Meet Annabel - SYA FRANCE 2022
Sending School: Packer Collegiate Institute (NYC)
Extracurriculars Abroad: Visual arts
Favorite SYA Class: Art History with Monsieur Sabatier
Favorite Food in France: Choosing a favorite French food is almost impossible. I would have to say it's between two foods invented in Brittany, Kouign Amann and Galettes.
School You Attend: I currently attend Packer Collegiate Institute in New York City and am planning to go to college in Canada in the Fall.
How SYA Changed Annabel!
Q: How has SYA impacted your college application process?
A: Before SYA i had no idea about my passions or what I wanted to do with my life. SYA taught me how to be self-reliant, independent, and confident in my choices and actions. I found a deep love for learning languages, experiencing new cultures, and meeting new people. SYA not only helped me find my values that I hold dearly but also showed me that the world is an incredible place that should be explored. Doing SYA allowed me to be confident in my applications and choices that I make, as well as showing me that my life is so much more than how it looks on a piece of paper.
Annabel on Why She Attended SYA!
Q: What was one of your favorite host family memories?
A: One of my favorite memories is when we celebrated my birthday. My host mom had been in contact with my mom about my favorite foods and found me a bagel and attempted to make an iced coffee for my morning breakfast which made me feel so loved. For dinner we ordered Korean food which they had never had before and they were so open minded and excited to try it. My host mom let me choose whatever dessert I wanted and she made it from scratch for me. We just sat around the table as I was teaching them about Korean food, laughing and talking about our weeks. Although it was in the middle of the SYA school year it was the first time where I had thought about how hard it was going to be to leave them because that was a moment I truly felt like part of their family.
Classes at SYA France
Q: What did you learn abroad that surprised you?
A: I learned that the world and my life is so much bigger than I thought. I learned how to care for people on a deeper level and what makes me the happiest. I don’t think I could choose just one thing I learned that surprised me! The experience taught me more about myself than I could ever explain. I can say confidently everything I learned made me a better person and at every turn something was always surprising me.
