2015 Learner Profiles

Kemi Babalola

Name: Kemi Babalola

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

What is your favorite book?:  I can’t choose one book, but I have two book series that I love. One of my favorite book series is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins because I love reading books about strong female characters. I love female characters that are the leaders and create change, not damsels in distress needing to be saved. My other favorite book series is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowlings. I love the ideas of friendship, leadership and a hint of comedy.

Give one random fact about you?: I am a big fan of the latin genre; Bachata especially Romeo Santos.

In class what kind character are you? In class, I participate a lot and ask a lot of questions.

If you were a fruit, what would it be?: I would be a branch of grapes because I am very outgoing and I constantly have ideas.

What do you think will be surprising about India?: I think the geographical diversity of India will be surprising because it has such historical buildings that have lasted decades and seeing them in reality will amazing.

What has been difficult about preparing for India?: The idea that I will thousands of miles from New York City has been a bit difficult because although I am excited to go on the trip, I have a familiarity with my city. I know where everything is, but I’ve always wanted to travel outside my city and experience something new. I have the opportunity now so I will take it.

How do you hope to be different after this trip to India?: I hope my perspective of the world will change because although I think I have a very open mind, it wouldn’t hurt to see life outside of my country. I also hope I share what I’ve learned with others.

Selena Campos

Name: Selena Campos

Hometown: Redwood Valley, California

What is your favorite book?: I don’t have a personal favorite book right now.

Give one random fact about you?: I can be shy when I first meet people but I like meeting new people.

In class what kind of character are you?:  I’m quiet and work better independently.

If you were a fruit, what would you be?: I would be a pineapple because I like pineapples.

What do you think will be surprising about India?: The difference between how we live in the US and how they live in India.

What has been difficult about preparing for India?: The most difficult part is getting the passport!

How do you hope to be different after this trip to India?: I hope to be less shy when I get back.

Leonor Garcia

Name: Leo Garcia

Hometown: Chicago

What is your favorite book?: Finders keepers by Fern Michaels

Give one random fact about you?: I am seventeen

In class what kind character are you?: The serious one

If you were a fruit, what would it be?: A Strawberry

What do you think will be surprising about India?: The food and area

What has been difficult about preparing for India?: The medical requirements

How do you hope to be different after this trip to India?: I hope to be more open to new things and more social.

Jeremiah Garland

Name : Jeremiah Garland, but I prefer people to use my middle name, Andre

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

What is your favorite book?: I honestly don’t have one, but I know that my favorite books are any of the ones written by my favorite author, Rick Riordan.

Give one random fact about you: Poetry and music are two strong passions of mine.

In class, what kind of character are you?: In class, I’m the kid that tries to make friends with everyone. I’m a very open-minded individual and I am very quick to accept a person into my circle of friends, so no need to be shy.

If you were a fruit, what would it be?: I would be an orange because I like oranges.

What do you think will be surprised about India?: I think that the different foods will be most surprising since it will be different tastes from what I am accustomed to in America. 

What has been difficult about preparing for India?: Trying to finish all of my summer work for my AP classes since I will be returning only two days before classes start.

How do you hope to be different after this trip to India?: I hope that seeing a new part of the world will expand my horizons even further and make me an even more well rounded person.

Emma Ottum

Name: Emma Ottum

Hometown: I originally grew up in Encinitas, San Diego. I then moved to Los Gatos in the Bay Area when I was 12 years old.

What is your favorite book?: I love to read and have read many enjoyable books. I would have to say that my favorite book out of all of them would be A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. The book is about a 23 year old-alcoholic and drug abuser and tells of his struggles through the 12 steps of rehab. Originally, I was reading this book as a true story and memoir, but sadly they found out later that the author made up a lot of the events. I would still advise reading it though.

Give one random fact about you?: my dream, when I was little, was to become a race car driver and I love talking about cars.

In class what kind of character are you?: The one who always talks too much and will get to know everyone in the class

If you were a fruit, what would it be?: A banana- I’ll supply you with my energy to keep you going through the day.

What do you think will be surprised about India?: I think seeing the culture and the poverty in India will be surprising. I’ve never been anywhere this far away, and seeing the differences of how people live there lives compared to how we live ours will be very interesting, and possibly difficult to comprehend.

