My name is Mariia Prytula, but my friends and family call me Masha. I’m from Ukraine, born in the city of Zaporizhzhia in the southeast – a place known as the capital of the Cossacks and a symbol of strength. I was living a good life with my family—until everything changed on February 24th, the day terrorist-state Russia attacked my homeland and has been trying to destroy it ever since.
That morning, I woke up at 5 a.m. to my mother saying, “Sweetie, wake up. The war has started.” We heard the rockets flying. I was in complete shock and had no idea what to do next. It was my niece’s birthday and I had just learned my brother’s family was expecting their second child. I was overwhelmed and stressed for their safety. My brother and his family came to stay with us, thinking this might pass in a couple of weeks but those “two weeks” have now lasted more than three years. That first night, I couldn’t sleep —I kept reading the news.
The next day, I tried to rest, but the air raid siren sounded, and we went to our garage to stay safe. The day after, my mom and I went to the hospital to deliver supplies for wounded soldiers. Another siren went off, and everyone rushed to the basement. It was filled with patients—after all, it was a hospital. We moved to the first floor, and that’s when I got a call from my brother saying: “Masha, we’re leaving the city right now. Get home fast. Tell Mom.” We ran to the car and rushed home.
As we drove west, my mom cried the entire way. None of us wanted to leave. All I could think about was everything I was leaving behind – my city, my home, my dad, who stayed behind. I didn’t know when I’d see him again. A week later, we arrived in Uzhhorod. Three days after that, we made the decision to go to Poland, where we had some acquaintances. My brother stayed behind in Ukraine while my mom, my pregnant sister-in-law, niece, our dog Diana, and I all traveled together in one car.
We arrived in the city of Olsztyn, where our friends welcomed us and gave us shelter in a hotel. We lived there for six months. During that time, my mom and I sent a lot of humanitarian aid to Ukraine with the help of the Rotary Club Olsztyn Varmia. It was this club where we learned about the Rotary Youth Exchange Program during a meeting with Rotary Clubs from Wisconsin in Poland. The Rotary Friendship Exchange took place in September 2022, where I met Dan Drozdowicz, who is now my officer, and Edwin Bos, who continues to help and support me throughout my exchange year. I am so thankful to them!
On August 15, 2024, I flew to America for a year as an exchange student. My first host family met me at the airport. I was very nervous because becoming an exchange student had been my dream since I was 12, and now I was going alone—without my parents. It felt like a big step into adulthood. At first, it was very hard. The jet lag, the culture shock, and the sudden separation from my mom made me cray often. I missed her and my home terribly.
But then school started and I slowly began to immerse myself in American life. I joined the Parker Arts Academy program, where I not only have found lifelong friends and a second family, but I also discovered my passion that I want to pursue in the future. This year, I participated in three musicals:
- Hadestown: Teen Edition - where I sang in the pit and was the understudy for Persephone
- Hello, Dolly! - where I played Ernestina Money
- Mary Poppins – where I played Miss Andrew.
The rehearsal process and being on stage brought me some of my best memories. One of the biggest highlights was performing Hadestown with my cast at the International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, IN in June in front of over 4,000 people on the main stage. I can’t even explain the energy and emotion from that moment!
Other achievements from this year include:
- Becoming secretary of the Cantorum Choir
- Joining the SIS Club
- Competing in the WSMA vocal competition where I advanced to the state level!
- Going on a West Coast trip with Belo Tours and other exchange students. It was so much fun!
In the future, I plan to attend college to major in Musical Theatre. Currently I'm taking a gap year, but my journey in performing arts is far from over. Becoming an exchange student was a risk – but one I’ve never regretted. These memories and the people I met during my year here will stay with me forever. I want to thank everyone who supported me throughout this year and made it unforgettable. It was truly the best year of my life.