I have been selected to spend 2016-2017, my senior year of high school, in Ghana! I am beyond excited for this opportunity! I didn't sleep for the first week after finding out. The adrenaline is comparable to falling in love. Maybe more intense. This is a chance to see a corner of the world that is almost impossible for me to even imagine. Which is exactly the kind of location I was hoping I would get placed. I want to experience somewhere that is as different from America as possible. This is not because America is an awful place, but because of opportunities I will have for growth by being exposed to a culture so vastly different than my own. I want to know what it is like to live somewhere that is not a Western country so that I will have a more realistic and complete view of the world.
For anyone with a similar mindset...the program I was selected to go with is called YES Abroad. There are 65 finalists chosen for a full scholarship with the US state department. The 65 spots are spread out among 13 countries, all places that have significant Muslim populations. This program was started after 9/11 to foster cultural understanding and build relationships. Generally a couple countries are added every year, and one or two are removed for political reasons. Here is the list as of this year: Bulgaria, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Turkey, Jordan, Philippines, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Thailand and India
Although it a very lengthy application, I highly recommend applying. Also, don't be worried if you feel like your grades aren't up to par, this is completely different than applying to college. They are much more interested in how you would fare as an exchange student and student ambassador than how "well-rounded" you are. If you are passionate and communicate that in your essays, there is a good chance you will be accepted.
Here is the link to the yes abroad website, as well as the other state department scholarships:
http://www.yes-abroad.org/
http://www.nsliforyouth.org/
https://www.cbyx.info/
For anyone with a similar mindset...the program I was selected to go with is called YES Abroad. There are 65 finalists chosen for a full scholarship with the US state department. The 65 spots are spread out among 13 countries, all places that have significant Muslim populations. This program was started after 9/11 to foster cultural understanding and build relationships. Generally a couple countries are added every year, and one or two are removed for political reasons. Here is the list as of this year: Bulgaria, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Turkey, Jordan, Philippines, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Thailand and India
Although it a very lengthy application, I highly recommend applying. Also, don't be worried if you feel like your grades aren't up to par, this is completely different than applying to college. They are much more interested in how you would fare as an exchange student and student ambassador than how "well-rounded" you are. If you are passionate and communicate that in your essays, there is a good chance you will be accepted.
Here is the link to the yes abroad website, as well as the other state department scholarships:
http://www.yes-abroad.org/
http://www.nsliforyouth.org/
https://www.cbyx.info/