The YES program is happy to announce Xhejsi “JC” Elmazaj from Albania as the YES March Student of the Month. JC is placed by ASSE in Pleasanton, Texas where he attends Poteet High School.

JC is an excellent example of how a YES student can positively impact his host school. JC’s principal, Christina Talley, remarked that he was a natural leader and such a positive influence on the other students in her school. Other teachers shared that JC was a great communicator, a dedicated student, and a wonderful citizen diplomat always willing to share about his country. During International Education Week (IEW) JC made four presentations about Albania to his peers and even taught them some phrases in Albanian.

As a very committed member of his school district's Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program, JC has gained the respect of many in his community. For a leadership project, JC interviewed and shadowed the town mayor and spoke to the city council, where he shared information about his country, his YES scholarship, and his experience in the United States.

JC has already completed 103 community service hours by volunteering at school, church, and community events, and for families with special needs. JC shared that he loves volunteering for everything he can because it is a great way to meet new people and make friends.

JC lives with his host parents, two brothers, and a double placement sibling. His time with his host family has been full of adventures ranging from football games to pumpkin carving, trips to the river, rollercoaster rides, zip lining, and swimming. A special memory for JC was celebrating Thanksgiving by going camping with his host family at Canyon Lake, Texas. A highlight was meeting his extended host family and visiting some local caves to see rare stalactite and stalagmite formations.

When asked to reflect about his time on the YES program so far, JC said, “I have realized that each one of us is unique in his way and before jumping to a conclusion everyone needs to be heard and discovered.” JC is an exemplary student whose contributions have enriched the Pleasanton and Poteet High School Community. We are very proud of the footprint JC has made in the past seven months and look forward to hearing about the rest of his time as a YES student.

Congratulations, JC, on being the March YES Student of the Month!