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Adopted from Ethiopia and on her way to a PhD at 16
June 5, 2024
CategoryAfrica Central
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script((INTRO))
Hana Taylor Schlitz, a 16-year-old teenager from North Texas, has become the youngest graduate of Texas Woman's University, and also the youngest to begin both master’s and Ph.D. classes.
Eden Geremew from VOA’s Horn of Africa service has more.
((NARRATOR))
16-year-old Hana Taylor Schlitz is preparing to commence a Ph.D. program at Texas Woman’s University [TWU] this summer. She earned her first degree in sociology a few months after her 16thbirthday, breaking the record as TWU’s youngest graduate, previously held by her sister at 16 years and nine months old.
Hana was adopted from the southern Ethiopia, in 2008, by Myesha Taylor and William Schlitz. She lost her biological mother to tuberculosis and contracted the disease herself when she was barely nine months old. Now, fifteen years later, Hana dreams to work on TB eradication projects, which she believes haven’t received enough commitment.
((Hanna Taylor Schlitz))
((Female, in English))
“I am working with treatment action group as they're doing research. I want to hopefully incorporate my own research eventually, but I want to, as I was personally affected, both myself and my birth mom. I want to be able to give other people the opportunity they deserve, whether it be someone in Ethiopia, in an orphanage somewhere, if they have tuberculosis, they could be these future leaders that we all see future me’s.”
((NARRATOR))
Hana’s dad, William Schlitz, vividly recalls the day he and his family received custody of Hana from an adoption center in Ethiopia. Seeing Hana achieve such success brings back many memories and emotions.
((William Schlitz, Hana’s father))
((Male, in English)
“It's very emotional to think where she started, and then to see her walk across that stage and receive her degree on Friday, in fifteen and a half years, yeah. And she's an amazing young lady with such a beautiful soul, and she's so determined to make an impact on the world. And so yeah, we've been contemplating the first time we got to meet her, and how small she was, how fragile she was, how concerned we were that she wasn't going to make it back to the United States. So, to see who she is today, yeah, it's very heartwarming and very emotional for the family.”
((NARRATOR))
As the third child in her family, Hana Taylor Schlitz looks up to her brother and older sister, Haley Taylor Schlitz.
((Hanna Taylor Schlitz))
((Female, in English))
“It is a great deal, especially that the previous record holder… So, I am just like that's a great person to take over her record. My parents are very happy that I was able to go through this training. I'm very happy personally as well, that I could go through the academic journey to get to where I am today, doing this academic journey. [It] wasn't necessarily about breaking records or being the youngest graduate, but just getting my education, which we believe is a very important tool that can be used in many places. So, it means a great deal to me and my family.”
((NARRATOR))
Hana’s dad, William Schlitz, says he and his wife, Dr. Myiesha Taylor, designed individual curriculums for their children as they home schooled them.
((William Schlitz, Hana’s Father))
((Male, in English)
“I will say, we didn't start off with the goal of what happened. That wasn't the point. Our kids just weren't doing well in our local public schools in Texas, which I don't think surprises anyone, based on the climate here. But once we got them into an environment where they were focused, they were told every day they could learn, that they could accomplish anything, and we designed the school curriculum for them, specifically for them, they took off and here we are.”
((NARRATOR))
Although Hana has not yet decided what she wants to pursue as her major for her master’s degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, and her Ph.D. at Texas Woman’s University, one thing she is certain about: She is going to focus on eradication of Tuberculosis.
Eden Geremew, Horn of Africa, VOA.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
