Ballard High graduate competes to represent USA in Big Blog Exchange

By Joe Veyera

A Ballard High School graduate and Wallingford resident is participating in a competition to represent the United States in a 10-day blogging exchange.

Shelly Najjar is competing in the Big Blog Exchange (a competition run by Hostelling International), in which the winning bloggers will have the opportunity to trade places with a blogger in another country for just over a week, and share their experiences with the world by blogging.

“My hope for this is to learn more about people, cultures, and what we value by talking with people around the world about their dreams for their lives, and by meeting people living out their dreams and inspiring others to do the same,” Najjar said in a press release.

Najjar attended Ballard High from 2003 to 2007, and has since obtained two degrees and become a registered dietician. Najjar’s “The Goal List” blog features stories, interviews, and resources to help people achieve things on their own bucket lists. Najjar said she started her own bucket list shortly before starting at Ballard High, with it now giving her the opportunity to participate in this competition.

Between now and September 3, people can vote for Najjar by searching for her name within the bloggers competing in the Americas, or by visiting her profile directly here. As of the time of this posting, Najjar was in 28th place in the Americas, just two votes out of the top 25.

The exchangees will be revealed on September 16, with the exchanges starting on October 31.