This fall semester, students have begun introducing themselves to their IVECA friends. With a variety of partnerships, students at the Elementary, Middle, and High School are able to meet peers through an online exchange from countries across the world. The student interactions allow for enlightenment on cultures and support for each other's goals and aspirations.
Elementary students have fun sharing their favorite foods, games, and characteristics of their home. Students from Washington, DC share why they love living in a big city; “I think this is one of the best cities to live in because it has lots of museums where people can learn,” says one student while another pointed out, “I think this is one of the best cities to live in because it has super good teachers!”
Other memorable connections include students finding similarities in their dreams and aspirations. A student from Korea expressed in her introduction, “I love to draw! I'm drawing a character these days. Drawing makes me feel better. So my favorite subject is art! My dream is to be a doctor. Because [they] treat us when we are sick. Because the doctor looks cool. I will work hard for my dream.” Excitedly, the student’s international partner shared similar views, “I also like to draw. I also want to be a doctor when I grow up.” to which the Korean partner replied, “Dreams are the same as mine! I will support that dream!”
Middle and High school students take this opportunity to share their topics of interests and the daily life of a teenager. A student from India shared his goal of becoming an aerospace engineer and constructing spacecraft. Korean partners were impressed and shared their support for their new friend. Furthermore, advanced students dove into an important conversation about the future of our society and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “The future is an important topic to talk about since it’s unpredictable and there are endless possibilities. The [SDGs] are a great thing to talk about and I am looking forward to learning about all the goals you feel strongly about!”
IVECA looks forward to supporting these important conversations every semester. No matter the age group, students have the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and learn about other cultures in a warm environment.