Sometimes the most meaningful opportunities arrive when you least expect them.
For Sydney Hlavaty (U.S. to France, 2017–18), a chance encounter at an AFS-USA alumni gathering in Chicago sparked a renewed connection to the organization that helped shape her life. What began as an unexpected discovery during a night out quickly led to deeper involvement as a volunteer with the Greater Chicago Team and a member of the AFS-USA Young Adult Volunteer Advisory Group.
In this interview, Sydney reflects on her transformative year in France, the serendipitous moment that reconnected her with AFS, and how volunteering has allowed her to continue promoting the values of cultural exchange, global citizenship, and community that remain central to her life today.
Can you share a little background about your AFS program?
I’m an AFS France alumnus from the 2017–2018 program. I lived in Angers in the Loire River Valley, and I had never been to France and didn’t speak the language when I arrived! My host mom Corrine is actually an AFS volunteer herself, which gave me a really meaningful connection to the organization from day one. I had the most incredible year, and I still keep in touch with both my host family and many of my AFS and French friends to this day!
How did you come about the AFS-USA Chicago Alumni Meet-Up, and what was that experience like for you?
Coming across the Chicago Alumni Meet-Up was actually a complete coincidence! I was getting dinner with a friend, and we had actually changed our plans super last-minute. I was running late due to a train issue, so we missed our original reservation somewhere else. So, me being at Barcocina was a total chance occurrence.
As we were walking out after dinner, I happened to look over my shoulder and see the AFS banner in the main dining room! They had been hosting the alumni event in the main room, and I had a complete stop-in-my-tracks moment. I told my friend, “I’m so sorry, I know was going to walk you to the train, but I have to go talk to these guys. I’m an alumnus of this program!”
It was really incredible. I had just moved to Chicago a couple of months prior and knew I wanted to get back involved with AFS but just hadn’t pulled the trigger yet. I was still getting settled into my apartment and still looking for a full-time job, so it had slipped down my to-do list. But being there in person and being able to walk up and say, “Hey, crazy coincidence, I just happened to be getting dinner here, and I’m an alumnus of this program. I went abroad eight years ago, and I’ve really been looking for ways to get involved again”–it was incredible.
Meeting the Alumni Relations staff members that night was truly the catalyst for all of the involvement that has followed, and I’m so grateful for it.
What made you decide to become more involved with AFS-USA after attending the event?
I had been thinking about getting involved again ever since I moved to Chicago; it was genuinely on my to-do list. I had taken a step back from AFS during undergrad due to limited time and resources, but I always knew I wanted to come back to it. International exchange and travel are so important to me, and I want to support that in any way I can.
Running into that alumni event in October was truly the best catalyst–it felt like a sign. The intention and the desire had always been there; it had just been a lack of action and a lot of “I’m still settling into my apartment; I’m still getting settled into Chicago.”
I also think it was a great opportunity to meet people in the city and really dig into a community in a place I was brand new to. If running into that event on a complete coincidence wasn’t a sign, I don’t know what is.
How has it felt to be re-engaged? What’s been the impact on you? What brings you joy about it?
It’s been incredible to be re-engaged. It was a little overwhelming at first; there were a lot of new people to meet and learn about, but I started attending events around November, right as volunteer season picked up during the holidays, which was a wonderful way to dive in.
It’s been so meaningful to reconnect with my love for travel and cultural exchange. It’s been quite a while since I did my year abroad, and you move on from it in different ways–but being back in that environment and sharing my experiences has felt really special.
I also think there aren’t as many younger volunteers, particularly in the Chicago area, so being able to connect with current students on a more face-to-face level has been really rewarding. I think they see a younger volunteer and feel like they can connect on a different level than they might be with host parents or other volunteers. Having a friendly relationship and being more of a mentor rather than a parental figure feels like a really meaningful contribution.
