While most freshmen in her class will be settling into their college dorm in Syracuse, NY this fall, Sifan Hunde will be an ocean away living with a host family in Strasbourg, France as part of a discovery program hosted by Syracuse “I’ve always been interested in learning about other people and learning new things,” says Sifan. After taking French at Banneker High School for the past four years, she was interested in continuing to develop her language skills and thought, “How better than to go to the actual place?” During her time at Hardy Middle School and Banneker High School, Sifan has already had opportunities to study abroad in both Italy and France, experiences that she says confirmed her interest in exploring other countries. “It showed me what the rest of the world outside my bubble is like and I wanted more.” Having moved from Ethiopia to the United States as a child, Sifan says that she was already interested in global cultures, and that the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum at Banneker only encouraged that interest. “It emphasizes the importance of being more involved in the outside world, having a new world perspective.” Beyond the classroom, Sifan says that the 270 required hours of community service at Banneker provided her with ways to learn about her city and the world through volunteering at Martha’s Table and serving as a tour guide at the Holocaust Museum. “All of these activities made me understand the world in a different way.” #DCPSGoesToCollege
