Kayla hails from Elkins Park, Pennsylvania and was recruited by Department of State partner Nacel Open Door for the CBYX vocational program. She is currently participating in the program’s two-month intensive German language course in Bonn, Germany.
Since her August arrival in Germany, Kayla has gone above and beyond to support her fellow participants, particularly those experiencing homesickness. She motivated others to make the most out of their language classes and orientation experience, encouraging her classmates and helping them excel. For example, when the group played a game to learn about communicating across cultures, Kayla was able to see beyond her own role and help the group avoid cross cultural misunderstandings. Her leadership skills and friendly energy has helped her form strong bonds with her peers, welcome family, and German teachers.
Stepping out of one’s country and comfort zone often sparks personal growth. Kayla has felt this metamorphosis over the first months of her exchange stating, “From the way I conduct myself, to the way I convey my words knowing the impact they possess, I noticed that throughout all the improvements this exchange has generated, they all result from one thing, the growth of my mindset. This exchange has affected and improved my mindset for the better.” Her shift in thinking is most clearly visible in her changed approach to language learning. While learning German, Kayla no longer questions the utility of certain words or phrases, opting to embrace a wide variety of topics to expand both her lexicon and general knowledge. Kayla reflected, “My mindset grows tremendously each day, and that is all due to the amazing experiences and lessons this exchange provides to me continuously.”
Kayla finds her immersive experiences to be empowering. One of Kayla’s favorite CBYX moments thus far was when she realized she could understand her host family’s German dinner conversation. With newfound confidence, Kayla uttered her first full sentence in German, asking, “Kann ich die salat haben?” Her request for salad was met with cheers of excitement! “Even though those five short words are small now, they were such a significant milestone in my exchange. That moment is one I will take with me moving forward as one of my favorites.”
Congratulations Kayla!