There are so many things that bring me joy about this role. I have a broad creative background, and I’ve been able to channel that into social media work and event planning, which has been really fulfilling. But most of all, being around people who share the same values of travel and cultural exchange, such as hearing about the trips they’re planning, the students they’ve hosted, the connections they’re still maintaining 10, 12, 15 years later, it just makes my heart grow.
Every time I talk to people who have been involved for decades longer than I have, I feel so reassured that this program is going to stay alive and that there are people who care deeply about it. I definitely want to follow in those footsteps.
Can you share a little about your experience joining the Young Adult Volunteer Advisory Group and/or the Chicago team, and what excites you most about it?
Joining the Young Adult Volunteer Advisory Group was pretty quick and easy. I was looking for tangible ways to get involved beyond just attending events, and since I’m not in a position to host a student at this stage of my life, I was exploring other ways to engage. This group came up as one of the first results when I searched for young volunteer opportunities with AFS, so I emailed Annelise D., the chair of the group, and asked if they were accepting new members, and they were! It was a really simple process.
We meet once a month via Zoom. Right now, we’re planning a virtual young volunteer hangout, hoping to bring young volunteers from across the country together for some Kahoot games, icebreakers, and casual connection–just ways for people to meet friendly faces and know they’re not alone in this.
There’s also a great mix of backgrounds in the group: some of us are program alumni; some are just volunteers. There are people working on event trackers, maps, and cross-team exchanges; all really trying to re-engage the young volunteer population, which I think has a bit of a gap right now.
Joining the Chicago team has also been lovely. They are so on top of everything and have so many ways to get involved. I’ve been working closely with Vicci R. (who’s incredible and such an asset to the team!) on social media, revamping our presence and trying to get the word out. We’ve been doing radio segments with students and working on promotional videos. Chicago is a really strong area team in terms of hosting, and there’s a lot of energy and momentum here. I’m so grateful to be a part of it.
What does staying connected to the AFS community mean to you at this stage in your life?
It means so many different things. Most importantly, it means remaining in a community of people who value travel and cultural exchange. Without getting too political, I think we’re at a point where our country has become increasingly closed off from cultural exchange, and resources toward it are dwindling.
Being part of a community that makes international exchange a genuine pillar of their lives is so important to me, because my year abroad truly changed the course of my life in a number of beautiful ways. I would be remiss not to fight as hard as I can to give that opportunity to others.
Being around people who feel similarly is incredibly energizing. It gives me the motivation to stay connected and keep advocating for these things, and it inspires me to prioritize travel in my own life. I just got back from a 14-day trip across four different countries, and I’m already planning my next one.
Every time I’m around AFS community members who are constantly prioritizing travel and cultural connection, I feel re-inspired to keep doing the same. I’m going to hold onto that as tightly as I can.
What would you say to other younger alumni who may be interested in reconnecting with AFS or exploring volunteer opportunities?
I don’t mean to quote Nike, but just do it! If it’s been on your mind, reach out–we will find a way to plug you in. There are so many amazing opportunities for young volunteers, especially in social media, marketing, and event organizing. And honestly, there are so many current American high school students that people our age can really connect with and inspire to go abroad.
To any young alumni (or really anyone interested in supporting cultural exchange in any way) reach out to your local AFS area team. You can find yours on the AFS website or even on the AFS-USA Instagram. You don’t have to be a program alumnus; you just have to care.
Don’t feel like you have to take on a massive workload either. There’s something for everyone. You could be a student’s liaison, which is a bit more high-touch, or you could just show up to events and occasionally bring snacks, and that can be enough. The Chicago team has been so understanding with my schedule, and the Young Adult Volunteer Advisory Group is flexible too. Everyone at AFS understands that this is volunteer work and that you have a full life outside of it. Nobody is going to expect a million hours from you.
So if you’re thinking about it, just introduce yourself. Say “I’m here, I want to get involved, what’s the best way?” That’s really all it takes. It’s worth it.
Interested in becoming an AFS volunteer? Get started here!