Pearl Rotary’s Aug. 18 breakfast meeting opened with Jerry Baysinger, song leader, directing the words to the speaker of the day, Makenna Rose Cronin:
“This is the perfect song on what youth exchange does–building peace around the world.” And Rotarians crooned with the New Seekers:
I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
Ah, peace throughout the land
Makenna, who went to Berlin, Germany, and was sponsored by PPRC, opened: “One of the best parts for me was the friends I made…from all over the world. [They] made me more confident and open-minded.”
That happened on European trips with both fellow y.e. inbound students and with host families. London, Paris, Amsterdam, Heidelberg, Italy (her favorite)–all were brought to the Ecotrust screen by “Kenna.”
“Pizza in Venice?–Amazing!”
The journeys were “exciting,” she told Rotarians. Her talk will also be remembered for its candor. Her “struggles” included learning German, fitting into the rigors of a strict high school, enduring winter and occasional conflicts with host families.
Regardless, “I never failed to make friends…I’m bringing back far more thansouvenirs.”
She carried a banner from her host Rotary Club, presenting it to President Kyrsten “Kiki” Schenck. To PPRC, she offered gratitude. “You are a really amazing club.”
Makenna, the daughter of Rotarian Ravi Rose, enters Grant H.S. this week for her senior year. Her vocational goal, she said during Q&A, is to enter nursing. Of her next adventures in life, “I feel like I have it planned out.”
Kiki was among those wishing Kenna well: “You’re going to do great things. Thanks.”
