Kimiya is a graduating senior from Manchester West High School. She joined EmpowerYOUTH, an initiative of Makin’ It Happen, as a Freshman.
We asked what made her take part in EmpowerYOUTH. She told us it “was the message of spreading awareness of drug safety. This organization realized that telling teens what not to do is not the solution. It’s about finding alternatives and educating”.
Her best experience with EmpowerYOUTH “was handing out t-shirts at the Fisher Cats. When people would walk by and read the shirts they would get this beam of hope. #LiveOnceThinkTwice. Change is in this generation and we are not all the problem”.
Kimiya imparting words are that “I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to grow and educate myself. Stay safe and fight for what you believe in”. She would like to be remembered as “the girl who was quiet but packed a punch”.
Kimiya’s plans past high school are to pursue a degree in psychology at American University in Washington DC.
We asked Kimiya who were the people that influenced her so far? She said “Ms. Brown influenced me to help teens through any challenges no matter their background. She encourages her students everyday and that has been such an inspiration”.
Ms. Brown, an Student Assistance Coordinator at Manchester West High School, had this to say about Kimiya :
“Kimiya is an absolutely amazing young lady. Kimiya is an excellent student and extremely motivated and involved, I have watched her grow from a somewhat quiet and reserved sophomore to a more outgoing and confident young lady. Kimiya is not one of those kids who claims to be involved in numerous activities but doesn’t really participate in much. She is just the opposite! Everything she gets involved in, she gives 110%! Kimiya is not one of your typical students, she has been through so much in her young life. She makes everything seem so easy and does it all with a smile and her ever sunny disposition. She is one of the kindest and most helpful students I have had in my twenty years at Manchester High School West. I wish her only the best in her future as I know she will shine”.
Congratulations Kimiya! We are so proud of all of your accomplishments.
