Meet Our Students

Nicola is a friendly, energetic, and adventurous student from Italy who is excited to experience life in the United States. He enjoys staying active and has participated in several sports, including soccer, tennis, and swimming, but his greatest passion is volleyball. Through sports, Nicola has developed strong teamwork skills, discipline, and resilience. Outside of athletics, Nicola enjoys listening to music, cooking, and spending time with friends exploring new places and experiences. He also previously played guitar and remains interested in music. As a longtime member of the Scouts, Nicola has learned responsibility, leadership, resourcefulness, and how to work effectively with others. Nicola is no stranger to helping at home and is happy to assist with cooking, cleaning, and household tasks. He also spends time volunteering at children's summer camps, where he helps organize activities and mentor younger children. These experiences have helped him develop patience, creativity, and strong interpersonal skills. While Nicola is still exploring what he would like to pursue in the future, he views his exchange year as an opportunity for personal growth, cultural exchange, and self-discovery. He is eager to learn about American culture, make new friends, and become part of a host family while sharing Italian traditions, food, and experiences. Nicola brings enthusiasm, kindness, maturity, and a positive attitude, making him an excellent addition to any host family.

Ferdi is a friendly, active, and outgoing 15-year-old who is excited to experience life in the United States as an exchange student. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether that’s skiing, watching movies, playing football, or exploring the city together. Ferdi is passionate about staying active and trains regularly in boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, calisthenics, and fitness. He is also a dedicated guitarist who has played for eight years and has performed in competitions and concerts. At school, Ferdi especially enjoys History and Religious Education because he likes learning about different perspectives and cultures. He describes himself as open-minded, funny, responsible, and curious, and he adapts quickly to new situations. Ferdi looks forward to improving his English, experiencing American culture, trying new foods, and creating unforgettable memories with his future host family.

Jean lives with his parents, two brothers, sister and dog. He was born in the Caribbean and lived there for the first seven years of his life. He is a practicing Catholic and goes to church every Sunday. In his free time, Jean likes to play tennis, running, swimming, and cycling. He has been involved in scouting for several years. His friends and family often say that he brings energy and joy to the people around him. 

Julien is an active student from France who is currently studying management and law at his high school. Alongside his studies, Julien enjoys working out, swimming, bowling, and more. Recently, he has started to make his own music! He enjoys making beats that people can dance to. Julien and his family have one cat, Neko, which means cat in Japanese. Julien decided to spend a year in the USA because he wants to become more independent and improve his English, while also wanting to discover something completely different. While he knows it won't always be easy, he is ready for the challenge. He is excited to live something unique, meet new people, and create memories that will stay with him for life.

I really like the sea and surfing. Through my surf experiences, I became interested in environmental issues, especially marine pollution. Then, I began beach cleanups three times a week when I was in junior high school. I see myself as a proactive and responsible person. I like doing exercise and having fun playing sports, but I'm honestly not any good at ball games. I would like to learn about American culture and traditions, as well as the environmental consciousness of American people. With my family and friends, we enjoy going to the beach or hiking on weekends. At the moment, I am practicing cooking easy Japanese dishes for you! I will try my best to improve my English and communication skills. In the future, I hope to be a person who can thrive internationally.

I truly hope that, together, we can create unforgettable, fun memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. My hobbies are running, dancing, and learning languages! I also love history and geography because I like discovering new things about new places. As for my personality, my friends describe me as responsible, open-minded, and curious at the same time a good listener and someone they can rely on and someone they can ask for help and advice. One of my biggest dreams is to create a company and a foundation that will help women, young girls, and children in need who are facing difficult situations. I want to help them and make their lives easier and happier. I can't wait to learn about your traditions, your daily life, and your culture. I am especially excited to celebrate American holidays with you- Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, and many others I have only seen from afar. I believe that cultural exchange is one of the most beautiful things in the world, and I hope we will inspire each other.

Javier "JJ" loves aviation and dreams of becoming an air traffic controller. His grandfather, who is an aerospace engineer, has taught him so much about aviation even taking him to air shows! A good student, JJ appreciates his math teacher especially, as he says the teacher is willing to take the time to make sure the students really understand the lessons. In his free time, he loves participating in sports, especially basketball, which is his favorite. In the summer, he goes to camp with classmates from school and during the holidays, he travels to the country with his extended family. JJ is so excited to practice his English in his new community and get to know his host family!

Arstanbek comes from a close-knit family of four, including his parents and younger brother. Growing up in a bilingual household has helped them develop adaptability, strong communication skills, and an appreciation for different cultures. His mother works in tourism, inspiring a love of travel and exploration, while his father is an entrepreneur. Family is very important to him, and he enjoys helping at home and spending time together. An excellent student, Arstanbek has attended a specialized boarding school since 2022. He is highly involved in school life, participating in multiple academic and project-based activities, including environmental, robotics, and technology-related programs. His dedication, curiosity, and strong work ethic have helped them thrive both academically and socially. In his free time, Arstanbek enjoys reading, spending time with friends, exploring their city, and learning new things. He is especially interested in engineering and hopes to pursue a career that allows him to create solutions that improve people's lives. As an exchange student, Arstanbek is excited to immerse himself in American culture, learn about community involvement and volunteerism, and participate in new activities such as football, baseball, and school clubs. He looks forward to sharing his own culture and traditions while building meaningful relationships with his host family, school, and community.

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.