Route J-1

It is always a privilege for me to meet young people on J-1 programs. So many J-1 exchange visitors truly exemplify the power of international exchange. As explained in my previous entry, I had the opportunity to meet seventy J-1 participants at a three-day Civic Leadership Summit hosted by a designated sponsor organization. The Summit gave participants new skills and ideas to return home with, and to use to make a positive impact. I was floored by the passion in these young people! I also felt inspired hearing that they will use their J-1 experience to improve the world around them. In this post, these remarkable young people speak for themselves and you will see the influence of people-to-people connections!

Andrey Zaytsev, a SWT participant from Russia, believed that coming to the United States would help him form a more objective opinion of the world. He also knew that spending a summer working here would give him more competitive interpersonal and professional skills to succeed in the international economy. He said the SWT program completely immersed him in American society, allowing him to learn more about the country’s society, government structure, and cultural values. “I’m working here, I’ve got American friends and we do a lot of things together. It really looks like I’m living an American life.” To Andrey, cultural exchanges like SWT are important because they teach students to discern the difference between stereotypes and truth. Andrey knows that when he returns home, he can confidently “correct people’s stereotypes” about Americans because he has personally lived in the United States and experienced “what’s real and what’s not” for himself.

Abdelrahman Einawawy, a SWT participant from Egypt, believes the J-1 program helps young people “build character, stretching them out of their comfort zone, and becoming more aware of the world around them.”  Abdelrahman’s summer job gave him “real life experience and service skills.”  The daily interaction with people from across the United States and the world helped him become “more broad-minded.”   He now has close friends from Russia, Montenegro, and the United States!   To Abdelrahman, exchanges are extremely important in our changing and complex world.  “Today’s clashes and tensions, uprisings, and wars alert us of the need for more understanding of each other.”  He adds that exchanges are life-changing experiences that help participants to become more “mature and rational” and to think more critically about what they see and hear.

Monika Stoljarova, a J-1biotechnology intern from Estonia, came to the University of North Texas Health Science Center to develop skills for generating genetic data. Monika’s program exceeded her expectations – largely thanks to her supervisor. “My boss is really good in a way that all our thoughts are considered as ideas and he is very encouraging and positive. He helps us to be more independent and creative and to trust ourselves.” Monika knows that her experiences as a J-1 intern will take her far. “When I go home, I will work to finish my Master’s thesis then begin my PhD, which will involve helping to build a partnership between labs in three different countries.”

Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight