Meet Our Students

Meet Arstenbek from Kyrgyzstan. He is a serious student with a fun side! He is excited to learn about American culture and wants to try baseball and American football. He enjoys hobbies like chess, Monopoly, and table tennis. He is a recipient of the prestigious FLEX scholarship for students that have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. He spends weekdays at a boarding school where he is engaged in several interesting projects called GreenLand, Bilimbot, Olimpfund and Olimplearn. He describes the boarding school as an opportunity that he is extremely grateful to be a part of where he is learning cleanliness and respect for elders along with academic subjects. On weekends he is home with his family which includes his mother, father and ten-year-old brother. Helping out at home when he is there is very important to Arstanbek, he cleans, cooks and grocery shops for his family. He is also very passionate about his culture; he plays a traditional instrument called the Chopo-Chor. He also acknowledges what an amazing act of kindness hosting a student is and will truly appreciate this opportunity to its fullest.

Louis is a curious, energetic, and motivated student excited to experience everyday life with an American family. As a pastry chef and chocolatier apprentice, he is dedicated, hardworking, and takes pride in his craft. Outside of his training, Louis enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether that’s go-karting, playing pool, attending concerts, or relaxing with video games and music. He has a strong appreciation for cars, photography, and drawing, and values meaningful connections and shared experiences. Louis is eager to improve his English, grow in independence, and embrace new opportunities while sharing his own culture and traditions. Louis says, “I’m really ready to jump into this adventure and live like a real member of your family.”

Yanis is excited to spend a year in the United States as an exchange student. Curious, sociable, and full of energy, he enjoys meeting new people, building connections, and trying new experiences. He is both creative and adaptable, comfortable in group settings as well as quieter moments. At home, Yanis is close with his older brother and sister and helps his family with daily responsibilities, showing his sense of responsibility and teamwork. In school, he especially enjoys history and English, with a strong interest in improving his language skills and becoming bilingual. He has been studying English for five years and is motivated to keep growing. Yanis plays tennis, his favorite sport, and spends his free time watching movies and series, listening to music, and working on creative projects. He appreciates music that tells a story and connects emotionally. Looking ahead, Yanis hopes to pursue a career in international marketing, where strong communication skills and cultural understanding will be important. Although he feels a bit nervous about being far from his family, he is ready to fully embrace this experience. He is especially looking forward to becoming part of a host family, sharing everyday life, and creating meaningful memories during what he hopes will be an unforgettable year.

Quinn is a warm hearted, adventurous boy who loves sports, and spending time with friends and family. He plays bandy—a unique Swedish ice sport that challenges him mentally and physically—and enjoys watching soccer with his dad and brother. Having traveled to many countries and fallen in love with exploring new cultures, Quinn is eager to come to America to experience daily life in a new environment, discover more about himself, and gain clarity about his future after school. His curiosity, love of learning, and desire for personal growth make this exchange year especially meaningful for him.

Miyu is a sweet girl from a large city in Japan. She is close with her family which includes her parents and two younger siblings. She adores music whether it's playing instruments with her family or participating in her school choir. Miyu led her class to the Best Performance Award at the junior high school music festival! Getting creative, she has learned to play the guitar so she can contribute music in additional ways. She also loves anime, manga and drawing illustrations. Most importantly, Miyu is excited for an exchange year so she can improve her English and be able to meet and converse with lots of different people.

Larissa is excited to spend a year in America as an exchange student. She lives with her parents and several pets and values time with her family and friends. Larissa describes herself as shy at first but outgoing, caring, and social once she feels comfortable. She enjoys activities like horseback riding, theater, crafting, music, and spending time outdoors. She hopes her exchange year will help her become more independent, experience everyday life in America, build strong relationships with her host family and new friends, and share her Dutch culture while learning from new experiences.

Cindy is a warm, thoughtful, and family-oriented student from Taiwan who would bring genuine connection and positivity into any host home. Raised in a close-knit family that values communication and time together, she naturally seeks meaningful relationships and looks forward to becoming an active part of her host family’s daily life—whether that’s sharing meals, helping around the house, or participating in family traditions. Cindy is well-rounded and driven, with a strong passion for music as a longtime member of her school’s Chinese orchestra, where she plays the bamboo flute. Music is not only her talent but also her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. In addition, Cindy is an accomplished swimmer with years of training and competition experience, showing both discipline and commitment. She has grown into a confident, outgoing, and resilient young woman who embraces challenges as opportunities for growth. Her dream of becoming a diplomat reflects her curiosity about the world and her desire to build cross-cultural understanding. Cindy is eager to fully immerse herself in American culture, improve her English, and contribute positively to her school and community.

Tatana loves to dance and listen to music with her family. She describes herself as funny and friendly. Her favorite subjects in school are History, English, Czech, German and Biology. She is a street dancer and plays drums and electric guitar. Tatana enjoys reading and hopes to write her own book one day. She does a lot of volunteering; she is currently planning a big charity event to raise money for her local hospice. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. Tatana is working at a restaurant right now to help become more financially independent. In the future, she would like to study law and become a politician that will somehow change the world.

Margaux lives with her mother and younger sister but also enjoys her visits with her father. She has been studying dance since she was 5 and this brings her joy. Margaux describes herself as open-minded, interested in what is happening in the world, very empathetic and a good listener. Family celebrations are precious to her and she enjoys doing simple activities with her family, like going for walks, baking, watching movies and playing games. Her passion for discovery is what pushed her to be an exchange student. She expects to grow, mature, learn about herself and life along with improving her English. Living in the US will enable her to learn about the country’s culture, experience holidays, attend American football games and create memories with her host family.