I want to start my reflective essay from the very beginning when I received the letter, notifying that I am approved for the Bonner Scholarship. I had been participating in many community service activities in my home country, but I was unaware of the problems, the American society was facing and the way it was solving them. So I was very excited about the opportunity to take an active part in such an honorable deed, as community service is. Despite that, I had very pessimistic expectations about America. I was told that people are indifferent to foreigners and even disrespect them, and the feeling that I don’t belong to this place would engross me and dominate my emotions. So I taught I would have very tough time in adjusting to the new environment.
       Thankfully, since my arrival in the land of the great opportunities all my bad feelings were crashed, by the behavior of all people I met. Everybody was so nice and polite to me that I felt like a special guest on a visiting tour. The Bonner orientation was a wonderful experience. I had the chance to meet many students of my age, from all over the world and make good friends around them. We visited different places and I got acquainted with the American style of life. I easily adjusted to the group and took vivid participation in the games and community services. I acquired some skills to work in a team, to rely on my friends, not only on my self-capabilities. Though it was quite different place and people for me, I didn’t feel like a stranger. I was a part of them. That gave me power and courage to overwhelm the apparent differences between Bulgarian and American cultures. We had really a great time and I think that such orientations are very useful for all international students, who visit America for first time.
        Now I’m getting used to American system and don’t face any problems of cultural or ethnical issues. I started working as an assistant in a computer lab, and I am in permanent contact with American students, who need help with the computers. I can make many friends there and also can acquire very useful skills to my Computer Science major, because I have plenty of time to explore all the opportunities of the computer systems.
        To sum up I can say that I am very glad and proud of being a Bonner Scholar, because it gives me the satisfaction that I am contributing to the community, by helping people. It also gives me directions in my future development. I feel like I am a part of something big and worthy, that has a gentle cause: “To change the world through community service”. And if every person follow the path, lead by Bonner Scholars this purpose can be realistically attained.