“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” ― Terry Pratchett

Today, EO is excited to launch our #EOBeyondBorders campaign, filled with stories, pictures and videos that capture our rich, vibrant and diverse global community of students and entrepreneurs. Throughout the month of February, readers can look forward to inspiring and insightful stories about cross-cultural experiences impacting entrepreneurs and their families.

To kick-off our campaign, we’d like to share the stories of two siblings, Sam and Sophie, who are part of the EO Youth Exchange (EOYX) program.

EOYX is designed to give children of EO members the opportunity to experience life abroad with other EO families, living, working and exploring cultures other than their own. Sam and Sophie and currently college students, and both share a passion to explore career opportunities in the fields of fashion and education. Learn more about these students below and how they’re working to make their career ambitions a reality.

Sam, 21 | Fashion Industry

How did you become interested in EOYX?

My father is an EO member and briefly mentioned it to me a few times. I have always had the desire to improve myself through hands-on learning and experiences. I’ve already had two internships and multiple jobs in many different fields, and each one has taught me something new. In addition, traveling and seeing different cultures around the world is a passion of mine that only increased my interest in this program.

What are your career interests and goals?

Like many other young adults my age, I have had so many majors and minors that I can’t even remember them all! However, there is one thing that each of my aspirations had in common: to create something that alters the perception of someone or something. I’ve worked in retail for three years, and I began to see how certain clothes can change a person’s perspective of themselves. It’s a phenomenon I wasn’t expecting to witness, but now that I have, I want to design and run my own retail and fashion business.

There’s a lot of work to be done in the fashion world. My goal is to bring back American manufacturing to a fraction of what it was, as well as improve the positive impact the industry can make on the world.

How do you think you could benefit from participating?

One of the most important things when learning is to reach outside of your comfort zone. It gives you a reason to seek knowledge and be a part of a culture, even for a short period of time, that you otherwise would not have been. Being a part of this program will give me a new perspective influenced by working and traveling somewhere new. I also look forward to experiencing the everyday lives of people in other countries who share my passions.

If you could choose an EOYX host country, where would you go and why?

South Africa would be an incredible! The fashion scene is growing there, with exciting innovations and ideas coming to life. However, there are many cities around the world that have an influence in the fashion world, and to be a part of any of those would be incredible.

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?

I have lived in Vienna, Austria for 10 months and have traveled to over 20 countries. I am easy-going and have a passion to live life to its fullest potential.

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Sophie, 20 | English Education

How did you become interested in EOYX?

My dad introduced me to EOYX and mentioned I may have an opportunity to study under someone who’s an expert in my desired field. Unlike other trips I’ve taken in the past, I would have the opportunity to expand my own knowledge and open doors for my career, which is something I am eager to begin!

What are your career interests and goals?

I’m working toward becoming an expert in the fields of English and Literature and hopefully teaching high school students. I’d like to bring excitement and joy back into the classroom, piquing students’ interest by broadening their view on what the English language is about. By delving into literature and developing writing skills, I believe that my students will be able to truly learn to the best of their capabilities.

How do you think you could benefit from participating?

EOYX would give me the opportunity to observe teachers and students who have been surrounded by different environments. I would be able to broaden my view of the educational system and learn new ways to enrich my future classroom and students. Having the chance to learn from an experienced educator would be an amazing way to further my own teaching skills.

If you could choose an EOYX host country, where would you go and why?

If given the opportunity to choose a host country, my choices (in order of preference) would be South Africa, Iceland or New Zealand. These are all countries that vary greatly from the US, in regard to their educational systems.

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?

I am very outgoing, personable and great at adapting to new situations. I love being around people of all different personalities and backgrounds, and I am very open to new things and would be honored to be given this opportunity!

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EO members who might be interested in hosting Sam or Sophie, or those interested in finding global learning opportunities for their children, can learn more on the EOYX website; for specific questions, please contact Anja Miller.

#EOBeyondBorders celebrates our rich, global community. Read all the articles linked to this campaign, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for daily posts!