Recieved my scholarship quote!

Just heard back about my scholarship to study abroad this year! I still need to match that amount to pay the tuition. Wish me luck!

One step closer to becoming an AFSer!

My name is Max Biederman and I’m in 11th grade and a literary and visual art student  at the New School for the Arts & Academics in Tempe, Arizona. I first heard about AFS from a student who was abroad here in the U.S from the Philippines. She gave a presentation about her home country and immediately I saw the vast cultural differences between our countries and how I wanted to experience this first hand, just like she is. Since that presentation I have been on AFS’s website reading every page of the students blog, the bios of each country offered and the different programs available. I would go to bed and dream of being able to take the step across the world from adolescence to independence. When I told my parents about my plan to study abroad I could tell they thought it was just another one of my pipe dreams that I would obsess about for a week or so and forget about it. That was a year ago. Since then I have had four jobs and at the moment, currently working two in order to raise the funds needed to pay the tuition, I have missed poetry slams, school events, kickbacks, concerts and countless hours of sleep and I don't regret it at all because it taught me perseverance, determination and independence and these necessary lessons will only strengthen if I achieve my goal. I am also in the midst of organizing a fundraiser movie night at my school presenting the Rocky Horror Picture Show and tonight after work, I will be calling family members to collect donations. If I succeed in gathering said funds I will be able to experience the culture shock that simultaneously frightens and excites me, to be able to see life from a different perspective as well as dream in a different language.  While studying abroad I will be able to offer my insight and views in conversations and workshops with other AFSer's. Not only will this opportunity allow me to reach my fullest potential in my high school career but also allow me to make life long connections and networks with my peers as global leaders. Now that my parents have realized how serious and committed to being an AFSer they have realized that it is truly for the best and once I return, bilingual with a worldwide network of peers who have been through what I have and most importantly a fresh outlook on the world. They will understand that this was a once in the life time experience that will shape the rest of my life. With this blog i plan on fundraising to assist in paying my tuition through the "Sponser an AFSer" which is an online fundraising tool provided by AFS to allow potential sponsors to make easy, secure, and non tax-deductible contributions to my AFS program fee.

To sponsor my AFS program, please click the Donate Now button to make a non tax-deductible contribution directly to my AFS program account."