A Lifetime in a Year

Joanna Lopez Start Date: Nov 13, 2017 - End Date: Jan 15, 2018
  • Greece
  • Italy
  • France

My Travel Story

by: Joanna Lopez Start Date: Nov 13, 2017 - End Date: Jan 15, 2018
Hi! My name is Joanna and I am a high school senior looking to broaden my horizons with a gap year to a foreign country. I am thrilled to announce that I have been accepted into the Rotary Foreign Exchange Program! It is an international service organization whose purpose is to provide for others, encourage ethical standards, and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. Although most people go abroad during their undergrad, I know that this experience is right for me. During the summer of 2016, I represented the United States as a youth cultural ambassador to the country of Cyprus! This was all made possible because I was given a full scholarship to the AYLP program sponsored by the US Department of State. It was an extremely competitive nationwide process but I am continually blessed by the Lord for helping me in all ways possible. I studied environmental issues and learned more about climate change, however it was so much more than just my studies. I made new friendships and had 2 host families which were utterly life changing. In the picture posted, I am with my Turkish Cypriot host sister on the left and I am on the right! The Cypriot culture is beautiful and has driven me to continue to studying abroad; this time for an academic year rather than a summer. I gained so much personal growth and experience a new perspective that only going abroad will give me. The only way I can further this is through the Rotary Program, however, there is a financial barrier that I am working my absolute hardest to overcome. Coming from a family of 6 with only my mother to provide support, it is a heavy financial strain. I am doing my best with working a part time job out of school; however it is still not enough. With your generosity, you can help a young girl's passion become true.

I have already been accepted to the program and I currently am not sure where I would be placed abroad (it is a matching process so my ranked choices are not guaranteed) but I am flexible to go anywhere in the world and learn its culture. As I learn more about my placement, I will keep everyone updated! Thank you for your generosity!



  • Greece
  • Italy
  • France