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Stepping Out of my Comfort Zone

Alae sitting on a tennis court

By: Alae Farissi (YES 2023-2024, Morocco, placed by PAX in Fort Wayne, IN)

One of the experiences that made the biggest impact during my YES exchange year was immersing myself in high school sports. In Morocco, I had never played golf or tennis, but thanks to the YES program and encouragement from my host family, I was able to experience first-hand what it is like to be part of an American high school sports team. At first, I was excited and intimidated, but my coaches and teammates made it so easy with their encouragements and inclusiveness!

Alae with her high school tennis team

By joining the sports teams, I learned so much more than just how to play a new sport. I learned life lessons like teamwork, resilience, and how to push myself physically and mentally. I found a sense of belonging, built lasting friendships with my teammates, and found them always ready to support and motivate me. This really made my exchange year!

When I came back to Morocco, I tried finding a tennis court and was excited to show my parents what I had learned and grown to love. I even competed with some of my family members, and much to my surprise and to theirs, I won most of the matches. My uncle bragged so much about his tennis skill, but I beat him in our match. The win wasn’t just about victory, but also about how much I had grown and learned through my stay in the U.S. Through the YES program, I not only discovered new sports, but also so much about myself. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, even when it was terrifying to do so. This is a lesson that I now carry with me in everything I do, and it all started simply but powerfully by joining a sports team at my American high school!


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