Dear reader,

You are very welcome on this page about my journey. My name is Polina, and I would like to express my interest in applying for the “Work and Travel” program. I am 20 years old and I’m also a 4th-year student of the Faculty of Social and Humanitarian Relations of the Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University. To be honest when I was a first-year student I was thinking about a lot of programs for young people, student exchange programs and so on. I like the idea of studying, working, and living abroad, because what could be more valuable than having one's own experience. No matter how many times you've heard it, it's better to try it yourself once. I have the same story with international exchange programs. I have heard about them many times, but I have never tried them.

But in my story, I have not yet tried similar programs on my own experience, because then there was Covid, I returned home again, started working on-line. Time moves very fast, and I really tried to keep up, but then the war started and I, as many Ukrainians, lost myself in all these information and disinformation, forgot to count months. So, now here I am studying in the 4th year, without ever having gone to study or travel abroad as a student. Life seems to flow through the fingers. But let's not be upset!

What do I know about the programs? When I was a student at school, I heard a lot about various foreign programs for students. For example, my older cousin went abroad to work and travel by herself, so I was sure that I would do the same. Also, my relatives often talked about international programs, namely that when I enter the university, I should not miss the opportunity to apply for such a program. I am sure that everything has its time, so here I am.

I would love to become part of your program because this is the best way for me become independent and find myself. I am especially interested in your organize because this is the way to know yourself. I read a lot, learned about the program “Work and Travel” and most of the participants say that it was in the United States of America that they found themselves. Of course, everyone told that it was difficult, a lot of work, you are left alone in an unfamiliar society, and there is a lot of new and unknown things. I can't make any excuses, because I've never participated, but the reviews inspire me to try and believe that I will succeed. you challenge yourself, try new things and rise like a phoenix from the ashes.

So as you can tell from this program I expect challenges for myself, which is quite strange, but I feel like I have to live it. So, of course, I expect new impressions, new sensations and experiments from the program, I want to try to work abroad, feel the atmosphere of life in the United States of America. Probably everyone has dreamed of the so-called "American Dream" at some point in their lives, so this is a great chance to try it. Regarding work, it is quite diverse and you can definitely find something to your liking, there is also an advantage in that we ourselves choose the state where we will live and work. Also regarding housing, this program is a unique opportunity to live abroad, alone, with all the possibilities and negativity, but it is a priceless experience. I also wanted more Americans and foreigners in general to learn about Ukraine. I would like to exchange experience and cultural values. All people are different and we all see the world in our own way, but now there is a war in our country and we live every day as our last, so we cannot let the world forget about us. And working and living abroad, we will exchange experience and make our contribution to the enlightenment of foreigners regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war. I also read many interesting stories when the program participants met and maintained contact with friends from the cities where they lived, so this is a great opportunity to expand your horizons.

As I already said, participation in the program will help me in many criteria, namely: finding myself, working and living abroad, making new friends and acquaintances, culturally enlightening and introducing foreigners to Ukrainian culture, traveling, which is perhaps the most important criterion for me personally . Since we only live once and during the war we especially realized this, travel and new sensations are extremely important, because only this makes us happy people - to discover the world. Regarding my future career, if I do not choose to participate in the program in the future, it will only be a big plus, no matter where I work, whether in a public place or in a private activity, experience is experience.

I think that everyone, whether a person or an organization, has a place to go and develop. Regarding the program “Work and Travel”, I want to experience it firsthand and I am sure that then I will be able to reasonably say that I liked it, and that I would like to improve it, and for now I want to take part in it.

As for what exchange programs will be like in 20 or 50 years, I really don't know what they are like now. so it's hard for me to give an answer, but I really want to believe that such programs will not be online, just kidding! I really want this type of program to be more accessible to the majority, so that it would be financially convenient for everyone and nothing could stop a person except his own desire. Also, I would really like teleportation to exist, because then it would be extremely easy to move around, but of course this is already my whim.

In conclusion, I would like to say that I believe. that there is a time for everything, no matter what you are told that you should hurry, that you will not have time, remember that there is a time for everything! And I am sure that my time has come! That is why I am ready for new challenges that I need, a new country, work and travel, new acquaintances, a new life in general. I want to and I have to try, so that's exactly what I'm doing right now. I hope to be given this chance.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Polina Derkach