Quest and AFS Opens Doors for Students
University City High School (UCHS) junior Malike Harris is preparing to travel in June to meet his new host family in Italy, thanks to the Quest Scholarship Fund in partnership with The School District of University City and AFS (formerly American Field Services). Malike will be part of their family for eight weeks.
At the same time, UCHS exchange student Izabella (Iza) DePaul Broga, who has spent the past year making new friends at the high school, is preparing to leave her University City host family to return to Brazil.
For years, Quest has helped to provide AFS travel abroad experiences for thousands of high school students who might not otherwise be able to go. Quest coordinates the travel details and helps students become more familiar with air travel and complete the required forms and immunizations.
The idea of taking such a long trip can be a little overwhelming for the students and their families. Malike’s mother Sheari Harris said, “I was kind of frightened at first (when he told me), happy but frightened and I still am a little!” She added, “I just had to make sure he was ready. I want him, to keep pursuing his dreams and never stop.”
Malike also has mixed emotions about the 17-hour flight, but he’s excited for the opportunity, “I have never traveled on an airplane before so this is a big step for me. I want to experience a new culture and find out what living in another country feels like. It’s a great opportunity to try something new.” He added, “I leave around my birthday (17) so, it will be a good birthday gift!”
Malike works at AMC-12 Theaters and is already packing for the trip. He said, “Every time I get a paycheck, I save some and buy travel supplies!”
The first step on the journey was for Quest to help Malike apply for a passport. The Quest team was fascinated to learn that the Post Office official who processed Malike’s form, graduated from UCHS along with former AFS student and UCHS alumnae, Virginia Palmer, Ambassador to Malawi! It truly is a small world – and getting smaller, thanks to Quest and the AFS program and their efforts to bring people together!
Ambassador Palmer (UCHS Class of 1979) credits her time in UCHS’ AFS Club and as an AFS exchange student with “inspiring my career choice and everything I’ve accomplished since.” While in town for her UCHS Hall of Fame induction last October (2017), Ambassador Palmer said, “As I’ve moved from country to country and lived in different cultures, confronting governments and organizations, sometimes hostile to the United States -- I have relied on the lessons UCHS taught me about the importance of diversity and being true to one’s self.”
Iza Says Goodbye to U. City and Prepares to Return Home to Brazil
As Malike prepares for his own unique AFS experience, he and other UCHS students are saying goodbye to Izabella (Iza) De Paula Braga, the school’s Brazilian foreign exchange student who will return home after graduation.
Superintendent of Schools Sharonica-Hardin-Bartley, Ph.D. PHR, said, “Iza has been a wonderful addition to our student body and we have enjoyed having her for this year. I thank John and Sarah Holahan and their family as well as AFS for helping us to bridge cultures and enrich the lives and education of our students.”
Hoping more families will agree to host, Holahan explained away two misconceptions about the program in saying the exchange student doesn’t need a private room, just a welcoming space in your home and family. And, although the Holahans have a daughter, Nicole, who is a UCHS junior, it’s not necessary to for the host family to have a high school-age student. In fact, she says, if the exchange student has left siblings at home, younger kids can help ease the transition.
Holahan said, “It’s been a great experience for everyone in our family, learning about another country and also being involved in the activities that she (Iza) has chosen (different sports, clubs, activities than our own kids are in) and meeting new students and families at our school. It’s been a great year and no one is ready for it to end.”
UCHS’ AFS student for next year (2018-19) is Nacim Hassoun, a 16-year-old young woman from Tripoli, Lebanon. She will live with the family of Maria and Jason Sparks and their daughters Linsey (17) and Regan (9). Nacim received a very competitive YES scholarship from the U.S. State Department -- quite a coup for U. City! Welcome, Nacim!
If you would like to host an AFS student, contact AFS USA Team Development Director (MO, Metro East and AK) James Butler at (618) 558-3614 or jbutler@afsusa.org. For more information about The School District of University City, visit www.ucityschools.org.
Malike (top right) bonds with other area Quest students before their big adventures.