My story and the application process

So I found out about CBYX through my hairdresser (who's a family friend). I had been thinking about exchange for a while (probably since the fifth grade) and then in the VERY beginning of my freshman year of high school a girl came in to my french class to talk about how she had gone on an exchange to Belgium through Rotary youth exchange. I immediately wanted to do what she had done! So I did as much research a possible for Rotary, including meeting with a Rotary representative and looking up videos on YouTube from those that went through that program. But soon my parents sat me down and told me that it was way too much money. (This program was only $5,000 whereas other programs can be up to $20,000, but it was still too expensive for us to afford it.) I became really sad but then our hairdresser and friend told us about the CBYX program and how her son had done it (this conversation probably happened in spring of 2012).

Her son started talking to me about the program and he brought over all of his papers and books that he went through and had to fill out, along with pictures from his year and a bunch of little ticket stubs he had from visiting other countries and riding buses and trains. I became hooked and went on the CBYX website every single day until it finally came out in the very last week of November. I remember being so happy and practically filled out the entire thing that day. They asked me stuff about my family and how I had heard of the program; activities, awards, interests, and leadership positions I have held; a multitude of short essays; they had you write a letter about yourself and your family so that if you were picked they would give it to your host family; they asked for your transcript; and they had you get two recommendation letters from teachers at your high school.

I filled out all of the application and submitted it a couple weeks early and received an email saying that they got my application and that they were going to forward my application to the head of CBYX. Then, finally, on March 1st (the day I was supposed to find out), I got an email. I opened it and it read "I regret to inform you..." I was so disappointed and it felt like my life was over. But then two days later, while I was down stairs eating a bowl of cereal, my mom called me. She was all like "When was the last time you checked your email?!" but she said it like she was crying. I yelled back, "I dunno, a couple days ago, I have about 700 messages to check." I was getting worried cause I thought someone had died or something, so when she called me upstairs to come and look I got really nervous. I had my cereal in my hand and leaned over my mom's shoulder and all I saw was "please disregard the email we sent you earlier..." (I was previously boarder line with making the cut, but a couple applicants dropped out so I got the position). I screamed and just about spilled my cereal and joked on a flake. I set my cereal down and I started bawling. (i wish I had a video of this to show you guys because it was pretty dang hilarious.) I swear to God that was the best moment of my life!

Then, not even five minutes later, one of the guys from the partner program, FLAG (my region), called and asked if we received the email. He then told me about my interview and when and where it was. Then he asked if I had any questions. I replied back, "No, I'm just so happy!" and that was pretty much that.

Here is some application and interview advice:

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