ALL ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND FULL-TIME SCHOOL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, PARTICIPATE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, AND TO TAKE ALL PRESCRIBED TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS.
Even if you have completed high school in your home country, do not ask or expect to be enrolled in college or university classes.
Although academic school credits are not the primary objective of our program, the attitude of school officials towards granting you time off for other activities will vary. There may be Rotary functions and Rotary-approved travel that will help to broaden your education…..but you must discuss these events with your Rotary YEO and your school principal in advance. You should establish ahead of time what the policy will be for you to take time off from school.
As an American exchange student in a foreign school or as an international student in a US school, you will be fairly obvious and you will be considered a representative (i.e. an ambassador) of your country by teachers and other students. Your behavior – good or bad – will be noticed. Be respectful of your principal and your teachers. Obey the school regulations, even if other students do not.
You will be expected to complete homework assignments the same as any member of your school class. Language may be an obstacle…but nobody will ask you to do more than your best.
Remember this is a STUDENT exchange program. If you do not attend school, you will not learn the language, history and culture of your host country. Your host country can and will revoke your student status if you do not attend school on a regular basis.