There were many amazing opportunities I had while in Turkey, the history woven into the modern day architecture, people whose love for their culture shined through their every movement and the food which was a full five-sense experience. However, the most meaningful moments where heightened because I was able to share them with my foreign exchange student Milica Petkovic from Serbia. She was on the A-SMYLE program in Adel, Iowa 2011-12 and she flew to Istanbul to see me and her host mom.
Despite time passing, as it always does, when we connected at the airport, it was as if time had stood still. During our two days together she shared so many stories of how World Link and the A-SMYLE programs changed her life. She talked about when she was notified as a finalist she knew her life was about to change forever. Once she arrived in the U.S. she began getting involved and was really grateful that World Link required the community service and presentations because only than did she realize how much she liked giving back and how much she loved her country of Serbia. In addition the year in the U.S. forced her to grow up and mature more than she realized because when she went home, her natural family stated they could not believe how much she had grown and learned.
When she returned to Serbia she admitted it was hard at first until she began getting involved with alumni activities and having others to talk to. Milica stated the project she felt most proud of that she completed as an alumni was a project called, “How I Met My Dog.” They raised money and awareness of the awful conditions the stray dogs were living with at the dog shelter in Novi Sad. The dogs were overjoyed with their improved living conditions and this only prompted the alumni involved to continue to do more for them.
In the end, Milica said that her life is forever changed and it might be best to leave you with her own words:
Despite time passing, as it always does, when we connected at the airport, it was as if time had stood still. During our two days together she shared so many stories of how World Link and the A-SMYLE programs changed her life. She talked about when she was notified as a finalist she knew her life was about to change forever. Once she arrived in the U.S. she began getting involved and was really grateful that World Link required the community service and presentations because only than did she realize how much she liked giving back and how much she loved her country of Serbia. In addition the year in the U.S. forced her to grow up and mature more than she realized because when she went home, her natural family stated they could not believe how much she had grown and learned.
When she returned to Serbia she admitted it was hard at first until she began getting involved with alumni activities and having others to talk to. Milica stated the project she felt most proud of that she completed as an alumni was a project called, “How I Met My Dog.” They raised money and awareness of the awful conditions the stray dogs were living with at the dog shelter in Novi Sad. The dogs were overjoyed with their improved living conditions and this only prompted the alumni involved to continue to do more for them.
In the end, Milica said that her life is forever changed and it might be best to leave you with her own words:
“You are investing in lives of ambitious, motivated young individuals and you are changing our lives for good. And, also you are indirectly changing all the people that actions of that one former exchange student can touch. In a way, you are creating a chain of positive mindset that is changing the world from day to day.”
Written by Kelly Rooney-Kozak; Local Coordinator; Des Moines,IA.