Rotary Youth Exchange help?

I am going through the application process right now, I just submitted my preliminary application to my local rotary club. Through what I have read (which is a lot, I have been researching for 2 years) you fill out the preliminary application, then your local rotary club will interview you. If you pass this interview, then you will advance to the district level interviews, which are more formal with the important heads of your district, and you will also have to fill out the long application (like 18 pages including doctors visit, dentist visit, letters, pictures...etc). The interviews require you to know about Rotary, and answer questions like why you want to go on exchange, why you think you should be able to go. Grades are moderately important, As and Bs are good. Being good at a sport isn't important but being involved is. They are looking for people who are involved in school, and the community (which is the part I am worried about for myself! I am involved in the community but not as much as I would like). What I would suggest now, and what a former exchange student suggested to me is that you start getting involved now!! Not right before you are about to apply. Volunteer as much as you can. Rotary is a service organization, they want people who also show these qualities. Be involved in school, like you already are. When you get interviewed they want you to be passionate about going, it isn't a holiday, it's hard work. Be yourself, be confident, and get involved! If you want more information, the rotary international website helped a lot. Go to students and youth, and then there are a lot of links in the side bar, click where it says how to apply or about the exchange, and it will give you all the requirements. It is mostly about age, but you said you want to apply to go for when you are still in high school which is fine, then it lists that they are looking for leaders, community involvement..blah blah blah. Also, to get a good first hand experience, read exchangers blogs, and watch youtube rotary exchange vlogs. They are all on exchange right now so you know the information is right and you are going to get all the facts. Good Luck! Link to Rotary International http://www.rotary.org/en/studentsandyouth/youthprograms/rotaryyouthexchange/Pages/ridefault.aspx