By Mehdi Belhaj (YES 2015-2016, Tunisia, hosted by ASSE in Spokane, Washington) 

The greatest joy of culture is to share it with others. In 2015, I was accepted to the YES program. It was an amazing opportunity to share my own culture and learn about the culture of the United States. I made friends who have become an important part of my life, and my host family became a second family – not only for a year, but for a lifetime.

During my exchange year, I did presentations inside and outside of school, and I have had incredible experiences while talking about Tunisia – about our religion, traditions, and culture. I wore traditional Tunisian clothes, shared Tunisian music, and showed Tunisian coins to my audiences. It was such a pleasure and an honor when people came up to me after my presentations to thank me for teaching them about my culture and to tell me that they wanted to visit my beautiful country.

I completed over 110 hours of community service during my exchange year and received a Certificate of Outstanding Volunteer Service Award from the U.S. Department of State. I volunteered at school, community centers, churches, animal shelters, and many other places. For one volunteer project, I helped organize a dinner for several homeless shelters in my community and felt genuinely happy to be of service to the beneficiaries. Community service has always been an opportunity for me to meet new people, try and learn new things, and gain experience.

Attending an American high school was a dream come true. It made me a part of a big family. Every day that I spent at my U.S. high school, whether I was playing sports, participating in club activities, or just spending time with my friends, I was always an ambassador and did my best to represent my country, the program, and my placement organization well. I encouraged people to ask me questions so that I could break down barriers and give them as much information as I could.

My YES experience will not be a solitary stepping stone; I will use the skills and knowledge I gained to pursue my mission, attain my future goals, and make a change in the world.

Now let’s pass the torch!

When I first arrived for my YES year, the Washington DC orientation was one of the most remarkable experiences I ever had and one that I will never forget! During the orientation, I learned a lot from the sessions and got to know the alumni instructors. Without a doubt, hanging out with them at that point in my youth felt like I was spending time with heroes. The alumni instructors represented all the students who managed to successfully complete their exchange year and achieve great things, such as coming back to the U.S. as instructors and giving back to the YES community. Listening to their stories and the struggles they overcame was very inspiring to me. 

That’s why I’m overjoyed to have been selected as a 2018 DC Orientation Alumni Instructor. The YES program has given me so much, and even though I participate in alumni projects and gave back to my community in different ways, I feel the need to give back to my YES family. I know that this is a big responsibility that comes with a lot of hard work, but I am ready to be part of this journey. I believe that I have the ability to be someone’s hero. I am honored to help the new YES students prepare for their journey and pass on the torch for the next generation to start making a difference!