Hi! My name is Mackenzie Baradic and I am overjoyed to be spending the next ten months in Germany!
A bit about me: I am a very curious person. I was the kid who, in second grade, received a chemistry kit for Christmas and spent my days upstairs mixing various chemical elements. My mom never allowed me to watch TV on school nights, forcing me to commit to my schoolwork and play football with the neighborhood boys on our cul de sac. These little things have made me into the hard-working, dedicated, and curious person I am. While I no longer have the time to pick up ants in the backyard and examine them with my microscope, I dedicate my time to my studies and soak up as much knowledge as I can while balancing an avid social life and rigid, yet highly rewarding, extracurricular activities.
The mission of AFS aligns with my own current interests and future aspirations. America has much to offer, but it often feels that the average American student has a limited understanding of life in a global context. The AFS program promotes cross-cultural understanding by allowing students to gain first-hand experiences living and studying in other countries with the ultimate goal of building a more just and peaceful world. The AFS program needs independent, hardworking, American students. I strive to be that student, but I plan to take my AFS experience one step further!
If granted permission by AFS, I want to create a video documentary of my life in Germany, in order to share my understanding of German culture with other members of my community (district representatives, upon their request). The AFS program parallels and accelerates me toward my career objective of becoming a cinematographer; traveling the world and filming documentaries of cultures across our globe. Seeing that I will represent the United States, it is my responsibility to record and present my experiences to the many high school students who won’t benefit from a cultural exchange program. The goal of AFS is to improve foreign relations; my project goal is to unite German and American cultures by suggesting that our differences are not as prominent as some may believe. By filming the German landscape, my host family and peers, we may find that our countries share basic values - love, family, and productivity.
My family and friends are in full support of my plans to become a foreign exchange student; however, my dad is not financially contributing to my mission, leaving my single Mom and I to pay for the remaining balance. I received a $10,375.00 need-based scholarship from the Carson family (thank you!) which made this dream feasible. I come from a fairly low income household. Because of this, I plan to have several fundraising events. The first of which will be a “German Party” in early June. This German Party will charge a $8 admission fee and include food, dancing, and singing. The party will be hosted by my Mom and I. I will post again with more details; I would love to see you there! In addition to this party, I am looking for a summer job. All the money I make will be put towards my remaining balance.
I have had to overcome rejection in my journey to becoming an AFSer. I first applied to the CBYX program to become a United States Youth Ambassador. I was a semi-finalist but did not make the final cut. Though disappointed, I did not let this setback defeat me. I persevered and began my application for the AFS program the next day. I have also faced monetary struggles, though they will be solved with sufficient fundraising.
Once again, thank you so much for changing my future for the better. Your generosity will help shape the minds of tomorrow for the better. I look forward to writing to you when I return home from Germany!
To sponsor my AFS program, please click the Donate Now button to make a non tax-deductible contribution directly to my AFS program account.
Mackenzie Baradic
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