US Consul General in Florence Visits AVID Students

AVID students had the incredible opportunity to meet with U.S. Consul General in Florence, Daniela Ballard. During her visit, she shared her inspiring college and career journey, offering valuable insights into the path toward a career in diplomacy. The students, who came prepared with many thoughtful questions, were captivated by her honest answers and personal storytelling.

In preparation for the visit, AVID students used the Question Formulation Technique. They worked collaboratively to produce, categorize, improve, and prioritize questions after researching Ballard's State Department biography. This method ensured that their inquiries were thoughtful and relevant, leading to a more engaging and informative session.

Consul General Ballard encouraged the students to stay true to their goals, pursue what excites them, and always dream big. Her message was clear: passion and perseverance are key to achieving one's dreams. Mason, one of the students, was particularly surprised by Ballard's perspective on her previous career in banking. "Something that surprised me from her presentation is that she doesn’t regret working as a banker. This surprised me because she said she switched to her current job because she didn’t enjoy banking, so I thought this would mean she thought of it as a negative aspect. However, she claimed this was not the case since banking allowed her to pay off her student loans," he shared.

Tommy found inspiration in Ballard's career choices, noting, "Her story inspired me to think differently about my own future. An example of this is how she didn't settle on the first job that she found and rather found a job that let her do what she wanted to do. I think that's important because what's the point of waking up every morning if you don't enjoy the job you do."

Michael was struck by Ballard's unexpected career path. "What surprised me the most about Consul General Ballard's presentation was that originally, she didn't know what a consul general was and that she was not planning on going into that career. This surprised me as I’d think that you would want to do something you know, but instead she chose something new! Which was a massive risk," he remarked.

The visit from Consul General Ballard left a lasting impression on the students, inspiring them to dream big and pursue their passions with determination.