What has been difficult about preparing for India?: Actually realizing that I’ve been given the chance to travel to India with such an amazing group of students. I don’t think it will fully kick in until I’m in on the plane.

How do you hope to be different after this trip to India?: I hope that I will be different in the way that my eyes will be finally be opened to the joys and struggles of what people go through living in India. You always hear about the poverty and overpopulation there, but can never full grasp how serious it is until you see it for yourself. I also hope that the culture will change me.

Francisco Ramirez

Name:Francisco Ramirez

Hometown: Hayward, California

Favorite Book: Cherub by Robert Muchamore.  It is actually a book series and I love every single one.  They are about orphaned children who are recruited to be spies for their athletic and intellectual capabilities.  They make the best spies, because who suspects kids?

Give one random fact about yourself: I absolutely love pizza. Nothing in the world is better, and if that could be all that I could eat, it would!

In class what type of character are you: I love having fun, but I always finish my work first.  I work hard in order to play hard.

If you were a fruit what would it be: If I was a fruit I would be a pitaya.  I would be that fruit only because it looks like a dragon made it with cool magical powers.

What do you think will be surprised about India: I think the most surprising part of India would be the vast number of people in such a small country.  There are 1.252 BILLION people on a country that is 1,269,345.07 sq. miles big!  It is going to be pretty crowded!

How do you hope to be different after this trip: I hope to be a lot more grateful with the things I have here at home, even the little things like being able to drink water from the tap without having to boil it.  Additionally, I hope that I can share the experiences that I will have with other people in order to inspire them to do similar things.

Ariana Roberts

Name: Arianna Roberts

Hometown: Alexandria Louisiana but I moved to Jacksonville Florida when I was 6 years of age.

School:  Bridge to Success High School

What is your favorite book?: I know it may be cliche but it’s the Bible

Give one random fact about you?: I do hair really well and I’m creative.

In class what kind of character are you?: I’m the goofy but very smart girl! I love to have fun but I kind of am s teachers’ pet at heart.

If you were a fruit, what would it be?: A watermelon because I love them so much and I’m hard in the outside, but I’m really sweet on the inside.

What do you think will be surprised about India?: I think just looking at a different culture will surprise me. Like how everyone and everything operates.

What has been difficult about preparing for India?: getting my passport because it was challenging to find time and making sure everything I needed I had with me. Mainly the mental part too because it’s a long big trip. I’m really nervous.

How do you hope to be different after this trip to India?: I hope to be more intelligent about the Indian culture and I hope to be open up to a new way of life. I also hope to be more independent and willing to try new things.

Kyre Smith

Name:  Kyre Smith

Hometown: originally born in San Diego, California. I moved around a lot and now my home town is Chicago Il

What is your favorite book?: my favorite book series is the demonata series by Darren Shan. It’s to hard to just choose one. Each book is connected through a character that is somehow connected to the main character from the previous book. The stories are not in order. Each story is about a demon of great power coming to the human world for different objects, some objective are as low as just feed off humans, and others can be playing a chess game with a families life at risk. It’s a really good read and I enjoy them.

Give one random fact about you?: I’m not exactly the most normal person you’ll meet, but I can be very quite at time.

In class what kind of character are you?: I’m quite and off to myself most day, but on other day I can be talkative

If you were a fruit, what would it be?: I would be orange just because once you get past my exterior you can see that I’m a pretty nice guy

What do you think will be surprised about India?: probably the trade market (if we get to see one) because I always wanted to see what I could trade for. Lol. Also the different kind of agriculture

What has been difficult about preparing for India?: obtaining the vaccination, but Mr.Abrams is helping with that.

How do you hope to be different after this trip to India?: I hope it helps me strengthen my story writing with my new experiences

Kadeejisha Walton

Name: Kadeejisha Walton

Hometown: Chicago IL

School: Chicago Military Academy-Bronzeville

Favorite Book: letters to a young brother

Favorite Color: Blue

Give one random fact about you?: I am a fun outgoing outspoken person

If you were a fruit, what would it be?: If I was a fruit I would be a kiwi

What do you think will be surprised about India?: What I think would be surprising is the food

What has been difficult about preparing for India?:What was difficult about preparing for India is the passport process

How do you hope to be different after this trip to India?: I hope I get a different perspective of different topics