Washington High student studying in Spain, planning scholarship to help others do the same

While many 12th graders spend their final year of high school looking forward to graduation and college, Victoriah Reed will be doing those things and so much more.

Reed, a Booker T. Washington High School senior, will live and learn in Zaragoza, Spain. The 17-year-old was awarded a $63,600 full ride scholarship to spend September through May in Europe through the School Year Abroad (SYA) program.

“I always had a strong passion for studying abroad,” said the 17-year-old, who spent two weeks last summer studying at Oxford University in England and departed for Spain on Sept. 4.

“At Oxford, I interacted with about 40 other international students who were from China, Egypt, France, Spain and some Americans as well. I just knew I wanted to take my enthusiasm for travel and exploration further and study abroad for an extended period.”

Situated in the Aragon region of northeastern Spain, Zaragoza is one of country's largest cities and the capital of the Zaragoza province. With more than 2,000 years of history, the city is known for its cultural diversity, busy railway junction and as a trade center for agricultural products. SYA’s Spanish campus is also located in Zaragoza.

In March, Victoriah and her parents – Leslie Parson and Bart Reed – learned she had been awarded the scholarship. The SYA program places high school sophomores, juniors and seniors in one of three independently operated schools in Italy, France or Spain for one full-academic year. Students live with a host family, and the program includes extensive cultural immersion. Students are taught most courses in the host country's native language. Math and English are taught in English.

“At first, I was shocked, then ecstatic and I felt a rush of excitement. I have gotten more excited each month leading up to when I leave,” Victoriah said, adding she chose Spain because SYA requires students to have at least two years of the host country’s language.

“I have three years. I studied Spanish during my freshman, sophomore and junior years at Washington. I think Spanish is the most beneficial language to learn because of the high population of Spanish-speaking Americans.”

Victoriah will return home in late May – just in time to walk with her Washington High graduating class. After high school, she plans to study at a university in the northeast or abroad.

“I have always been very passionate about international affairs and want pursue a career in that field,” she said. “As far as career aspirations, I want to become an international lawyer.”

Victoriah is among the relatively few local students to have studied abroad. In 2021, Annie Pratt, a 2021 Pensacola High School's International Baccalaureate program graduate, put her first year at Kenyon College on hold after winning a U.S. State Department-funded scholarship to study the Russian language for a year abroad. Pratt lived in Moldova's capital, Chi?in?u, for one year with a host family that included two host siblings close to her age.

Manuela Palacio, a Gulf Breeze high school senior, also studied in Germany in 2022 through the U.S. State Department's scholarship program. Palacio is now a premed student at the University of Pennsylvania.

Victoriah, Pratt and Palacio all were members of the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council's Youth Diplomats program.

Jena Melancon, founder and executive director of the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council, touts the benefits of young people studying abroad.

"An exchange program gives students experiences like no other. They have to learn to adjust their expectations. They have to learn a different culture and learn a different language, which enhances their employability in the workforce later in life," Melancon said.

"Because they are having to operate in an environment that is different from what they grew up in, they are learning how to communicate more effectively, become better listeners and more empathetic. They also learn to appreciate their own community. The one thing about going abroad is that these young people find their inner strengths."

Victoriah already has plans to help other high school students interested in studying abroad.

“I’m starting a scholarship to cover the application fee for students who want to apply to SYA but don’t have the money or whose parents are unable to because of the cost,” she said, adding her goal is to support up to 10 students each year.

“Once students are admitted, I would like to solicit sponsorships from local businesses to pay their travel expenses. I know I will need a nonprofit organization for that and will be looking into fiscal sponsorship from local nonprofits that may be interested.”

Victoriah also created escambiaabroad, an Instagram account, to share more information about the scholarship.

An only child, Victoriah said she had been on cruises with her parents to the Cayman Islands, Mexico and Jamaica but this is her first time traveling abroad without them. Her mother said Victoriah always expressed an interest in other cultures and a desire to study aboard since she was a young child.

“When she was 3 years old, I bought her the book, 'Children Around the World,' and she carried that book with her everywhere. When she outgrew that book, I bought another book, 'Children Just Like Me,' and she took it everywhere,” Leslie Parson recalled, adding last summer she purchased “Smithsonian History of the World Map By Map,” for Victoriah.

She noted that Victoriah has always taken the initiative about her path.

“When she was in the eighth grade, she found a school that traveled to four countries, but the program only accepted 15 students. She wasn’t selected but that didn’t stop her. Victoriah later found the Oxford University program,” Parson said.

During Spring Break in March, Victoriah and her mother also flew to Zaragoza.

“I got a feel for the city, and I was OK with it. It felt safe, and I gained confidence in the SYA program. I also met the host family and I've been corresponding with the host mom since then," Parson said. "This is Victoriah’s passion, and I must support it. I think she’s ready for that bit of independence. I am going to miss her, and I am letting go a year early but she’s ready for it.”

Hannah Moorhead, Victoriah’s pre-AP English 2 Honors class and debate teacher at Washington High, is not at all surprised about her former student's adventure.

"Victoriah loves to travel, and she has a passion for experiencing and understanding other cultures. She's one of the most ambitious students I've taught, and I admire her gentle confidence. I’ve seen tremendous growth in Victoriah over the years, and it's been a joy to watch her develop in different ways," said Moorhead, who has known the teen since her sophomore year.

A well-rounded student, Victoriah is a member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, the Spanish Club and Washington’s cross-country team. During her freshman and sophomore years, she also was a member of the Pensacola Youth Council.

“When I first met Victoriah, she struck me as perceptive and sharp, and in class, her hunger for learning quickly became evident. She saw school assignments as opportunities to expand her mind, regularly contributed valuable insight to class discussions, and impressed me with her reading, writing and critical thinking abilities,” Moorhead shared.

“She also patiently assisted her peers when they needed help and always maintained a calm and humble presence. She has a unique ability to show empathy and open-mindedness for all viewpoints and people while staying true to her core beliefs and inner voice.”

Victoriah admitted she was a little apprehensive about her year abroad.

“I won’t return home for the holidays because SYA doesn’t want us breaking the Spanish language immersion. I am excited - not nervous. I am expecting challenges but I’m embracing the fact that I will endure them by mentally preparing myself,” she said.

Moorhead said she will miss Victoriah.

“She does not know complacency. Instead, she has a strong desire to become the best version of herself. She finds value in challenging herself and getting out of her comfort zone, and I think her time in Spain will be quite a formative experience. I already miss her!” Moorhead said.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: School Year Abroad program puts Washington High student in Zaragoza