Story

Hello! My name is Chloe, and I am a sophomore at New York’s Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Performing and Fine Arts, which is the best art school in the state and one of the best in the country. I currently have a 4.0 GPA weighted average in school and participate in the school’s art classes that involve learning new techniques and skills. I was recently accepted into a prestigious international intercultural exchange program of CIEE’s Highschool Summer Study Abroad Program. I was able to get accepted into the Language and Culture Program in Shanghai, China; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to go out of the country to learn more about my culture. I have the chance to fully immerse myself within a new environment and dive into the culture, food, art and way of life.

CIEE: https://my.ciee.org/

Despite how competitive  this program is, I was able to achieve the Global Navigator Scholarship for Merit Based Scholarship and got a $1000 scholarship for my tuition. Unfortunately, this scholarship would not even cover 10% of my expenses, including airfare, transportation, and the rest of my tuition, which was $7050 before the scholarship.

The program costs approximately (after scholarship): $6,050

The round trip flight to China (not included in the program fee): $2,500

Any extra money will go toward my transportation and food throughout the trip!

My goal is to raise funds for this trip of around $9000, but as of the moment, the program fee is of priority. Any amount would make a difference!

CIEE’s High School Summer Abroad program will significantly impact my life by offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse myself in new cultures and communities and allow me to develop new skills that will greatly benefit my future. One of my biggest fascinations in life is to travel and explore the beauties of cities and nature, I hope to be able to experience a whole new world abroad and see things from a whole new global perspective that can’t be learned in a traditional classroom, being able to immerse myself into the country’s culture, food, and way of life. This program will provide me with everything I need to achieve this exploration goal. I wish to diversify my understanding of my cultural background, and studying abroad is the perfect way to do so. Being involved in a new environment can help me immerse myself in a whole new country. Being physically in a place where I hope to learn more about is one of the best ways to make better connections to this matter and understand this country’s culture.  Having the chance to go abroad to China is everything I wish to be able to experience; every key moment will be a moment to remember, and living away from home will help me bond with others, forming friendships that will last a lifetime, which I can bring with me as I near closer to college and more important events soon to come.

Not only will this program prepare me for college, but it will also provide me with credentials for college applications to help me stand out. Upon completing this program, I will receive 4 college credits towards my future as well as the chance to receive the STAMP Global Seal of Biliteracy. The classes provided at CIEE will grow my knowledge and skills of Mandarin and accustom me to a college life environment. Not only will this allow me to have the opportunity to take other classes and expand my knowledge, but it will also allow me to enter college with some experience in what a class will be like. This Summer Abroad Program with CIEE will greatly impact my home and academic life and lead me to a more successful future.

The donations will directly fund my trip to Shanghai, China, and bring me closer to my dream! Any support would be greatly appreciated, whether spreading and sharing my story or donating anything will help. If you can help a high school student experience this opportunity, it would mean a lot to me! I thank you again for your time and consideration. Anything to help would get me one step closer.