Ivanna Sherstiuk, a 17-year-old Ukranian native, has just moved to Norwalk, and is becoming accustomed to life in the United States. Ivanna came to Iowa through the World Link student exchange program, and is being hosted by the Rooney-Kozak family. Ivanna’s host father, Roman, is also a Ukrainian native.
On the surface Ukraine might not seem that different from life in Iowa; However, Ivanna considers life in the United States to be completely different from her life in Ukraine.
“In Ukraine, it’s more popular to go on foot and spend time outside,” said Ivanna. Ivanna says that there are far more cars here in Norwalk than in Kiev, the city she spent the last four years living in.
While she misses her family and friends in Ukraine, Ivanna says there are upsides to living in Iowa.
“I really like people here,” she said. ¨People in the United States are friendlier and easier to communicate with than in Ukraine.¨
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, over 30,000 civilians have died, while millions more have been misplaced and forced to flee the country. Despite major funding supplied by the United States and their allies to Ukraine, the war has continued to stall, with Russian president Vladimir Putin refusing any concessions for the conflict.
“The war made me realize the crucial role of social activism,” she said. “As I witnessed my country’s challenges, I understood the power of collective action in creating change. This experience deepened my commitment to making a positive impact, motivating me to engage actively.”
Ivanna, a skilled tennis player and proficient in five languages, is also involved in leadership groups around the world. After high school, she plans on pursuing a career in politics, economics, or business, and maybe traveling abroad some more. She has already lived in Germany for 9 months before coming to Iowa. On her goals for the future, Ivanna stated that “my drive is rooted in creating a positive future for others as well as myself.”
When asked if she would go out for the tennis team in the spring, Ivanna’s answer was simple: “of course.”
Kristen Geisler, girls tennis head coach, said that this isn’t her first time having foreign exchange students join the program.
“We’ve had a variety of foreign exchange students over the years as part of the tennis program,” said Geisler. “[I’ve] always enjoyed getting to know the foreign exchange students and learn about where they are from.”
For her first time living in the United States, Ivanna is fitting right in here at Norwalk.
“I feel really lucky to have Ivanna in class for two periods a day,” high school teacher Mrs. Thomas said. “She’s a great person with a lot of heart and we’re lucky to have her as part of our community.”
