicks with people via school clubs and sports. She participates in volleyball and track and values the way that sporting culture allows her to meet other kids, both at Wiesbaden and at other DoDEA schools across Europe. This year, she was on the Wiesbaden High School girls volleyball team that won the European Championships. She credits the win to her team’s bond and confidence in each other. Being a teammate is something she takes pride in.
In addition to being a source of pride, Brown has enjoyed the travel opportunities that school sports have offered. “We are getting these new experiences from other countries that we wouldn’t have gotten in the States.”
She compares her small DoDEA school to the large stateside high school she previously attended and appreciates how at Wiesbaden she is able to meet and connect with a larger variety of people. She has been active in Culinary Club and the Red Cross Club where she “met a new group of people,” something uncommon at her previous school.
Brown has also found the counselors at Wiesbaden High School to be very helpful, supportive and welcoming. Miss Miller in particular has been an inspiration. Brown plans to attend Virginia Commonwealth University to initially study psychology and to continue for a master’s in school counseling. She would enjoy returning to the DoDEA school system as a counselor like Miller.
“Being a school counselor speaks to me the most because I’m not just teaching kids but teaching kids and setting them up for success through their daily life.”
In addition, she appreciates access to scholarships and future-minded programs like the Career Practicum she participates in. Brown has been able to spend school time getting workplace experience with the counselor at Wiesbaden Middle School.
Her advice to new students overseas is to not be afraid of coming to a new place. She stressed that DoDEA schools are full of other kids who are just like you and who have been in similar situations like leaving friends behind. At Wiesbaden High School, Brown is directly involved with helping new students get comfortable as the treasurer of the Student Ambassador Program. She loves to be the person that lends a helping hand.
“I’ve grown to see that there are a lot of kids who are nervous or shaky when they come here and… I’ve experienced the same thing. We are the same people.”
Check out a behind-the-scenes look at our interview with Brown.
