On November 15, 2019 a previous youth exchange student returned to the United States and came to the meeting of the Rotary Club of North Ridgeville.
Namisal Wongsaeree, known as Aom, was a Inbound Youth Exchange when she was 15 years old and was hosted by the Rotary Club of North Ridgeville during the 2005-06 Rotary year. This was the year that PDG Jack Young was District Governor and the district and clubs hosted 23 young people in the Inbound Youth Exchange process.Both PDG Jack and Rotarian Marsha Pappalardo, who also participated in a number of Inbound activities that year, were guests at the noon meeting of North Ridgeville. With Aom on the trip to the United States were her mother Apinya and brother Tantai Wongsaeree. .
Since being a Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Moa received a Master of Arts Degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law, Tuffs University, in the United States in 2013-15. She worked in the Thai Corrections Department for 2 1/2 years and now works with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She made a presentation regarding her life after her youth exchange experience.
Jack indicated that because of her, this is why Rotary is so strong and supports the youth exchange process. "It is delightful and encouraging to see young people like AOM be successful and giving back to society" said Young.
When Jack asked her what is the best thing she learned from being in an exchange student program, she replied, "Humanity will always prevail. No matter the race, cultures, religions, backgrounds, in the end, we are all human, and we are all in it together" A special thank you to the RC of North Ridgeville for hosting this wonderful family this past week.
Photo L-R Warren Blakely, Adam Sonnhalter, Aom, PDG Jack Young, Marsha Pappalardo, Pietro Trunzo