Zhaniya “always goes above and beyond what is asked or expected” says her local coordinator. She jumped right into her exchange year by establishing a personal goal of 100 community service hours and has been persistently seeking new opportunities to achieve this.
She volunteered at the concession stand during high school football games and donated canned goods for the local food drive. She also took it upon herself to personally fill and send a gift box with different toys and games for a child in need! Always looking for ways to serve her host community, she plans on “volunteering at the Jackson house in her city serving food to people in need, at an animal shelter and at the local church for the holidays.”
When Zhaniya isn’t busy volunteering, she works hard to maintain good grades, sings in the school choir and enjoys participating in school events, including spirit and red ribbon weeks.
Zhaniya embodies all the qualities of a great exchange student. She’s dedicated to community service, involved in school and has a great relationship with her host family. While all exchange students face difficulties adjusting to life in the US, her local coordinator remarks that “she always takes initiative facing each challenge with an open-mind and maturity.”
At home, Zhaniya enjoys spending time with her host family. She likes to drink tea with them in the afternoons, picks out movies with her host dad and cooks with her host mom!
Zhaniya, thank you for giving back to your host community, we can’t wait to see what new opportunities you pursue in the coming months!