Do you know a Coronado high school-aged student with a wanderlust to see the world? Willing to take on bold challenges? Looking to live life at its fullest? Then a Rotary Youth Exchange to a myriad of countries in the world just might be the right thing for them.
Rotary Youth Exchange offers high school students an extraordinary opportunity to explore a new country, experience a different culture, make lifelong friendships, and see the world from a whole new perspective. Students and families are invited to attend a Rotary Youth Exchange Information Night on Thursday, November 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 202 at Coronado High School to learn more about how this program works.
A Rotary Youth Exchange is a life-changing opportunity for any high school student to step beyond their comfort zone, learn more about themselves, and enjoy exceptional experiences otherwise unavailable to them. Imagine living with a host family in another country, learning a new language, and seeing the sites of a completely different part of the world. Beyond the adventure, students will gain independence, confidence, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of people and cultures different from their own.
A Rotary Youth Exchange is more than a year abroad — it’s an opportunity to grow, broaden horizons, and create memories that will last a lifetime. According to Rotarian Karen Strabala, who has been responsible for this program for almost two decades, “Whether it’s a full year abroad, a few weeks with a host family, or a summer camp with peers from around the world, Rotary Youth Exchange gives young people the opportunity of a lifetime to grow, lead, and connect across cultures.”
This Rotary Youth Exchange program has been available to Coronado high schoolers for more than 20 years. Dozens of CHS Islanders have participated over the two+ decades, where students visit countries as diverse as Argentina and Australia, Belgium and the Czech Republic, Indonesia and South Korea, or the Philippines and Peru. In fact, more than 100 different countries participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program each year.
According to past participants, one of the greatest benefits of this program is allowing a young adult to do more than travel abroad as a “tourist.” Instead, students live as part of the local community, attend local high schools, and participate in everyday family, social, and cultural traditions. Likewise, international living experience, adaptability, and multi-lingual skills stand out strongly on college applications, scholarships, and future career resumes.
For more information, email Karen Strabala, Chair of the Coronado Rotary Yough Exchange Committee at [email protected]. Find additional information at youthexchange5340.org.
