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September YES Student of the Month

Mathilda holding the Indonesian flag

The YES program proudly announces Mathilda Hotmauli of Indonesia, as the YES September Student of the Month. Mathilda was placed by AFS-USA in Medina, Ohio, where she attends Medina High School.

Mathilda has embraced her YES year with curiosity and passion. In just a month, she has volunteered at a preschool, helping with a playground beautification project and sharing Indonesian culture. She also plans to volunteer at a local dog shelter with her American friends. At Medina High School, Mathilda was accepted into the prestigious Encore show choir and received callbacks for three lead roles in the school’s fall play, eventually landing the role of Delphi in "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." On top of her extracurricular activities, Mathilda maintains excellent grades in challenging courses such as AP Chemistry and Precalculus.

Mathilda having an Indonesian dinner with her host family

To celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day, Mathilda cooked a traditional meal for her host family and gifted them Indonesian garments. At school, she shared Indonesian bracelets with friends.

Mathilda has won over her host community with her talent, dedication, and work ethic. Mathilda’s caring nature is evident through her volunteerism and friendships. She has shown tremendous courage and independence, despite the challenges of being away from her family. Her host dad praises her for continually pushing herself to achieve high goals. The YES program is proud of Mathilda’s amazing start to her exchange year.

Mathilda giving a cultural presentation at her school

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