Malaysian Students Return From US Exchange With New Confidence, Global Outlook

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- For 23 Malaysian students, six months in the United States (US) was more than an exchange programme; it was a journey that broadened their horizons, built their confidence, and deepened their appreciation for their Malaysian identity.

The students were participants of the 2026 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (KL-YES) Programme managed by Yayasan AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia, which enabled them to spend six months in the US after completing their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations.

The participants were enrolled in different high schools during their stints, which began in January.

They were celebrated at a homecoming event in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

The event was attended by US Embassy Counsellor for Public Diplomacy Morgan O'Brien and Yayasan AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia national director Kuhan Kandiah Chelvanathan.

Seven students from the cohort were also awarded Public Service Department (JPA) scholarships, underscoring the programme's impact on the participants.

For Aleeya Qistina Sa'aroni from Seri Kembangan, Selangor, the programme began with an unexpected challenge when an ice storm in Tennessee confined her indoors for two weeks.

Rather than dampening her experience, the situation helped her forge a close bond with her host mother.

“We shared stories and culture with each other, and that made our relationship better. It was also my first time experiencing an ice storm,” she said.

Aleeya, who plans to pursue a professional accounting qualification through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) pathway, said the programme also strengthened her aspiration to work in the US in the future.

As a Muslim student wearing the hijab in a community where some people had never met a Muslim before, she was initially nervous but found her schoolmates welcoming and eager to learn about her faith and culture.

Aleeya, who joined track and field, recalled how her teammates, coach, and even strangers cheered her name as she ran towards the finish line during her final competition.

She said the support she received reflected the friendships formed during the exchange, which continued even after the sports season ended.

For 18-year-old Wong Yu Wei from Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, the programme offered a chance to experience life beyond Malaysia and become part of a new family environment.

Hosted in Avilla, Indiana, Wong said he first learned about the programme through a school briefing and later found himself adapting to a new role in his American host family.

“I was the oldest in my host family, but in my own family in Malaysia, I am the youngest. So it was a new experience for me to take care of my younger brother and sister there,” he said.

The six-month stay helped him build new friendships and gain valuable perspectives.

Wong, who will pursue foundation studies in agricultural science at Universiti Putra Malaysia, said the exchange also inspired him to consider furthering his studies in the US, particularly in Indiana.

Nor Rasya Qistina Roslan from Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, who was also hosted in Indiana, said one of the highlights of her exchange journey was meeting students from different countries.

Rasya, who will continue her studies at Kolej Matrikulasi Melaka, said conversations about celebrations, religion, race, and culture broadened her understanding of different perspectives.

“It was an eye-opening experience because I realised that people can have completely different experiences and thoughts,” she said.

Rasya also joined the school tennis team and was impressed by the inclusiveness and team spirit in American school sports, which helped students build friendships and integrate into school life.

The homecoming event highlighted the students' role as young cultural ambassadors, with participants performing a traditional dance in ethnic attire representing Malaysia's diverse communities.

For many, the programme was not only about experiencing life in the US but also about representing Malaysia and sharing its culture with others.

-- BERNAMA