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OFM_Stars_4_19_Central_Stars 3 / 21 / 19 3 : 46 PM Page 1 OrlandoFamily STAR WRITER Christopher Forsyth Thornebrooke Elementary first - grader Christopher Forsyth was awarded the honor of Overall Winner at the city of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Black History Month Essay Awards Ceremony . STAR ATHLETE Katie Rudow Lake Mary Preparatory freshman Katie Rudow set a school record with 14 three - pointers in a game against Central Florida Christian Academy . Averaging 16.2 points per game , she is the top scorer of the varsity basketball team . STAR THESPIANS Lake Highland Preparatory School Students Thirty Lake Highland Preparatory Middle School students com - peted in the Florida State Jr . Thespian Festival at the Orange County Convention Center , taking home six superior awards . STAR MUSICIAN Jerry Lin Thirteen - year - old Jerry Lin , of Dr . Phillips , won a Certificate of Excellence from The Royal Conservatory of Music for scoring top marks on his level 2 piano examination . The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of the largest music education organizations in North America with more than five million alumni around the world . ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM april 2019 ORLANDO FAMILY 9
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OFM_419 Getting Personal - FINAL_DEPT 3 / 21 / 19 1 : 56 PM Page 1 GETTING PERSONAL Florida House Representative Anna Eskamani on her first job , her love of The Beatles and what got her first interested in politics . deeply and consider her to be a source of daily 1 . When I was a kid , I wanted inspiration for me . to be an engineer . My dad is an engineer and worked on Florida’s Space Coast . Once I 6 . If I could see any music act , it would be The got to college , I knew there Beatles . My mom loved The Beatles and the would be a different path for band has been a big influence in my life . You me but I’ve always a held a deep can always catch me humming a song . appreciation for the hard sci - ences and love space policy . 7 . I am the first Iranian - American elected to any public office in Florida . A major part of Iranian identity is celebrating the Persian New 2 . In high school , theater was Year , called Norooz . This holiday falls on the my safe spot . I spent hours in spring equinox and is full of traditions like the theater building props and spring cleaning , picnics and jumping over fire ! set pieces and creating cos - tumes . It’s one reason why I’m such a passionate advocate for 8 . I was born and raised in Orlando . There is arts and culture funding today . something truly special about representing the place you call home , and since Orlando is a young city , we each have the chance to mold it 3 . My first job was at a clothing and build a community that reflects the people store . I worked for a summer at who make it so unique . Ross when I was 18 years old . My mom worked in retail until she passed away from cancer in 9 . My interest in politics began when I was 10 2004 . Retail isn’t easy , and years old . I collected petitions to keep my best these personal experiences are friend at the time from being moved to a dif - what motivate me to fight hard ferent lunch period ! So I have always been for all Floridians , including our grounded by a passion to fight for people . And minimum - wage workers . I had an amazing Advanced Placement govern - ment teacher my senior year in high school who inspired me to study political science 4 . I went to Orange County when I got to UCF . While at UCF I began to Public Schools from kindergarten to 12th grade get involved in community organizing and the and then attended the University of Central rest is history . Florida for my higher - education degrees . Today I hold two bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees , and I am pursuing a Ph.D . in 10 . As a Florida House Representative , it’s an public affairs and have taught as an adjunct incredible honor to be a trusted voice for the professor at UCF . people of District 47 . There are 120 State House Representatives from across the state , and though we don’t agree on every issue , it’s 5 . Someone I look up to is my mom . She been an incredible treat to get to know my col - passed away to cancer when I was 13 years old . leagues and work to find common ground Both of my parents are immigrants from Iran across party lines . and they sacrificed so much for us . I miss her 10 ORLANDO FAMILY april 2019 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM