A Mom's Perspective (My Moms Thoughts)

When Alicia first became interested in doing a foreign exchange program through the Rotary I automatically said no! I couldn't bare the thought of her, my then 16 year old daughter leaving home a year earlier than I was prepared for, and being in a foreign country living with strangers. I was torn and prayed fervently to see if this is the path she was to take. I talked it over with her dad and he thought it would be a great opportunity for her. I also called my sister to get her opinion and she too thought it would be a great experience for Alicia. Almost everyone I mentioned it to was excited and thought it would be beneficial to her. I was the only one not wanting her to go for my own selfish mom reasons! Deep down I knew this experience and opportunity was great for her and there were more positives than negatives, so I reluctantly agreed.

Fast forward to today, August 1, 2018; she has been blessed with this Rotary Foreign Exchange Scholarship and is leaving! I know that she will have a great year and mature tremendously during her time away from us. My prayer now is that during her time away from us all, and the comforts of home, she becomes the young woman God intends her to be. I pray she will also make a positive difference in the lives of those she encounters and fulfills the purpose of the Rotary Youth Exchange by promoting world peace, one student at a time.