Bradley Booth, a senior at Pearl River Central High School, was recently selected to study abroad in India through the Rotary Youth Exchange program.

For the past few years, Booth has spent time researching numerous study abroad programs in hopes of finding the perfect one, which would allow him the opportunity to live in another country.

“The youth exchange program was really the best out there,” Booth said. “It’s better because it’s non-profit and they are passionate about cultural exchange and getting students involved.”

The Rotary Youth Exchange program is a study-abroad opportunity that offers students a chance to study in another country and live with a host family, according to Rotary.org.

Bertha Page, youth exchange officer at Rotary Club of Picayune, said this is the first time their local club has been involved in helping a local student study abroad.

“This is an opportunity for them to be an ambassador for the U.S., make lifelong friends and have a better understanding of other cultures,” Page said.

Booth originally contacted Houston Costolo, a local member of the Rotary Club, who invited him last year to attend a district conference in order for Booth to learn more about the program.

Inspired by the conference, Booth decided to begin the rigorous application process, which involved filling out numerous forms, writing essays and providing letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors, which all led up to the interview.

Booth’s hard work paid off when he received notice he was accepted.

“I was hoping I would because I worked hard my first semester of this past school year to get it and it was just a big waiting game until now,” Booth said.

Booth chose to study abroad in India after he was given an opportunity to select from seven different countries. For a year, Booth will be studying at a high school in India while learning about the culture. While he won’t be able to complete his senior year until he gets back to the states, he’s looking forward to the opportunity.

“I’m very intrigued and interested in Eastern philosophy and practices and want to learn more about the Eastern world,” Booth said. “India is so diverse but is tied together by everyone’s spirituality and faith.”

For the past couple of months, Booth has been working two jobs, one at Burger King and another at M & M Printing, to afford travel costs.

“It’s been a busy time but my family has been on top of me to meet deadlines and do the work necessary for the program,” Booth said.

However, his family wasn’t too keen about him studying abroad at first.

Booth said once he got accepted into the program and they realized that Rotary was a trusted organization, “they were like ‘okay this is awesome and we’re glad you’re doing this.’”

Earlier this year, Booth attended a Rotary Youth Exchange camp in Arkansas to prepare for studying abroad. Booth said the camp brought Rotary Youth Exchange students together before they would embark to their respective countries.

“Being around people who were all about to get on a plane and go across the world and you’re all in this journey together was a great experience,” Booth said.

Many people involved in Rotary have been instrumental in Booth’s journey so far, including Bertha, Houston and Elizabeth Van Sant, who’s involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange program.

Booth plans to move to India in early August and is excited to travel overseas for the first time.