What Led to Exchange
by Jenna DeLaurentis
As I write exchange application essays, they seem to have one common question. "Why are you going on exchange?" I feel like this is a question that should not be limited to five hundred words. It is something I, and many other exchange students, find ourselves being asked often. I do not blame people for wanting to know the answer; they are simply curious why anyone would leave their home to live in a foreign country. However, when I am asked this question, I find it difficult to answer. I feel like people expect me to tell them the answer in a simple sentence. Chances are, if I told them "I want to challenge myself in a new culture", they still would not understand. More questions would arise. This is why I feel this question deserves a long post; people need to know why I want to do this, and I cannot answer the question simply.
 |
| My Grandpa |
This is my grandpa. My grandma always tells me, "You are like your grandpa from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes." I do agree with her. Ultimately, he is the reason why I want to travel. The first stories I was told about adventure were from my grandpa. He was in the navy and he got the chance to travel all over the Pacific and East/Southeast Asia, as well as trips after the navy to Italy, Hawaii, and all over the US and Canada. I have not met anyone who has traveled as much as my grandpa, and I am influenced by his travels so much. Unfortunately, my grandpa is affected by Parkinson's disorder and is often very weak. However, he never fails to tell me a story about his adventures when I ask him. I love him so much and he will always be the main reason for my love of travel and adventure.
And how does the love for travel get mixed in with a desire to participate in a foreign exchange program? Well, it is all because of my Aunt Annie. She spent a summer in Urbino, Italy when she was seventeen years old. I also grew up hearing stories of her summer there, which she still says is her second home. After this, she became a travel agent and had the chance to travel all over Europe, which I also heard stories about. This led to me looking up exchange programs to Italy and ultimately me creating this blog. It was when I heard of her stories that it made me realize that I can travel and have a grand adventure when I am still in high school. I can step out of my comfort zone and try something completely new at sixteen years old. I can find a place to call my 'second home', and I can tell stories of my adventures abroad for my whole life.
I discovered exchange in 2009, but I stopped thinking about it for a while. I thought "This is too good to be true. This cannot happen when I am only in high school; it is too expensive. I had many doubts about going abroad. Fast forward a year to 2010. My best friend, Marta, moves to Croatia with her family. Her moving to Croatia is possibly one of the hardest things that has happened to me. It is a strange feeling, going from spending almost every day with someone who lives next door to having limited communication with them as they are halfway across the world. However, this is one of the most influential things that has happened in my life. When she moved, she told me stories about her new life. She told me about her school and life in Zagreb, Croatia. I thought it was extremely awesome how she was having this great adventure. Exchange popped back into my mind with these stories. I realized that something like this was possible, that I could live my dream of studying abroad. If Marta had not moved to Croatia, I may have not realized how big the world is and how many possibilities there are in a lifetime. I thank Marta for bringing my dreams to a bigger reality.
Overall, without these influential people in my life, I would not be writing this blog right now. I would not have realized my love for travel. I would not have known about foreign exchange programs in high school. They are the reasons behind who I am today and I thank them all for that.
I want to do an exchange for the adventure. I want to challenge myself like my Grandpa, Aunt, and best friend. I want to be able to tell stories for years and years after I come back from abroad. I want to see the world, culture, and get to know the people of a country. I want to become a citizen of the world and live my life to the fullest. Thank you to Grandpa, Aunt Annie, and Marta for letting me realize anything is possible if you want to achieve it.
-Jenna
 |
| My aunt in Italy (1980) |
 |
| Marta (right) and I |
Overall, without these influential people in my life, I would not be writing this blog right now. I would not have realized my love for travel. I would not have known about foreign exchange programs in high school. They are the reasons behind who I am today and I thank them all for that.
I want to do an exchange for the adventure. I want to challenge myself like my Grandpa, Aunt, and best friend. I want to be able to tell stories for years and years after I come back from abroad. I want to see the world, culture, and get to know the people of a country. I want to become a citizen of the world and live my life to the fullest. Thank you to Grandpa, Aunt Annie, and Marta for letting me realize anything is possible if you want to achieve it.
-Jenna
