Brandon Twp.- When Emily Bretz returns to Australia on Sunday, she will have left her mark at Brandon High School.
The exchange student, who was here for a 6-month stay, will leave an enduring legacy in the form of a peace pole installed June 3 at the school, which along with her name and country’s flag, also will bear the names of four other exchange students that were at BHS this year, as well as the flags of their respective home countries. Besides Bretz, the students represented on the peace pole are Aygul Sayapoua of Russia; Arianna Giacomazzi of Italy; Minh Truong of Vietnam; and Eva Boettrich of Germany. The BHS peace pole project was initiated by local Girl Scout Troop 70153, whose emblem also adorns the pole.
‘I love the idea that I will always kind of be at Brandon,? said Bretz. ‘I think it’s all about making more friendships between countries and more peace. I think it’s a really good idea and good start and gives a bigger picture to these young girls of what should be happening in the world. I think everyone should get on, learn to compromise and work together a bit more instead of just wanting what they want. The peace pole sends that message out for peace among everyone.?
The four-sided pole carries the message ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth? written in English on one side, with the U.S. and Australian flags, in Russian on another side, Vietnamese on a third side, and then the same message repeated in German and Italian on the fourth side.
Girl Scout Troop leader Lynette Griffin said the scouts came up with the idea in February for World Thinking Day. They earned a badge by doing the world-themed activity to tie in with this year’s theme of peace through worldwide partnerships. The peace pole idea was a result of knowing that the community was hosting multiple exchange students. The Scouts met with the exchange students and asked questions about their native countries, including about their education and what they liked about the U.S.
‘They said they liked their host families a lot and some of them said their schools were the same and some said they were completely different,? said Scout Cara Davis. ?(Minh from Vietnam) said their teachers are a lot more strict, they can’t have cell phones or chew gum and they had to wear uniforms everyday… I like that we got to meet people from other countries and learn what is different (in their culture) and what they like. I want to go to Italy, because it just seemed like what Arianna was talking about is close to what we do here, but I want to learn their language and it would be cool to talk to other people in that language.?
Griffin said the girls stenciled letters for the message and Scout co-leader Janet Brinker used a router to etch them into the pole before applying a polyurethane coating.
‘I couldn’t have been happier, I’m so proud of our girls and the exchange students are just as proud,? said Griffin. ‘They were so happy to see this come together as a collective project. I would just like to see it continue to be a symbol for peace and having friends around the world.?
Bretz is sad to leave her new American friends, but excited to see her family back home.
‘It’s kind of bittersweet,? she said. ‘I think I’ve grown up a lot. At home, everyone thinks I’m an old soul, but over here, I’ve gained independence and learned to be resilient and I think I’m a lot braver than I was…When you get here, it’s the hardest time, you feel homesick and scared and don’t really know your host family yet. It’s a scary adventure, there are a lot of emotions that come with it, and it makes you grow up quick. I’m proud of how much I’ve done. I’d love to see a peace pole in my country. I really want to go and see if there are any in Australia. If there are some, that would be awesome.?