Chiemela Anyanwu – Senior Spotlight

When Chiemela Anyanwu was in seventh grade, she enrolled at Milton Hershey School after her family decided it was the best opportunity for her to succeed.

“I had a pretty rough at-home situation. Finances were bad, and we could barely pay for school supplies. MHS seemed like the best option because we were really struggling,” said Chiemela. “Without MHS, I would not have gotten anywhere close to the same education or opportunities. My life would have been completely different.”

Originally from Baltimore, Chiemela took advantage of every opportunity available at the school to strengthen her skillset, deepen her knowledge, and discover her passions. Through the school’s Career and Technical Education program, she completed the Law, Public Safety and Security pathway where she found her passion for public speaking.

She also received several industry-recognized certifications and joined organizations that matched her interest in law, including the Mock Trial team which placed fifth in the state last school year. Chiemela also participates in the Temple Program where she is earning 17 college credits by completing college-level courses on the MHS campus.

Chiemela is pictured on the left.

“I already come from an impoverished background, so anything I can do to get ahead and match my peers outside of MHS, I’m going to take the opportunity,” Chiemela said. “The experience at MHS is going to really benefit my future. I’ve learned a lot in my career pathway, and I think I’m ready to go into the legal field.”

Chiemela will be attending Temple University in the fall to study international relations. Thanks to the college and career preparation at MHS, students like Chiemela can overcome the barriers of poverty and gain the confidence to succeed in various industries.

MHS students excel in and out of the classroom with individualized attention, opportunities to challenge themselves, and a strong focus on character and leadership. Many students develop strong compassion for others and the desire to give back to their communities.

“After college, I just want to be successful and independent. I want to work for the common good and help people,” Chiemela added.