By Sledja Ishmakej, YES 2016-2017 Albania, hosted by PAX in Big Bend, WI

My YES exchange year was finalized with the best experience I have ever had so far, being one of the 3 student speakers at the End of Stay reception at the U.S. Department of State. I was very excited about visiting the Department of State building, so imagine how I felt when I found out that I was actually going to speak there, in front of the YES staff, program officials, and my fellow students. I was nominated from my placement organization, PAX, and I was then selected by the YES program to be one of the three speakers.

As I entered the auditorium I noticed that in the front row one of the seats had my name on it. I was super excited as it was also my first reserved seat at an event. I was the last speaker and I enjoyed every single moment when I was in front of the auditorium. Talking to my audience and also watching their positive reaction gave me a tremendous pleasure. I felt honored and lucky!

I was happy that I was given the opportunity to express what I had gained during the year, the lessons learned, and how I had changed as an individual with the help of everyone around me. I decided with my speech to be the voice of all YES students and to encourage everyone to continue our experience as YES alumni. As I said in my speech at the U.S. Department of State, this is not the end, it’s just the beginning of our work as YES alumni, on transforming the world for the better.