Jaelyn Tuck, a senior at Staunton River High School, recently returned from Brazil where she spent her junior year of high school as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of SML, Ms. Tuck was in Brazil from September of 2013, until August 2014.
Jaelyn spoke to club members about her experiences during her time in Brazil. While in Brazil she was hosted by four different families and attended a private school of 300 students for part of the year and a public school with 5,000 students for the rest of her school year. As part of her year, Jaelyn was able to travel with up to 40 other Rotary exchange students from around the world. They visited several Brazilian cultural and scenic sights along with many other Rotary Clubs in Brazil. Academics were also stressed and Jaelyn took approximately 12 classes while in Brazil.
Ms. Tuck stated her experience in Brazil allowed her to learn more about herself and become much more self confident and at ease with public speaking and more open with students and adults. Jaelyn hopes to attend either West Virginia University, Vanderbilt or the University of North Carolina pursuing a career in pharmacy.
For more information on Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program, please visit the Rotary International website at Rotary.org or contact
SML Rotarian Case Pieterman at casencobypieterman@verizon.net.
Photo caption: Rotary Club of SML Youth Exchange coordinator, Case Pieterman, thanks Ms. Jaelyn Tuck for her presentation to club members about her experiences in Brazil as a Rotary Youth Exchange student.
