3/7/2007 - Life After the YES Program

_In this article, Jessica Kan writes about her experiences as an exchange student on the YES Program. YES, which stands for “Youth Exchange and Study Programs” is an innovative high school exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This public diplomacy initiative builds bridges of international understanding, especially between Americans and people in countries with significant Muslim populations. For more information on the YES Program please visit YESprograms.org

PAX, AIFS/AYA, and AFS each host a portion of the YES students in communities across the U.S. Of the 271 YES students currently on the 2006-2007 academic year program, 130 are hosted by AFS.

Life After the YES Program
by Jessica Kan, PAX YES ‘05
hosted with the Puckett Family, Mercersburg, PA -USA

Going abroad on a YES program is definitely different from visiting a country as a tourist. This exchange student program gives you the lifetime opportunity to live with another family and experience the cultural exchange as a whole.

I lived with the Pucketts, my host family, in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. During my stay there, I experienced the joy of playing with snow when Americans would fret about it. I attended an American school and took interesting subjects like teacher’s assistant and teaching first and second graders during school hours. I learned to adapt to a new place while realizing how important learning communication skills is in life.

The millions of challenges I faced were never put to waste as you learn values that are unattainable in the classroom. As I adapted to the new lifestyle, I realize how important communication and tolerance are. I realized the vital need accepting each other even though we might be very different.

When the program ended in July last year, I thought this lifetime experience would also end and I would go back to the same old lifestyle. I was wrong. All the experiences I gained during those six months helped me develop more leadership skills and as a result, I became an active volunteer in AFS Malaysia.

The YES Programs students in Malaysia have formed an alumni association to further promote intercultural understanding and to organize community service projects to help our communities and nation. We have coordinated several community projects. One of the projects organized was a drive to collect blankets for the South Asia earthquake victims. In two weeks, with the help of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society’s support team, we collected nearly 120 blankets and 40 boxes of winter clothes and food items that were sent to Pakistan to aid the victims.

The YES program has not only strongly motivated me to actively serve AFS Malaysia. I also served as the Vice Captain of the Prefectorial Board in my school when I joined Form 6 in SMK Convent Bukit Nanas in 2005. With all the leadership skills I acquired thus far had led me to applying for another life changing event in the Young Global Citizens Camp organized by the British Council. I was among the 10 Malaysian delegates selected to attend this camp from 14- 24 January 2006 in Philippines with 4 other participating countries, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and the UK. The aim of the camp is to empower potential young leaders to make positive change in local communities through a better mutual understanding of one another’s cultures and identities.
Today, I carry the intercultural experience I have encountered to a new level, working towards attaining peace and understanding in the society I live in. I am currently working for AFS Malaysia while waiting to further my studies. I now have a strong passion for people in my heart and a vision to serve the nation. I believe in youth empowerment, and thus I am striving to play my part as a youth, leading me to a bigger and higher dream of working for the United Nations to help make this world a better place.

In the photo: Jessica Kan at the donation collection site for the eartquake victims.