Shukri from Somaliland 2015/16
First-ever PAX Means Peace Scholar
The PAX exchange year was a pivotal moment in my life, opening doors to new experiences, friendships, and personal growth that continue to shape who I am today. When I became the first PAX Means Peace Scholar from Somaliland nearly seven years ago, I had no foresight of the profound impact that experience would have on my life or how it would pave the way for many other Somali students to embark on their own transformative journeys of cultural exchange and personal growth.
Being an exchange student in Massachusetts and living with a host family while attending a local public school had a significant impact on my cultural awareness and educational journey. Living with a host family provided me with a unique opportunity to experience a new culture firsthand and learn about different traditions, values, and ways of life.
It offered me an opportunity to form meaningful and enduring friendships and connections with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds: from Malaysia and Pakistan, to Ukraine and beyond. This experience has not only enriched my personal life but also prepared me for success in a rapidly globalizing world where cross-cultural communication and understanding are essential skills.
After completing my exchange program in the United States, I returned home for a year, during which time I applied to several colleges and universities in the U.S. I had the opportunity to learn about the American college system and the various types of universities and colleges available during my exchange year.
Being an exchange student in Massachusetts and living with a host family while attending a local public school had a significant impact on my cultural awareness and educational journey.
With my host family, I visited several different colleges and universities, including Wellesley College, where I later applied and was ultimately accepted as a MasterCard Foundation Scholar. My time as an exchange student in the U.S. was instrumental in shaping my academic and career goals and gave me the skills and experiences I needed to thrive at Wellesley, where I studied Economics and graduated in June 2021.
Through my exchange program, I was able to adapt to a new culture, improve my language skills, and develop independence and resilience—all of which served me well during my college years and beyond. As I reflect on my journey thus far, I realize that living in New York today was an unimaginable dream for me almost seven years ago, before embarking on my exchange program.
It is truly humbling to recognize that this opportunity, and the countless others that have followed, were all made possible thanks to the support and guidance of organizations like PAX and unwavering support from my school at home, Abaarso School in Somaliland, which are committed to empowering young people and facilitating meaningful cross-cultural exchange experiences.
—Shukri (PAX Means Peace Scholar, Somaliland 2015/16), hosted by the McLaughlin family (MA)
