Lauren Campbell
- Destination:
- USA
- Host Club:
- Grantsburg RC, Wisconsin
- Home Town:
- Porirua
My year away:
Coming to the United States for my exchange has changed me dramatically, in a positive way of course. Being a Rotary student, I had to make many presentations to various clubs and organisations so after having so much experience with public speaking, I now don’t get at all nervous when speaking in front of a crowd. In fact just this past week, I had to give a presentation about New Zealand to my whole school. That’s 350 people! The other exchange student (who I might point out, is a non-Rotary exchange student) was shaking and freaking out, while I was calm and confident. I was complimented many times on my confidence during my presentation.I have become confident in other areas as well. I thought I was a pretty outgoing person when I first got here, but looking back I realise that I was only comfortable with the initial friends I made. Now that my year is at an end, I am pretty much friends with everyone in the whole school! I can fit into virtually every different group and clique.
I have appreciated this year so much in the fact that I have made so many good friends who I know I will keep in contact with. In fact, I have a few people who already want to come and visit me and even one who wants to actually move to New Zealand! I have enjoyed myself so much I intend to come back for a visit in the next 2-5 years.