During the tryouts for cheer my senior year, I was told my high school would be receiving a foreign exchange student. At the time, I thought this was cool but insignificant to me. However, when she arrived, my opinion soon changed. Her name was Mati, and she was from Italy. We became friends over the summer because we attended several of the same cheer events. Once school started, I was asked to help show her around since we were already acquainted and both seniors. After comparing schedules, I realized we had a food science class together, which was an ag class.

In the first ag class Mati had ever attended, she found out what FFA was, and she was understandably overwhelmed. Mati was not from an agricultural background, so FFA was far outside of her comfort zone. In the first ag class Mati took, she decided being at a new school, around new people, thousands of miles from her home and family wasn’t far enough out of her comfort zone, so she joined FFA. My friendship with Mati continued to grow over the course of the year, with us both being seniors, cheerleaders and now FFA members. Mati learned all about FFA and was fairly active in our chapter. She even competed in the Entomology Career Development Event. When she returned to Italy a couple of weeks after graduation, I felt my senior year would not have been the same without her. She had become one of my best friends.

Mati was able to leave her comfort zone and experience something new that she ended up enjoying. I think we should all strive to be like Mati, leaving our comfort zone, literally or figuratively, to experience something new. Whether that is being thousands of miles away from home, joining a new organization or getting to know those around you. Who knows, you might find a new activity you enjoy or even meet someone who will create a lasting impact on your life.