Year 10 student Lian Drinan was awarded a one-year scholarship as part of the Jenesys program, courtesty of AFS Australia, which will allow her to fulfil a lifelong dream of travelling to Japan.

The scholarship was awarded based on Lian’s grades and her contribution to the community.

Lian has studied Japanese for three years and can’t wait to test her knowledge out once she arrives in Japan.

“I’m a mixture of feelings at the moment,” she said.

“I’m quite nervous and scared, but at the same time I’m so excited.

“This is my first time going overseas, it’s going to be challenging, but I can’t wait to get over there.”

Lian will be staying with a host family on the north island of Japan and will attend school just as the average Japanese student would.

AFS Australia provides a support network for Lian and seven other students who will also be travelling to Japan to take part in the program.

It was Lian’s parents, Dinah and Gerard, who encouraged her to apply for the scholarship, which enables her to take part in the exchange program.

“When my mum was at school she went on exchange to Canada,” Lian said.

“The scholarship pays for everything except spending money.

“So I’ve been madly saving and working a part-time job so I can travel while on school breaks.”

While looking forward to a number of new experience while on exchange, Lian said she was most excited about having a white Christmas.

“The change in weather is going to be pretty hard to get used to,” she said.

“However, it will be something new and different for me to experience.”

AFS Australia has been sending Australian students on intercultural exchange since 1959.

During the next five years AFS will send more than 1000 Australians to Japan for periods ranging from two weeks to one year.