Vestavia student attends Princeton diplomacy program

Vinzent Wesselmann, a junior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and an alumnus of Pizitz Middle School, recently represented Alabama at the High School Diplomats program (HSD) at Princeton University. 

HSD is a full scholarship program that selects 40 American students and 40 Japanese students to spend 10 days at Princeton University, educating one another about their respective cultures and creating a better understanding between the two countries. 

“It is rare to find programs that can change your way of thinking and inspire you to do things you never imagined of in less than two weeks. High School Diplomats (HSD) is one of those programs and has created what I believe to be some of the strongest friendships with people who live halfway around the world,” Wesselmann said. 

Each American student is paired with a Japanese roommate, and they overcame language and culture barriers together. Students also gave presentations on education, social issues, geography or the government in our respective countries. 

One particularly meaningful day was the anniversary of the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Students from the city of Hiroshima prepared a presentation for that day.

Wesselmann said this experience broadened his worldview. American participants shared their knowledge of Halloween, prom, pep rallies, Thanksgiving and Independence Day. In turn, Japanese students introduced the Americans to the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, various forms of Japanese martial arts, sushi making, traditional Japanese clothing and calligraphy.

To learn more about the program, visit highschooldiplomats.com.

- Submitted by Vinzent Wesselmann