Meet Sondra Anton

Sondra Anton is a local high school student interning with Carolina Navigators and the Center for Global Initiatives this summer. We’re thrilled she’s working with us. Here’s an interview I conducted with her this week. (This blog post was originally posted on the Center for Global Initiatives staff blog on July 6, 2011.)

> Hi Sondra, please tell us a little about yourself.

Next year I’ll be returning to Carrboro High School as a senior.  I’m really excited to begin serving as student body treasurer, and also look forward to playing on the women’s varsity tennis team for the fourth and final year.  I’m really interested in international studies, which are focused on through the Academy of International Studies at my school.  Because of this, I’ve gotten the opportunity to take not just Spanish classes, but also to learn Mandarin Chinese.  Two summers ago, I even got to travel to China with my classmates to take part in a foreign exchange program.

> Where have you traveled abroad?

I love to travel, and have been fortunate enough to go to many different countries throughout my life.  My father’s family is scattered all around the world, so I’ve gotten the chance to explore different cultures while visiting my relatives on special occasions.  I’ve been to Europe several times, including trips to England, France, Italy, Norway, and Spain.  Two summers ago, I traveled to China with my school and participated in a foreign exchange program.  Last summer, I lived in the Netherlands for half a month and worked at the Anne Frank Foundation in Amsterdam.  I’ve been very lucky to have had these experiences, and hope to visit additional countries in South America and Asia within the coming years.

> What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever eaten?

I tried so many strange foods during my trip to China; let’s just say it’s not the type of dishes you’d find at Panda Garden.  I remember once when we had chicken beaks covered in some sort of mango sauce… after one (very small) bite, I suddenly lost my appetite.  Another guy in my group refused to taste any part of the dinner, so his host family had to take him to a Pizza Hut in order to get him to eat!

> What do you like to do for fun?

I love playing tennis during my free time and spending time outside, especially during the summer.  I also love movies; comedies are my favorites, especially ones with Zach Galifianakis!

> Which country would you most like to visit? What would you like to do there?

Getting the chance to travel to a country in South America would be amazing.  I would love to be a part of the energy at Brazil’s Carnival especially, which I’ve seen and heard of but want to experience first-hand.  I would also love to go to Asia again; given the recent events and current humanitarian crisis in Sri-Lanka, I think that spending time helping those still stuck in relocation camps around the country would be a very important thing to do.

> Is there a book you’ve read recently that you recommend?

After the time I spent in Amsterdam last summer at the Anne Frank Foundation, I re-read her story “The Diary of a Young Girl” and would certainly recommend it.  It’s very easy to forget the past, and also to think that genocide and such human rights atrocities are no longer going on in the world.  For me, this book is an important reminder that there is a world outside of Chapel Hill, where people are still suffering like they did decades ago during the Holocaust.  And I’ll admit, I’m also a huge Harry Potter fan.  Along with the books, I’m really excited for the last movie (I’ve already bought my tickets for the midnight showing!).

> What are your post-high school plans?

I’m excited to start narrowing down my choices and applying to colleges in the fall, although I still am not sure where exactly I want to go yet.  In the future, I’m hoping to become a human rights activist or criminal lawyer.  However, at some point in the coming years I would really like to take a gap year and travel.  It’s one thing to learn about different countries, but getting to travel and experience life there would be an adventure worth having.

> How’s your experience been with Carolina Navigators and the Center for Global Initiatives?

Although I haven’t been at CGI for very long, my time spent here so far has been a great experience.  There are so many innovative resources and facilities in the FedEx building, and I’ve been amazed at the vast amount of global topics that are researched and focused there.  I’ve been spending a lot of time in the Carolina Navigators library, where I get to look through the contents of culture kits from countries all around the world.  Seeing all the materials and lesson plans has certainly taught me a lot and increased my interest in global studies.  If I were to sum up my experience in two words, I would say it is engaging and enlightening.

Thanks, Sondra!