The U.S. Department of State and German Bundestag are pleased to announce Laurence Mielke as the April 2025 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) German Participant of the Month! Laurence, a CBYX High School program participant from Eckartsberga, Saxony Anhalt, Germany, and recruited by ASSE, is hosted by the Adam-Fuller family in Philomath, Oregon.
Laurence wanted to study abroad for several years and searched diligently on the internet for opportunities to make it a reality. Drawn in by the CBYX program’s focus on civic education and diplomacy, Laurence was eager to take part and become a citizen ambassador.
Coming from a rural area of Germany and a German high school with limited extracurricular opportunities, Laurence was surprised to see just how much Americans manage to pack into their productive daily schedules. Laurence has followed suit and actively plays a part in his host school’s theater program, dance team, and Club of Culture. As part of the Club of Culture, Laurence helped draft the club’s constitution, organize projects to promote cultural awareness both on- and off-campus and is set to deliver presentations at a state-wide conference in Portland this year. Laurence also volunteers in the community and has helped clean up the Oregon State University stadium on multiple occasions. A stand-out moment from his exchange year was traveling with his host family to Seattle for his birthday!
In many ways, Laurence has grown into a leader since coming to the United States. He noted that prior to the program, he wouldn’t have considered himself to be a role model, but he now feels that he’s been able to inspire others, evidenced by his success in adapting and thriving in his host community. One valuable insight Laurence has gained is that many Americans choose to view failure as an opportunity for growth. This has shifted his perspective on failure, which he previously saw as something negative to avoid. He now has a greater sense of self-confidence and a stronger desire to try new things. Before he wraps up his exchange year, Laurence plans to continue being involved in his host community and to spend more quality time with the friends he’s made here.
