Exchanges and First Time Chances at MGA

Exchanges and First Time Chances at MGA

By Sara Oyler – Faith Christian School

Pedro Pereira is an exchange student from Brazil. He currently attends Faith Christian School in Roanoke. To Pedro, MGA is a fairly new concept because the general function of the United States government is new to him. However, in Brazil, he attended a similar event to MGA except on a national level. While deciding on a club to join, he decided to join Hi-Y, which ultimately lead to his participation in MGA. He chose this club in order to improve his public speaking ability, specifically in a second language. 

During his time at MGA, Pedro has come to love several aspects of the conference. He loves the people because everyone at MGA has received him well. He has enjoyed learning with and getting to know more people from Virginia, but Pedro claims that his favorite part was the house chambers. He enjoyed the “feeling of sitting in the chair of someone who makes Virginia better.” He has expressed gratefulness towards his “life changing” MGA experience and would definitely recommend it to other exchange students.

Pedro is walking away from MGA with skills he plans to apply to his life in the future. He has learned that many unexpected things can happen, but fear is only a hinderance. He advises his peers to “take every chance because [they] never know when [they are] going to get a similar experience.” To those planning to attend MGA in the future, Pedro suggests that they be themselves but be open. Opportunities come to those who are willing to accept them. Pedro is leaving MGA with calmer nerves and confidence in speaking English as a second language because he took a chance and accepted this opportunity.