OUTGOING EXCHANGE STUDENT - RYAN KEOGH

Image: Outgoing Exchange Student, Ryan Keogh, with his mother Louise and Rotarian Terry O'Neill

Terry O’Neill introduced Ryan Keogh, outbound Youth Exchange Student for 2016. Ryan is the son of Warrnambool Central Rotarian Shane and our own recent new member Louise Keogh. Ryan follows in the footsteps of older siblings, brother Jeremy and sister Alice, who both were Rotary Youth Exchange Students to France. Ryan heads off to Finland on 16 January 2016.

Ryan is no stranger to the Youth Exchange experience, having had many exchange brothers and sisters call the Keogh household home, over quite a number of years.

Terry said that he first met Ryan about 3 years ago when his parents Shane and Louise assisted our club in hosting inbound student of that time, Fabio. Ryan was at least a foot shorter and relatively quiet. Ryan has not only grown in stature, but also in confidence, thanks to the wonderful program that our Rotary District Youth Exchange Committee provides for students that apply for Youth Exchange. The Youth Exchange weekend briefings began in May at Halls Gap, progressed to assessed interviews in Ballarat and then a final briefing weekend was held in Hamilton just a couple of weekends ago. These briefings and interviews provide the students with the information and skills they will need to cope with the demands of a year away from home. It is quite amazing to see the confidence and maturity growth, that these briefings bring out of the students in such a short time.

Ryan showed everyone the presentation he has prepared to show when he visits Finland and indicated he had learned a thing or two about Australia by just putting his presentation together! Ryan’s eldest brother Harrison was an exchange student as was his sister Alice, so he is continuing a family tradition and considers himself very lucky to be embarking on such a wonderful trip. Terry presented Ryan with his exchange student jacket and a small cheque as well as some Rotary Club of Warrnambool banners to distribute to other Rotary clubs in Finland.