My name is Jasmin Kojjeh, a proud alumna of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. I participated in the program in 2021–2022, representing the West Bank/Palestine.
During my year in the U.S., I had the opportunity to meet people from all different nationalities and backgrounds. Experiences that once felt like a distant dream started to turn into reality the moment I became a KL-YES scholar. The opportunities I had, the connections I made, the incredible people I met, and the lessons I learned have all shaped the person I am today.
My time in the U.S. gave me the drive to dream bigger and aim higher and that’s a big part of why I’m now on the pre-medical track. I have the confidence to pursue my dreams because of the foundation KL-YES gave me. It helped me grow into a confident global citizen. I learned how to adapt, to lead, and to connect with people who were very different from me.
Coming from a place of war, I had become used to being surrounded by tension, anger, and fear. Moving to a completely different environment, experiencing American culture, and building a second family gave me a new perspective and it strengthened my passion to serve my own community.
When I returned to my home country, I began engaging with my community in ways I never had before. Volunteering had never seemed as important to me, but once I was back, I volunteered at a refugee camp and became actively involved in my community. Since then, I’ve aimed higher every day. With each day of hard work, my path becomes more meaningful.
Now, I’m back in the U.S., once again living with my host mother, who opened her home and heart to me since I met her. I’m continuing my education here, something that would have been nearly impossible given the current circumstances in my home country. For that, I’m incredibly grateful.
The KL-YES program continues to shape who I am. KL-YES didn’t just give me a year of experiences, it gave me a future. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It gave me a sense of belonging, opened opportunities, and showed me what could be possible when young people are given the opportunity to engage with the world.
There are thousands of students just like me motivated and full of potential, but stuck by circumstances. It turns kids of limited means into builders of peace. For all these reasons and more, I ask you please do not end the program. The investment you make in one student can change an entire community.
Jasmin Kojjeh
YES Alumna from West Bank/Palestine