Exchange student speaks to Rotary | News, Sports, Jobs

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Jayla Reams, at left, accompanied by her mother Questie Reams, spoke with the Rotary Club of Elkins about her recent student exchange experience in Ecuador.

ELKINS — Jayla Reams, a rising junior at Elkins High School, served as a Rotary exchange student during the 2024-2025 school year. Reams is the daughter of Questie and Bobby Reams and has seven siblings, Jescha, Jedakyah, Jaden, Jerrick, Jarrah, Jalyssa and Jaemasun.

She loves sports, including swimming, volleyball and pole vaulting and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. After completing high school, Reams plans on attending college to become a nurse practitioner. During the exchange period, which began in August 2024 and ended in May 2025, Reams lived with Rotary host families in Valle de los Chillos (Los Chillos Valley), Quito, Ecuador and attended the local school.

The town of Quito, where Reams spent her exchange, is one of the largest cities in Ecuador. Prior to her departure, Reams was very excited about her upcoming adventure and for the opportunities she would have.

“On the plane, I was actually scared. I wondered about the things that would happen when I got there, all these people I don’t know, a language I can’t understand,” said Reams. Upon arrival, she was greeted by the local Rotary exchange director, her counselor and her host family Juan and Karen.

The school Ream attended was quite small and very different than school in the U.S. There were only 19 students in her class and they did not move during the day, the teachers did.

Even though the school was small, Reams had the opportunity to take gifts to schools that were not as privileged as the one she attended. “It really changed me. A little boy asked me what time the power cuts out in the U.S. It broke my heart because we don’t have to go through a lot of the thing they have to do through,” said Reams. During her time in Ecuador, Reams and her family were without electricity for four months. It was normal to have scheduled power outages.

Reams became quite close with her host family. “Family is one of the most important things. It binds you together. It’s your first image of the country. I was scared to meet my family, but they welcomed me with open arms and love and kindness. They treated me like their own,” said Ream. “They really tried to immerse me in the Ecuador culture and the Spanish language. Because of that, I came back fluent in Spanish.” Reams shared many photos of her extended host family and their home. “I keep in contact with them weekly, that’s how connected we have stayed,” added Reams. Sundays were special days, often spent with the entire family.

One important component of the Rotary student exchange program is the opportunity for the students to visit many points of interest in the district they where they are living. There are coordinated visits with all of the students in the district as well as visits with the students’ host families. Reams was able to visit Nanegalito, Quilotoa, Cuenca, Manta, Amazons and Galapagos. In Nanegalito, Reams and her host family hiked, saw hummingbirds and swam.

There are many volcanoes in Quilatoa. “In the states we don’t see a lot of volcanoes. When I got there, there were lots of volcanoes. It was really cool to see,” said Reams.

The volcanoes are inactive but there was a lake in the crater. During her trip to Cuenca, Reams had the opportunity to meet the other 29 exchange students in the district. They hailed from Germany, Brazil, France, Japan, Belgium and the United States. During this assembly, the group got to know each other and worked on their Spanish language skills. The group also had the opportunity to get together in Manta and visited a lighthouse during their get-together.

At the Amazons, the group had lessons in wilderness survival.

“No matter where you were, you would see snakes or spiders or birds. We would even pick up some of the animals. We also had the opportunity to meet a family that lives in the Amazons,” said Reams. “We were able to experience how their live was and what they do for food and medicine that they get from plants.”

The group also swam with piranhas.

Reams’ favorite place that she visited was the Galapagos. “This was my favorite part. I had wanted to go to Galapagos since I learned about it in 8th grade science class,” said Reams. The group got to swim with sharks and they learned that the sharks in that area were not aggressive towards humans and that it was necessary to watch for turtles, like deer in West Virginia, crossing the streets.

“I also got to celebrate my seventeenth birthday in Galapagos,” added Reams.

Another highlight of the trip was the chance to try new and different foods. She sampled guinea pig, which she enjoyed, a wide variety of empanadas, a cold soup made with orange juice, lemons and shrimp, cow tongue and goat.

“I just wanted to say how grateful I am to have the opportunity to have all these experiences, make all these new friends and connections and I couldn’t have done it without your help. Thank you so much,” concluded Reams.

More information about the Rotary Youth Exchange program can be found at www.rotary.org (Our Programs/Youth Programs) or by contacting Elkins Rotary Club President Phillips Kolsun.

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page — Rotary Club of Elkins — or contact 2025-2026 club president Phillips Kolsun at [email protected] for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.