My name is Stephanie. I am 16 years old and live in California. I am applying to study abroad in Japan for a year through the program AFS.
Going to study abroad in Japan has been my dream for a couple of years now. However, due to many obstacles I've never been able to make it come true. Just, recently, I've been given the chance to do so. Going abroad is in no way free nor easy to pay for. My family will certainly have trouble financially sending me abroad. Even so, this is something I want to do. As a human being, I'm given the chance to live my life only once. That is why I don't want any regrets. I refuse to see my dreams crushed. That is why, I'm willing to place my pride on the line in order to ask for help to finance my dream.
Why do I want to study abroad in Japan? Why does someone like math more than history? I don't know. It's just something that's part of me. I can't control or repress my desires. I'm only a high school student and I don't know what lies ahead of me in the future. I don't know what I'll be like or what I'll be doing ten years from now. But what I do know about is: now. Now, at this very moment, I want to go to Japan more than anything. I've waited since years ago to go. As I said earlier though, I couldn't because of financial reasons. Losing my dreams to money is the reality everyone faces in today's society. I don't know why, maybe it's because I'm a B-type, I don't want to see my dreams gone.
Quite honestly, I'm not sure what to expect to gain from this experience. I could easily lie and say that it'll help me become a better person. However, will one year abroad really change me that much? Will I truly become a better person? That is something I'm not sure of. I've never study abroad, so I have no idea as to what to expect. I can only hope for the best. Of course, in my head I have some sort of image of what I would like to see. Again, I've been dreaming too much recently. Explaining it in words, however, would take too much of my time and your time.
In exchange, what can I return to those who help me? What is it you want? Do you wish me to become smarter? I'm not making any promises as to what I will experience when I study abroad. After all, I don't have the ability to see my own future. For now, I'll do my best to represent myself as someone you, who choose to finance me, have allowed to see her dreams fulfilled. Wanting and wishing are words that can't even begin to describe my feelings at the moment.
To help meet my financial needs, I've been calling and e-mailing many people that I know. This is something I can see myself doing. I've also been job-hunting since the beginning of summer.
I want to thank those of you who are willing to help me ahead of time. I can't even begin to realize that I'm growing closer and closer to my dream. To sponsor my AFS program now, please click the ChipIn button.
