Testimonials | My Site

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

Megan

"During my year in Taiwan, Christmas was spent attending the Buddhist festival “When Buddha Meets the Gods”. I had a wonderful time meeting people from around the world and learning about religious beliefs in various countries. There is no more effective method to learn about the world, explore your personal identify, and challenge you world views, than to participate in an exchange. My interest and career interest completely shifted due to the world opened up through the exchange."

Grace

"During my exchange year in Italy, I expanded my world view and appreciation of cultures. My experience abroad showed me parts of who I was that I was never able to see before. Being vulnerable for that amount of time, I learned a lot about myself. The exchange developed a level of self-confidence and independence that has helped me transition into becoming an adult. The exchange experience helped me do inner work to become the best version of myself. I also learned that sometimes a good support system can be just as, if not more important than being independent and self-reliant. The Rotary exchange program showed me that you shouldn’t be afraid to lean on others or ask for help."

PARENT TESTIMONIALS

Kathy

"It was really hard to let her go. However, it was among the best decisions I ever made! She left home as a teenager and returned a strong confident young women. Her exchange opened up a whole new world of experiences and opportunities."

Karri

Karri has been a host mom multiple times, and her daughter exchanged to Turkey. She shares a number of thoughts about the exchange experience:

You can trust another family to care for your child with love and kindness even thought the don’t speak the same language as you or worship the same way you do.
You will watch your son/daughter become the best version of themselves becoming onfident and independent as they navigate a different culture and learn a new language.
You will miss them but you will learn so much through them and their experiences.
They will build friendships that cross all languages, religions, economic, and political lines.
You will meet people who think you are crzy for allowing your child to travel across the world alone. You will also meet people who believe that exchange sstudents are the key to world peace.
You will value the experience so much that your family nmight become a host family… maybe more than once!
You will recognize that we are all the same and that strangers really can become family.

Dick

Dick did a college work project in another country, worked overseas after college, had a military tour overseas and brought the importance of world awareness into his marriage and family. He share's these sentiments about the Rotary Youth Exchange program:

International travel, study and complete cultural immersion change a person’s life.
Exchange is not an easy experience, it’s hard. But, it will be the best thing a person will ever do.
Because the Rotary exchange is an academic program (Yes, they are expected to go to school.), a student will have the opportunity to experience and compare their education system with that of another country. They might even return stateside as a better more focused student.
During the exchange year, the student will go places, do things, and be challenged in ways we can’t even begin to imagine.
Most students experience a lot of growing up during the exchange year. Maturity is a wonderful thing!
After about 5 or 6 months of struggling with a new language, they will wake up one morning realizing that they dreamed/conversed in their new language. It’s an “Ah Ha!!” moment.