In this powerful and deeply personal episode, host Kelsey Ross speaks to Jyarland Daniels, a YFU study abroad alumni, former YFU USA board member, and founder of Harriet Speaks. Jyarland takes us on a journey across continents and cultures, reflecting on her transformative experience as a high school exchange student in Japan. From her early life in foster care to her arrival in Sendai, Jyarland shares how resilience, curiosity, and connection shaped her path.
We explore the challenges she faced, including language barriers and navigating identity as a Black American abroad. Through stories of bonding, cultural discovery, and the founding of Harriet Speaks, Jyarland reveals how exchange programs can be a catalyst for empathy, representation, and global peace.
Whether you’re a future exchange student, an advocate for diversity, or simply love a good story, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a reminder of the power of human connection.