Sylvan Lake High School student Kolby Orris will be doing her Grade 12 year in Holland thanks to the Rotary Youth Exchange program
Sylvan Lake High School student Kolby Orris is going to Holland for her Grade 12 year because of the Rotary Youth Exchange program.
Through the Rotary Youth Exchange program, students have the opportunity to learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens.
The program is for students aged 15-19 and is sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.
A big part of Rotary is the international projects, Orris said.
“A big part is branching out, and through Rotary, you get the long-term change and the short-term exchange. I heard about the exchange program, started thinking about it, and decided it was something I wanted to do.”
“People always tell you to go see the world, go explore, and one, this is an affordable way to do it, and two, I get to meet so many like-minded, amazing, kind people.”
Orris will be heading to Holland on August 15 and will return to Canada next July.
Orris found out about going to the Netherlands a couple of months ago.
“Since finding out, I have been working on my Dutch, but learning a new language is hard. One of our Rotarians who is originally from Holland has been helping me out with my speaking and pronunciation,” Orris said.
While in Holland, Orris will stay with a host family.
“My host family are the sweetest people ever, I am going to have a host mom, host dad, and a younger sister while I am there. They have already started including me in all their family activities, which is something I could have only dreamed about. We have FaceTimed, we have talked, and I get challenged on my Dutch every day, which is a lot of fun,” Orris said.
Going into the experience, it is important to stay open-minded, Orris said.
“I think that experiencing something new and a whole different way of life will allow me to learn to adapt, and not be stuck in my ways. There is more out there, and I want to see that more. I am excited to experience something new.”
This experience wouldn’t be possible without the Rotary Club of Sylvan Lake, Orris said.
“I want to say a huge thank you to the Rotary Club. They have been great at finding host families and making this possible. This was also a whole new learning experience for them, as I am their first exchange student going on a long-term exchange, so this was all new to them.”
“They have invited me to so many of their meetings, and they have been engaged, listening to what I am talking about, where I am going, and my story, and I think that is such a blessing.”
It also wouldn’t be possible without Ecole H.J. Cody High School.
“The students and staff at H.J. Cody are great. The teachers are invested in every student they teach, and they just want to see us succeed, and it is amazing,” Orris said.
More information on the Rotary Youth Exchange program can be found on the website, rotary.org/en/our-programs/youth-exchanges.
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