Janko Ilic is a junior-year student at ADM High School in Adel, Iowa, however, America has not been his lifelong home. He came to us from Vrabje, Serbia. About a year before the 24-25 school year, Ilic began applying to become a foreign exchange student. The process is much more complicated than some may realize, and his program’s acceptance rate is extremely selective. Among the approximately 2,000 students who applied, only 2.5% were accepted and had the opportunity to travel abroad for this school year. Ilic explained that the application process included basic application forms, many essays, interactive group activities, and interviews with people including an American Postal Representative from Washington D.C. It also involved the examination of medical records, teacher recommendations, and multiple advanced English proficiency tests. Somewhere between March and April, he received his results informing him of the great opportunity ahead.
Ilic arrived at his new home on August 8, 2024. He won’t leave until late May or Early June, the exact departure date he will be assigned is sometime in the new year. Ilic says the thing that surprised him the most so far about the U.S. was the generosity of people.
He says, “When I came here random people on the street would say hello.” He says it somewhat reminds him of his home in Serbia. He says people there are also friendly and warm. Ilic says he is most excited to travel with his exchange family to Arizona this Christmas break. He also hopes to visit Washington, and the New England area, specifically Massachusetts.
Ilic’s favorite memory in the US so far is the high school football games. He said, “The energy there is amazing, and I will miss that when I return.” He said he liked all the themes and thought everything was so cool. His favorite American food so far is the infamous Chick-fil-A. His favorite thing to get there is the original chicken sandwich. When asked if he likes their traditional sauce he said, “Oh yes, the sauce is a necessity.” He explained that back in Serbia they celebrate Christmas very similarly, but “Christmas in the US is just its own story, magic, and way of celebrating traditions.” If Ilic had to choose something he misses most about home, it would be his family, including his mom, dad, and dog named Mona.
Ilic will play tennis for Waukee High School this coming spring. Tennis is a big hobby of his. He also has a fascinating passion for language. He knows three, including Serbian, English, and French, and he recently started learning Italian. He says he is enjoying his current school classes as much as any teenager can, and he currently thinks he will plan on returning to the US for college. He said the SAT and many college visits were on his bucket list for this exchange year. He plans on applying for med school post-college and says he will possibly stay in the US for work after. He wants to become either an anesthesiologist or an orthopedic surgeon. Despite being 5,280 miles from home, Ilic soaks up every moment here. Trying new things, meeting new people, and striving to reach incredible goals.
