Ariana Desouza, a sophomore here at Coral Glades, is a highly accomplished staff member of the school’s newspaper. After joining The Prowl in her freshman year of high school, her passion for writing has been showcased throughout the various articles published under her name, some of which have been featured on the website on separate occasions. Newspaper, however, is not the only area she shines in.
With her stellar academic performance, Ariana has demonstrated her dedication and willingness to learn in a classroom setting. Her attitude towards her school work is thoroughly reflected in her grades. Starting her high school career with a 4.0 unweighted grade point average (GPA), Ariana has only continued to build upon it, taking honors, AICE, and Advanced Placement courses, all of which are specially weighted. With this impressive course load, Desouza has managed to earn Honor Roll awards quarterly, setting an example for her fellow peers and serving as a beacon of inspiration for many. “Maintaining high grades can be a bit tedious at times, but I recognize that it is definitely important to give it your all, especially when it comes to your future,” says Ariana.
Not only is she devoted to her present goals, but her aspirations are great. Ariana has mentioned aiming for The Cambridge AICE Diploma, or Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education. This diploma ensures the Bright Futures scholarships for residents of Florida and is highly coveted amongst many in the AICE program. To achieve this, one must take seven credits worth of Cambridge classes offered at the school. Each class must be carefully selected, as there is a criterion for the diploma based on subject grouping. Along with this, the AICE Global Perspectives and Research class is a required credit for the diploma. This is definitely quite a feat to pull off, as it is mandated that students earn the seven credits within a span of three years. Ariana herself hopes to reach this goal by the end of junior year and is already roughly 30% of the way there. Usually, only a fraction of a graduating class manages to reach these standards, which really sets Ariana aside from the rest.
Not only does she raise the bar academically, but as a person too. Ariana has been a project leader for the non-profit organization HandsOn South Florida for a few years now. The organization can always use some extra help when it comes to managing projects and keeping the community engaged, which is where she comes in. Ariana has been volunteering with HandsOn South Florida for years now, which has truly given her both the confidence and compassion it takes to be a leader.
Ariana Desouza shares, “Honestly, I truly love being able to lend a helping hand wherever I can. HandsOn South Florida has done amazing things for our community here in Broward, and I’m just grateful to be a part of that.”
Academics and community service aside, Ariana Desouza is genuinely an amazing person and friend. As someone who’s known her for eleven years, I’m pretty sure I know what I’m talking about. It’s clear to see that she’s going places; after all, what can’t she do?
