Florida Minja

“Since I was a little girl I wanted to help the people, I wanted to show the best of me, my good qualities helping other people who really need me.”

Florida Minja has always helped other people. When she lived in Albania, her home country, she spoke out against injustices she saw at her school. She stood up for herself and the other girls and talked to her principal about disparities in opportunities between the boys and girls. Not only was she brave for doing this, but Florida also became a perfect example for her peers because she used her voice to stand up for what she believes. Before coming to the United States, she did not know what community service was, but when she arrived at Bulkeley High School, Florida got involved in Key Club, Bulkeley’s community service club. Florida has served over fifty hours of community service since, volunteering for the Red Cross, Women’s League, and South Park Inn. Each of these experiences has changed her and made her more “helpful, caring, [and] nice as a person.”

Next year, Florida will be attending Manchester Community College. She will be studying marketing - a topic that she has been interested in pursuing since she was a little girl.