Seven Questions: Yonaa

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A student stands smiling in the hallway of Minnehaha Academy
Seven Questions: Yonaa
Amy Barnard

Yonaa is an eighth grader at Minnehaha Academy and is in his eighth year at the school. We asked him seven questions about himself and his time at the school.

  1. What’s your earliest memory from your time at Minnehaha Academy?
    On my first day at MA I went to lunch and was going to sit by myself but a teacher's assistant helped me find somebody to sit by and I have been friends with that person ever since.

    a group of first graders in school spirit shirts cheer at a pep fest

    Yonaa and classmates at his first Minnehaha Academy Pep fest in first grade.

     

  2. What is one moment at Minnehaha Academy you wish you could experience again?
    When my Lego league team won a prize at State.

     

    Three boys work on a lego robotics project

    Yonaa and teammates troubleshoot a lego robotics project.

     

  3. Who is someone at school who inspires you?
    Somebody at school that inspires me is Bowen Schultz, something that I have learned from him is to spend time finding good books to read.

     

    Five boys surround a young teaching assistant all holding out the book they are reading.

    Yonaa and Bowen in book club, 2023

    Two boys lean against a brick wall at Minnehaha Academy reading

    Yonaa (right) and brother Ammayyu (left) reading before school starts in the morning.

     

  4. What's something surprising or funny people might not know about you?
    When I write words I sometimes think of the mathematical equations that would make up the letters of the words.

    Three boys and two girls sit at a table and smile during a math competition

    Yonaa with his Math Masters team when in the Lower School.

     

  5. What is one of your favorite books?
    Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
     

  6. How do you get yourself energized for your day?
    Sometimes what I do to energize myself is kick a mini soccer ball around the house with my brother to get ready for the day.
    (Yonaa is also an emerging soccer player at MA!)

     

  7. What’s the best piece of advice you've received—and who gave it to you?
    The best piece of advice I have ever received is to not say things like I told you so. The person that gave me that piece of advice was Mrs. Vitt. She said that after she stopped saying things like that she has lived a happier life.

     

    Three students wearing medals smile at the camera

    Yonna, far right, shows his platinum certificate for taking first place nationally on the National French Exam. His teacher for this class was Ms. Vitt (mentioned above).

     

  8. Bonus Question: If you had the power to make one meaningful change in the world, what would it be?
    If I had the power to make one meaningful change in the world it would be to stop world hunger. I have seen very hungry people in the streets of Ethiopia and I know how bad it can get. If that many people can get that hungry in just one nation in the world then there must be so many more people in other countries in the world. 

     

 

 

 

 

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