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ACS Scholarship - Previous Winners

Opportunity of a Lifetime
by Annie Ngo – ACS Student 2004

This summer I was exposed to an experience that no other teenager would ever be exposed to. I was able to travel at least half way across the world and study in a foreign environment to many people. I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to learn about English History, from very educated instructors from different cultural backgrounds. The students ranged from ages 14-18 years old, and I was able to relate to most of the students from different places.

Learning about their cultural backgrounds gave me a heads up about many things that were going on around the world. Being able to travel on trips almost every day, was very exciting to me. Even though I have seen most of the places in pictures, I was able to actually see the place in real life. The morning classes were very interesting to me because I have learned about English History in my History classes, but my teachers never went into detail like the instructor did. We learned about Henry VIII and all 6 of his wives, Shakespeare, and many other Famous Artists. The early 18th century art really fascinated me and I was really able to learn a lot about everything that was going on during that time period. I love traveling to Wales and to France, on those 2 trips we learned about the WWI.

Going to some of the places I was able to picture myself in the same position as some of the people that lived there hundreds of years ago. Learning about Shakespeare and his plays opened my eyes to many different situations that occurred during his times period. Watching the play. “Much Ado About Nothing ” at the Globe Theater was something that I would have never pictured myself doing. The evening study sessions were very detailed and the movies were extremely remarkable. I kept a very detailed journal that I know I will treasure for the rest of my life.

This experience has opened many doors of opportunities for me, and I am able to take these opportunities and run with them. If I was given this opportunity again during my lifetime I know I would jump to it. I know I am going to go far with my life, and having this experience I know I am able to go even farther than I ever expected to go.