Aniya (left) and her sister Anisha (right) as young scholars
My name is Aniya Lavender, and I am a 3rd year scholar at Bowling Green State University. I graduated from Willoughby South High school in 2023 and now I am double majoring in business analytics and international business, and I also have a minor in marketing so there is never a day where I do not have my hands full, but I am grateful for it all! Outside of academics, I serve as the vice president of Global Management and Leadership Society, and I manage marketing and public relations for Students of Color in Business.
I have been a part of the Breakthrough organization since kindergarten, and what a journey it has been! Beginning at Citizens Academy, from walking into kindergarten on the first day of school to receiving my first “diploma” at fifth grade graduation, I always kept close the values I learned from my time here.
As a young child, the significant impact the learning community has made on me shaped the way I approached challenges, built relationships, and carried myself in and outside of the classroom. Continuing from sixth to eighth grade at Midtown, I only grew more as a scholar and a leader, leaving my legacy as the 2019 class Valedictorian.
These early experiences that I will forever cherish laid the foundation for the person I am today, and I am proud to continue representing Breakthrough as I move forward in my personal, academic, and professional journey.
Aniya on graduation day, as Valedictorian
This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work as an IT summer intern with Breakthrough, and I can confidently say the skills I learned from this experience and the people I met truly had the most positive impact on my life. Being on the “other side” of the program gave me a new appreciation for everything Breakthrough has poured into me over the years. Going from a young scholar in the classroom to now contributing as part of the team, I grew not only in my technical skills but also in confidence, leadership, and connection. Most importantly, I felt the joy of giving back to the community that helped shape who I am today.
Thank you so much for everything!