Our Youth Exchange and Study (YES) students are all uniquely talented. These traits are what make them stick out among the crowd and helped them get selected for this prestigious program.
For the month of October, our YES Student of the Month is Vraj. Vraj is joining us this year from India. He has already done so much, both in his school and his community, to make the most of his year abroad.
At school, Vraj is involved in band, Model UN, theater and the robotics club. Outside of school, Vraj enjoys volunteering and inviting others to join him. He has worked hard since the beginning of the school year and continues to make new friends.
Since arriving, Vraj joined the band at his school. He enjoys being involved and making new friends.
Vraj’s host family, the Reinsmoens, noticed Vraj’s extremely caring and outgoing personality very early in their relationship, according to Ashley Heffern, Vraj’s local IRIS coordinator.
“He cooks with them, spends time with them and shows them his appreciation,” Heffern said. ‘They feel like they ‘hit the jackpot.’”
Heffern has also been witness to Vraj’s energy and charisma. She noted although he has been sick twice since he arrived, Vraj has maintained his same character through it all.
“I attended a community event with him and he said hello to almost everyone we saw,” Heffern said.
Vraj regularly checks in with his peers in the YES program. He becomes concerned for others without comparing himself. He is constantly ready to try new things and learn more about the people and the world around him.
Vraj is a genuine, kind and open-minded young man. We are extremely happy to have him as a member of this year’s group and could not be more proud of the way he represents IRIS as a YES Ambassador. Way to go Vraj!