Exchange Reflection

The Fastest Year of My Life

        I remember sending the request to host an exchange student from Finland last summer. My mother and I didn't know if we were going to be approved, and if approved, we knew less about the student that we would be living with for a year. Now, eight months after meeting him, the time has gone by too fast. My exchange student and I were asked to speak at a Global Initiatives Program event about a month ago in relation to my year with an AFS student. These were the speeches given.

Oskari

         My experience in Pasadena has been so much more than what I originally expected it to be and the thanks for that belongs to both my host family and the exchange program at Poly. First of all, Poly is a great school for an exchange student to be in; it is small, welcoming, and in addition, all the students and faculty are very eager to expose themselves to new cultures.

       This year, I have met so many interesting people and learned so many new things that it is fair to say that I’ve changed as a person. Becoming more independent, as well as realizing that it is possible to live on the other side of the world have probably been the most eye-opening experiences in my life. Other than that, what still amazes me is the unconditional hospitality show by the host families in their every day lives.

Overall, this exchange year has passed by very quickly, partly just because of the Los Angeles area, which offers countless exciting activities and things to see. I only have approximately 2.5 months left here in the U.S., and the day I left Finland feels like it was yesterday. Now the plan is just enjoy my last few months here and cross out as many bucket list things as I possibly can. 

Poly, Thank you so much for hosting me, this year has been incredible.

Personal Statement

        This year has been really great, and part of that has to do with international students at personal level. Whether it be Chinese students from Beijing or Niriyama highschool kids, interacting with them by just talking has always sparked my interest. So, when my mother and I heard that Oskari would be staying with us for a year, I was apprehensive, but excited. I didn’t know if I would get along with him or he would get along with me. When I first met him back in August of last year all my fears were assuaged, and I knew that he would have a positive impact on my life. As the year has progressed, I have tried to repay the favor and make a positive impact on his. This exchange year has been an absolutely incredible life changing experience. The laughs and memories that I have shared with Oskari this year have been priceless. The fact that poly offers this global initiatives alliance program in connection with AFS, the exchange student association, is a truly life changing opportunity that I would not give up for anything in the world. 

Beijing Student Visit

The Students From Beijing

          I was sitting in my room one routine Thursday evening in February doing my math homework when my phone buzzed. I lazily reached down and flipped it over to read the text message my friend Brennan had sent me and my friend Chandler, "Guys we're hangin out with the Chinese bois." I had forgotten that a group of students from an elite school in Beijing were staying with some of my fellow classmates, and was immediately woken from my precalculus stupor. I had never truly interacted with teenagers from China before, and was enticed by the opportunity of experiencing a classic California night with a group of friends from the other side of the world. I met them after school on Friday and was astounded by the blatant similarities between our cultures. The more than 10,000 kilometers separating us seemed to dissolve and conversation immediately flowed. As we played basketball, ping pong and football in the humid Los Angeles air I nervously tested my Mandarin skills and was met with kind smiles of approval. As the activities slowly gripped our aching stomachs we decided on taking them out for a truly American tradition, barbecue. Sitting down to eat a massive pile of ribs, brisket, and mac and cheese, we effortlessly chatted about girls and the struggle of finding love. Daniel, one of the students that had arrived earlier that week gave a heartfelt expose on his romantic tendencies that made us all giddy with the warm feeling of a classic love story. Conversation slowed as we finished the last of the cornbread and began to sit back with bellies full of smoked delicacies and soda. Nearly comatose and dying of laughter we stumbled into an Uber headed for Griffith Observatory. As the food coma lifted away, my eyes were opened to not only the shimmering lights of Los Angeles, but also the shocking lack of time we could still share as a group. In the short while I had known these fantastic people, I had grown to feel for them as brothers. As we said out final goodbyes at the bottom of the hill, a pang of loss struck my chest. There were too many questions to ask in one night, too many jokes to tell. In the space left by my new Beijing friends, a raging fire was lit. These experiences are too valuable to miss. An announcement in morning meeting or a sentence in Mrs. Williams' bulletin doesn't do these encounters justice and taking these experiences for granted is a terrible injustice. The knowledge I gained from only five hours was immeasurable. While math class may teach you how to solve problems it doesn't teach students how to be understanding or how to be appreciative of cultural differences. Only through pure one on one interaction is this possible, and everyone should take part.

(Daniel pictured in a grey sweatshirt)

Global Scholars Application Essay

Global Scholars Program Essay

There have been many experiences that have awakened my interest in the Global Scholars Program, but the most transformative is having an AFS student for a year. While excited to experience having a foreign sibling for a year, I was incredibly nervous. Not only did I not know if I was going to get along with this Finnish Junior named Oskari, but I did not know if he was going to get along with me. I have met and engaged with many students, such as the Niriyama high school visitors and students from Beijing, but nothing this intimate and for this extended period of time. I was completely unversed in Finnish culture and I viewed the mixing of American and Finnish ideals with a sense skepticism. However, as the year progressed, I realized how incredibly similar people from different racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds really are. While he may do strange things, such as eating hamburgers with a fork and knife, his passions, interests, and things that drive him are shared between all high school students from Texas to Indonesia. After connecting with Oskari, I have taken every opportunity to engage with students and adults from varying cultures. Understanding their point of view is of immeasurable importance in a continually expanding and globally interconnected world. I believe that my experiences with students and adults from all around the world will help me contribute varying perspectives on the topical issues of today.

The only way to expand and deepen global perspectives is through experience and interest. By focusing time and effort on creating a expanded and enriched world view, I believe that I can engage in a more critical and impactful way. In a semi-isolated and protected environment the Global Scholars Program is an incredible tool to broaden my experiences. Through the blog, I will be required to meet world problems head on through opinionated and analytical measures, and while completing the Capstone Project I hope to stimulate change and growth within the community. In all, the Global Scholars Program will help me to diversify and develop my world view through engagement and experience.