Shahrazad Meerza

“I remember thinking that the program was going to help me set the foundation of what I wanted for myself in the future, and sure enough it did,” she says. 

While living in her host community in Michigan, she participated in community service focused on social justice causes, discovering in the process a passion for helping others and giving back to her community. “There is no doubt that my exchange year is what sparked [my] decision to pursue a legal career,” recalls Shahrazad, who today is a lawyer for The Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS). 

Her YES experience has had other significant impacts on her life journey. “Being a YES student ingrained so many values and principles that [reinforced] the values and principles that my parents taught me growing up: Gratitude, acceptance, empathy, and self-discipline… Being a YES student strengthened those principles… and allowed me to practice and interpret them in various ways.” 

As she ponders the challenges facing young Kuwaiti teens today, she sees the continuing relevance of the YES experience. Noting that while technology makes it far easier today for youth today to learn about the rest of the world, she advises, “there is truly no better way to know a culture than to fully immerse yourself in it and be surrounded by its local community.”  

But cultural exchange isn’t a one-way street, as Shahrazad also discovered. “What appealed to me most about the YES program was having the opportunity to represent Kuwait as a student ambassador. As someone who is very proud to be Kuwaiti, the program seemed like a dream come true…It’s the perfect opportunity for young people who want to set the foundation for their future path. It’s a program that not only allows you to live a truly unique experience, but also teaches you a lot about yourself, especially in terms of your strengths and passion."