Cultivating Global Leaders

Mohammad Shadab participated in the YES exchange program in 2019-20. (Photograph courtesy Mohammad Shadab)

As an exchange student, traveling and living in a country with a different culture was challenging, but my host family never made me feel excluded or homesick. They welcomed me warmly. I traveled to Maine, Washington, D.C., Florida and California in 2019-20 as part of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) program.

Experiences are valuable only if you step out of your comfort zone. During my time as a YES exchange student in the United States, every person I met taught me something new and different.

My exchange year helped me develop better leadership skills by involving in my host community. Volunteering for more than 200 hours made me a more responsible person and helped me understand different perspectives. It also made me realize that I really want to start volunteering in my home community as well.

As an exchange student, I believe it’s our goal to promote global peace and celebrate cultural differences. Exchange programs for secondary school students, like YES/AFS, actively support these goals. They foster unity, peace and love, enabling us to connect with others and discover new aspects within ourselves. YES/AFS programs provide immense exposure and confidence, especially at an age when we are open to new experiences and seeking our place in the world. They cultivate tolerance toward other cultures and lifestyles, shaping individuals who appreciate the value of peace and unity worldwide.

Ramadan is a time of fasting, prayer and reflection for Muslims around the world. For me, it’s a period of heightened devotion and self-discipline, a time to strengthen my connection with Allah and deepen my understanding of Islam. Yet, it’s also a time of camaraderie and community, as I navigate the challenges of fasting alongside my fellow Muslim classmates.

Waking up before dawn for suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, is both a physical and spiritual endeavor. The quiet moments spent in prayer and contemplation before the day’s fast begins set the tone for the rest of the day. As I gather with friends in the dining hall, savoring the last bites of food before sunrise, there’s a sense of solidarity that binds us together in our shared commitment to faith.

I am now a student of history and international relations at Ashoka University. My experience of Ramadan at the university has been one of growth, community and personal transformation. As I observe another Ramadan on campus, I hope to carry with me the memories of shared meals, heartfelt conversations and moments of spiritual insight that will stay with me long after the month has ended.

Mohammad Shadab, an undergraduate student of history and international relations, is an alumnus of the YES program.