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My name is Felicia Franklin. I am 18 years old, and I am also a senior at Chartiers Valley High School. I am currently enrolled in two language classes: College In the High School Spanish 5 Advanced, and French 4. I had three years of German in high school, but a scheduling conflict restricted me from taking German this year. Even though I am not enrolled in German this year, I serve as the president of my high school's German club. Also for my senior project I taught three level one French classes in my school, and I taught two Spanish classes at Thomas Jefferson High School. Those are just some of my many accomplishments with foreign languages. As for the future, I am going to pursue a bachelor's degree in French and Spanish Education (double major) from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Someday I aspire to become an interpreter/translator for the government.

 

Some people might think that I am crazy for taking so many foreign language classes. I have to say that I was not always lucky to be able to participate in foreign language programs. When I went to a city school, there were no foreign language programs in place. It really upset me, because I saw that other schools had already begun to start these programs. Some conflicts arose in my personal life, so my family and I moved to Chartiers Valley. At the time I was in middle school, and there was a Spanish program in place at the Chartiers Valley Middle School. I was very happy to finally experience a program like this. Unlike all of the other students in my grade, I did not know as much Spanish as them (because they had it since kindergarten). So I had to play "catch up", and by doing this I realized how much I enjoyed foreign languages. By the time I was ready to transgress into the high school atmosphere, I saw that there were even more foreign language opportunities (French, Spanish, and German). I decided to challenge myself, and I took all three of the languages at the same time. Over time, I realized that my true passion in life was foreign languages. I was very eager to go to my classes every day, because I absolutely loved learning another language. What always fascinated me most about them was that, you can communicate to another person in another language from a completely different culture and background. Also by learning a foreign language, you can learn so many things about a new culture. By doing this, one can study abroad and develop new friendships and relationships. I have even found myself communicating with teachers, foreigners, and exchange students outside of the classroom. I can only say "WOW", because it is a really great experience that you have to try for yourself sometime. It will make you proud to see how much you have accomplished!

Leah Stiles is a senior at Central High School in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania and is the daughter of Reverend David and Mrs. Laurie Stiles of Curryville, Pennsylvania.  She studied French in courses French I through IV under the guidance of foreign language teacher Miss Louise Wilson.  She also studied one year of Spanish to gain a base of knowledge in a third language.  On and off throughout the school year, Leah is also a teacher’s assistant and an independent French V student under Miss Wilson’s supervision. 

            Also at Central High School, Leah is the closing attorney on the Mock Trial team.  The participating students are this year’s Pennsylvania state champions and recently took tenth place in the nation.  She is also the senior class president, an avid Ski Club member, the tennis team captain, a Rotary student of the month, the treasurer for the National Honor Society, and a full-tuition scholarship winner to her college, Regent University in Virginia. She hopes to study law and government with a French minor in order to pursue justice worldwide.