An Open Letter to the YES Batch of 2019-2020

Dear batch of 2019-2020,

I hope everyone reading this is in their homes safe and in the best of health,

I know we did not get to say goodbye as we expected we would, I know there was so much we were looking forward to in our exchange year, and it is overwhelming to see that change. But I wanted to take moment to reflect on how we have grown together as a batch, and the journey we have lying ahead of us.

I would never have thought of leaving everything behind, my family, my home school my friends, my comfort level and come explore myself as a cultural ambassador in country like the united states. But exchange made me do it. I remember having so much social anxiety walking into a room full of unknown faces, but now I find myself capable of starting a conversation, approaching people infact confidently speak in front an audience. And living with a people from a completely different side of the world sounded so terrifying but now when I look back, I would never recall them any less than my own family. I always understood the importance of community service, but I could never have discovered the gratitude it leaves you with, I learnt how to give back to a community without wanting something in return, and for that I am thankful to this program.

I believe all of us have pushed ourselves in some or the other parts of your skill set that we never thought we would. We are a batch of learners, who learnt and taught so much about their cultures and its significance after coming to America. the importance of a family, now we know that a family can be a group of people who are so different from yourself, but are so welcoming to you and your culture. And I am sure after a few years down the line , we are going to look back at our pictures with them and live the journey all over again, not everyone who have not lived through an exchange will understand this feeling of how someone so different can feel like family , and one thing that held you all together and will continue to do so rest of our lives. We have made friends not just because of the teams we once represented or clubs we participated in our host schools, but from all around the world. The community of exchange students itself is something so huge and powerful that despite of where we come from in the world, this journey of our exchange and the experiences it gave us will always be our ground to connect, and there is nothing more magical than that.

And I want us to remember that we are living through a time which will be remembered in the future years, and will be used as examples of growth. And even though this was a reason of abrupt goodbyes, I want us to take it as one of our greatest strengths, which will help us guide all the other students yet to join this community.

We are a batch of fighters, and only because our journeys took an unexpected turn is because this isn’t simply the end, this is just the start of our path as leaders, there is so much work for us yet to do, as alumni’s and as global citizens. So, don’t let this stop you from remembering your best times any differently.

And lastly I wanted thank everyone in the batch for making this experience what it is .

Not a goodbye but a see you soon,

Yours truly

A fellow exchange student.

#yesprogams #exchangestudent #studyabroad