Student Participant Report

Benefits of Youth Exchange

By Kelly Beth Rich, Samford Univ.

When I was sophomore in high school I went to France with my school. When I got back I immediately asked my parents if we could be a host family for an exchange student. As an only child, I wanted to know what it was like to have a sister. We learned that we were on a long list of families wanting a French girl, but my parents and I were patient, and eventually, through the ASSE, www.asse.com, International Student Exchange Program, our wish came true.

Over the school year, Emilie and I bonded and became like true sisters. I was invited to go to France for a second time and stay with Emilie's family in Jouy-le-Moutier just outside of Paris. I now had two sisters, two brothers, and a whole new set of parents and grandparents. During my time in France I learned so much that my life took on a different meaning, with different goals and different values.

Being a member of a much larger family, I realized the importance of such things as sitting down for meals, of listening to and truly appreciating one's family.

My goals in life changed. I went from being content with just finishing high school to wanting to go straight to the top. I decided to go to college and to major in international relations and French. Now, a sophomore at Samford Univ., I see where my interests have taken me in just four years. I will soon be making my fourth trip to Europe--to visit friends in Germany, see Scotland for the first time, and take a two-week class in London with my university. Next I plan to do an internship with the Canadian parliament and then a semester abroad in Morocco.

My interest in other cultures has led me to find many possibilities to travel and to work to make the possibilities a reality. It is only by really searching that I have found so many opportunities. When meeting people from another country, I befriend them and talk with them to learn more about their culture. As a result, I now have many friends all over the world and an open invitation to visit them whenever I can find ways to fund the travel.

KELLY BETH RICH is a junior at Samford Univ. in Birmingham, AL. She is pursuing a double major in International Relations and French.