When you hit the reset button what do you expect? In computer games, it restarts the game, losing the player's unsaved progress. What happens in life though?

It's obvious that in reality we can't just leave our “progress” behind. Even if we start things anew, we have some baggage from the past. So did I when I was about to fly to America this summer. In my case, my “baggage” was my previous experience of being an exchange student in the United States three years ago.

Here's some history. While still in high school, I became a finalist in a scholarship program, Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), and through my involvement in that program, I spent an exceptional year overseas.

The program was designed 17 years ago, and the major goal of it was, according to former senator Bill Bradley, to enable young people from the countries of the former Soviet Union “to learn about democracy firsthand through experiencing it,” thus to “ensure long-lasting peace and understanding between the U.S. and Eurasia.”

So, does it prepare future leaders who would be able to press the reset button in whatever relations when necessary?

I would say yes, and most FLEX alumni I talked to would say the same. Youth exchange teaches open-mindedness and develops tolerance for differences and positive regard for others. This seems simple, but we do need those basic things in any kind of relationship.

I lived with an American family, was enrolled in a public school, and took part in activities in the local community, just to name a few things. As a result, I became a fan of exchange programs, and practically as soon as I got back home I started thinking of getting involved in another one.

This summer I took part in a popular program Work&Travel, and that was my second long-term visit to America. I had three different jobs over the summer, and experienced yet another part of American daily life. My previous experience really helped me to feel at home while being abroad.

By now I have been a participant of two exchange programs, and clearly there is no better way to learn about the country than by getting involved in its daily life. It's crucial. The perception of a country really changes, and the media, for instance, can't influence your opinion as much as it used to, because you know for sure there is another side of the story, and so you don't make bizarre judgments on the spot.

If we go back to the start, we'll see that the concept of exchange programs grew out of a desire for nations to build bridges of understanding after World War II, and that's what it is still about today.

If you feel a strong need for some kind of a reset button in your life, it may be a good idea to get enrolled in an exchange program. As for me, I am ready to hit the reset button anytime.