Getting Her Point Across the Globe

Kayla Brown is ready to roll. This all-American girl has gone global with a keen awareness that her window to the world goes way beyond her front door. The West Forsyth senior has plans that stretch from America all the way to West Asia where she will work as a Crisis, Stabilization and Governance Officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Kayla was accepted early to the University of Georgia where she'll prepare for her future with studies in International Business, Marketing, and International Affairs with an emphasis in Middle Eastern studies.

With an unstoppable work ethic and her tenacity for helping others, Kayla's schedule accommodates a 30 hour work week at Brewsters, mentoring foster children and maintaining academic excellence and advanced placement distinction at West Forsyth High School. Her efforts have paid off in many ways.

Accomplishments

Kayla was recently chosen as the recipient of two scholarships from Georgia United Credit Union ($2,000 dollars) and Sawnee Electrical Membership Cooperative ($3,500 dollars).

These scholarships were rewarded based on Kayla's outstanding efforts and success in attaining academic excellence and community involvement. Kayla's additional honors include Most Outstanding Witness Award for Round One of the 2009 UGA Regional Mock Trial Competition and Students’ Pick for Most Outstanding Attorney Award for Round 2 of the 2011 Georgia High School Mock Trial State Competition. Kayla is also honored as a National Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction.

These honors don't just happen without applying some serious focus.

"I look at life like a court case. With a mock trial, you have a short time-allotment to get your point across and to get it across well, so I consistently focus on the key points and watch as everything else just falls into place. I work about thirty hours a week on top of my school work, so time management is key for me," says Kayla.

Keys to Success

"Once I focus on getting the big projects, homework, etc. done, I have more time to focus on me and getting ready for college," explains Kayla. "My favorite quote is, 'The only person stopping you is you,' and so the more time I allow myself, the more time I have to open myself to opportunities and enriching life experiences."

"The idea of working in the Middle East first came to me after reading Greg Mortenson’s extraordinary biography Three Cups of Tea. In the book, Mortenson unpacks his belief that education can fight terrorism, inequality, and gender biases better than an army."

Well there you have it, Kayla Brown is a Whiz Kid who thinks and acts globally. As cultures continue to blend and work toward thriving in peace, America will be counting on Kayla Brown to make her point wherever she goes!