Senior Abigail Pio, Battalion commander, for the 2017-2018 Phoenix Military school year participated in an exclusive program during the summer for three weeks. She participated in a Duke University internship in North Carolina as part of a leadership building program.

“What inspired me to apply was my passion for working in the leadership world in the future,” said Pio.

While staying at Duke University, Pio not only learned how people from different cultures resolve issues, but also embraced her roots and learned to advocate for them. At duke Pio meet people of different backgrounds and learned how to work with them as a team as well as an working as an individual. She embraced her differences and learned that her culture adds to her identity, as it does with everyone else.

Pio  learned that just because being far from home might be scary, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t be worth it, and that sometimes change can be good and help improve and better oneself.

She not only learned how to become a better leader, and solve problems with people of different cultures and identities but also to help others embrace their roots and be proud.

“Duke extremely impacted me. I made great friends there, learned about different world cultures, and who I really am,” said Pio.