It is always so exciting to see how Rotary Youth Exchange impacts lives. In 2017-18, Milford Rotary Club sponsored a student from France -- Auriane Veyveinc. Auriane attended Hopedale High School, had a successful exchange, and returned to France in June 2018. I met Auriane during her time in Massachusetts. Fast-forward to August 2026. I was visiting France and was able to catch up over dinner. Since her exchange, Auriane has finished college, added Spanish to her language repertoire, and is almost finished with a Master of Science degree in Purchasing & Global Supply Chain Management.
Currently, Auriane is completing a year-long internship at a French manufacturer in the automotive business. Auriane works as a raw materials buyer for plastic resins. She explained that this type of work requires, not just foreign language skills, but also geopolitical awareness to follow the oil market, negotiation skills, supplier relationship management, cost analysis, as well as communicating with suppliers and team members around the globe.
Auriane told me her years as an exchange student have been very helpful to her career development. As an international materials buyer, she must have an open mind towards different cultures and ways of thinking as well as knowledge of various languages, especially English which she uses at least 60% of the time. In the future, she is hoping for a 2-year assignment to work outside of France to get even more international business experience.
Congratulations to Auriane for her wonderful achievements. And thank you to Milford Rotary Club for taking the time to sponsor a 16-year old student from a small town in France. You never know what happens when you give a young person an exchange opportunity. It can be life changing.
For info on Youth Exchange: https://rotary7910.org/page/rotary-youth-exchange