Student Writer Fundraising for Rare Opportunity

Our own student writer, Carley Young, has been selected out of more than 2,000 candidates to travel to Europe next year. Only 250 students are selected for the Blue Lake International Exchange Program. Carley is currently fundraising for her three-week visit to Germany, Belgium and Denmark.

That Carly would jet off to Europe was no surprise to me. I met Carley when she was a just a child at the library. As a pre-teen she self-published her own book. I told her when she was in 11^th  or 12^th grade she should apply to write for the Cleaver. She wrote such a convincing letter going into her freshman year about why she should be hired as a student writer that we did hire her!

The Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp sponsors Blue Lake International, an exchange program enabling young musicians to travel and play music while they live with host families and become immersed in their culture. Families here in Michigan and the Midwest also host students building friendships in this unique exchange program.

Financially, Carley’s commitment to travel is large, but she also will be working hard attending language and culture classes and preparing for all the details involved with international travel.

Carley recently attended a Harrison City Council meeting and presented her plans. It’s not always easy for adults to address a public meeting much less a teenager, but she was polite, poised and to the point! She explained her need for the support of the community to be able to travel, and shared her fundraising plans.

I had a chance to speak with Carley’s mom, Hope. She’s been asked if it will be hard to let Carley go on such a big trip. Of course, the answer is yes! But we agreed this is our hope for our young people; go out into the world, fulfill dreams, meet people, see new places, and then come home.

We look forward to hearing about Carley’s travels and what the future holds for this gifted young lady.