Anne Marie Kirk has moved 13 different times in her life. She was born in Arkansas, then moved to Washington, and then to Germany. Her parents then moved back to Washington, to Texas, and her final destination - Kentucky. And Kentucky is where Kirk wants to be.
“I love the people here in Kentucky and the atmosphere of Lexington,” Kirk said.
At 17, Kirk understands more than most teens her age about the places she has lived. For her it is easy to go to new places and try to fit in. She describes herself as “outgoing and friendly.”
Her academic home is Henry Clay High School, which has around 2,400 students, so Kirk is use to being around a lot of people.
“At my school I try to talk to everybody and meet as many of the students as I can despite the large number of students that attend,” said Kirk. “I’m a people person so it has helped me do well when coming to new environments.”
Kirk had the chance to create yet another adventure for herself this summer at the Governor’s Scholars Program at Bellarmine University. The five-week program allows high-achieving students to spend a summer in a rich academic environment.
Each scholar is placed with a roommate, one of the first adventures for the high school juniors. The roommates are placed specifically to give the scholars a chance to meet someone from a completely different part of the state. 334 scholars reside at Bellarmine f
or the 5 week-program and their backgrounds are unique.Kirk’s roommate, Kim Thurman was excited about the privilege of becoming a Governor’s Scholar and having a new roommate.
Thurman lives in Mclean County on a dairy farm but goes to Daviess County High School. She has to drive thirty minutes every day just to go to school. She describes where she lives as “out in the middle of now where.” The only people even around are her parents and then her grandparents who are their neighbors.
She has one sister that is older and is already married so she pretty much feels like an only child. Thurman doesn’t get to interact with any other kids her age unless she is at school. She participates in the school band where she plays the saxophone. Thurman calls her band “ her family,” a niche for her at her small school.
Coming to GSP was a lot harder for her than her well-traveled roommate.
“It’s weird because I don’t live around anybody and I am always having to occupy myself, so coming here and being around kids my age 24/7 is a bit out of my comfort zone, “ said Thurman.
Despite their differences the roommates settled in to their temporary living arrangement, decorating their room with a hint of pink matching Kirk’s bright pink flip flops. The two often fall asleep having long nights of “girl talk.”
” It was easy for me to come to GSP and meet new people,” said Kirk, “because I am use to it.”