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A portion of Michael's winning essay:
Growing up in a small town in northern Michigan, I often expressed that my goal was to "see the
world". I don't think anyone took me seriously until the beginning of my first year of high school when I attended my first meeting of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, and returned home with application
materials for their program. Applications were to be submitted and approved one year in advance of placement. It was a rather grueling process, with mountains of paperwork to complete. Full family support was required, and not only was I subjected to an extensive interview process for acceptance into the program, my family was also put through the same scrutiny. To be eligible, I had to prove academic excellence, and to possess leadership skills, an open mind and a flexible attitude. I had to agree to abide by all Rotary Youth Exchange rules, which included no drinking, no drugs, no driving, and no dating. As a foreign guest and youth ambassador, I had to agree to attend school in my host county, attend all scheduled classes and use the language of the host country. I was thrilled when the results of the extensive selection process revealed I made it to the next level, and was offered the opportunity to study abroad. In the year ahead, I was required to attend orientations and a variety of seminars to help prepare me for my exchange. What lay ahead was a bit daunting for me at fifteen years of age to be facing a year without my friends and family, in a country half the world away, where the dominant language of Finnish, I was told, was one of the most difficult languages in the world to speak and comprehend. Yet, given all these obstacles, I was anxious to proceed. My small world became larger that year, meeting and becoming friends with other American and Canadian students, all preparing to study abroad. As well, during that time, I met and became friends with students from all over the world who were spending a year themselves on exchange in this country. Rotary Youth Exchange sponsors around 8,000 students, all between the ages of 15 and 19, to exchange annually to around sixty different countries. During my year in Finland, I acted in the capacity as ambassador of my country, my state, and my hometown by addressing Rotary clubs, community organizations and youth groups, sharing knowledge of my country, including its attributes both good and bad, with the people I met during my year in my host country. I had the opportunity to live with four different host families throughout my exchange. I was given a chance to try new things and experience other cultures on a very personal level. New subjects in school were studied, strange foods tasted and unfamiliar holidays celebrated.Language barriers I struggled with were conquered. Ingrained perceptions, both in me and in those with whom I came to know, were altered with new ways of looking at the world and each other. Together, we learned new things about ourselves. Tolerances were tested and adjustments were made. And when the year drew to a close, circles of friendship were wider. The world appeared smaller. People, once strangers, were drawn closer, and between them the fabric of human experience more tightly woven. This planted within me the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding. The Youth Exchange program has given me the chance to enrich myself both academically and culturally with the opportunity to promote international goodwill and foster peace and understanding throughout the global community. As the world fights against hatred and intolerance, I am reminded of what so many of us learn as students abroad: Cultural differences make us unique, but those differences are not what ultimately matter. We can all work together to foster cross-cultural respect, peace and understanding worldwide. The most powerful force in the promotion of international understanding and peace is exposure to different cultures. In times of conflict, international relations and understanding are more important than ever. It is clear that broadening our international understanding is critical. The study of foreign cultures provides opportunities for students to broaden their knowledge of the world. International education not only promotes mutual understanding and cooperation among nations, it can also strengthen relationships between countries. During my exchange year, I learned much about the human race and much about life itself, lessons I expect to drawn upon the rest of my life.For an entire year, I was immersed in a new, unfamiliar culture. My counterparts and I, along with our host families, shared intercultural experiences fostering understanding of others throughout the world with one-on-one, direct contact at the local level. I was afforded the opportunity to travel throughout Europe during this time, and garnered many friendships along the way. I met people from various walks of life, with different skin colors, different religious beliefs, and from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. I soon learned that one of the greatest lessons that life has to offer is a very simple one: People everywhere, no matter who they are or where they are from, are basically the same. The world becomes a smaller, friendlier place when we discover that all people, regardless of nationality, creed, or culture, seek a safe, comfortable environment which allows for a rich and satisfying life for them and their family. This knowledge is very powerful. This realization changed me greatly. I have enhanced understanding, appreciation and respect for the people and culture of other nations. As a result of my year of living abroad, I have been able to function, think and reason more independently. That opportunity helped me grow emotionally and intellectually, and broadened my perspective and global outlook. Being involved in the international community is very important to me. Following my return my year abroad, I have been able to share with others in my community and beyond the knowledge I've gained from my exchange experience. I continued my involvement with the local Rotary club. Believing that exposure to different cultures can be a powerful force for promoting international understanding and peace, my family subsequently "paid it forward" and hosted a Rotary exchange student from Greenland. Upon returning to the US, I expect to complete my bachelors degree, and thanks to the experiences I've already been afforded, will know no bounds in where I can go and what I can accomplish. At this point, I don't have a clear focus on where I will ultimately make my mark, but I do intend to make it, and feel the possibilities are endless.
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