Hello! I’m Alex Dunlop, a freshman at Veritas Preparatory Academy. I am a hardworking student who loves the challenges school presents, and am involved with Speech and Debate and Cross Country. I first became interested in a foreign exchange over two years ago after hearing about AFS. I aspire to serve in the Peace Corps, and to someday work with international relations in the Foreign Service. However, I had always thought traveling and being able to pursue those goals was far off on the horizon. I had never before heard of a foreign exchange and the idea of a foreign exchange opened my mind up to an exciting new opportunity. The idea of going abroad during high school seemed such an adventure! I know so little of the world and to go learn a new language and live in an entirely new place would, at the very least, enable me to grow as a person and better give back to my community.
My application has been accepted my AFS Thailand, so I will go abroad for a semester of my sophomore year in three months, living with a host family and attending the local high school. The American Field Service spreads a message of intercultural peace and tolerance, and gives students a chance to learn about other cultures for themselves so that they can come to understand how all people of the world are connected. Living for six months within another country with a different culture offers me the opportunity to grow as a person. Different cultures offer different perspectives of the world, and understanding that will broaden my own view of the world as I go through life. Going abroad to Thailand offers exciting opportunities for my education as well. Immersion is one of the best ways to learn a language, and living for six months within Thailand would give me more comfort and experience with the language than learning from a classroom ever could. The language skills I will pick up, and the increased understanding of how to be a part of the community means I can have a real impact on other members of my community and will affect who I am as a person for the rest of my life.
I have received a small merit scholarship, called the Global Leaders scholarship, in recognition of my academic work and involvement in my community. However, I still need to raise about five thousand dollars in order to be able go on the exchange. I will be babysitting and doing whatever I can to achieve my goal. I would appreciate any kind of financial aid, for no amount is too small and brings me a step closer to achieving my goal. To sponsor my AFS program now, please click on the ChipIn button. I will be writing my blog throughout my stay in Thailand, so be sure to check in and read about my travel abroad!
