Meet Our Students

I am open‑minded, respectful, curious, and calm. I laugh easily and enjoy being around people with a good sense of humor. As a dedicated student at a large high school, I make friends easily, though I prefer small groups and close connections. In my free time, I enjoy running, swimming, and exploring art through reading, drawing, and painting. I also love video games, music, and Studio Ghibli films. Passionate about fairness, I dream of becoming a lawyer one day. I’m excited to experience American traditions like Thanksgiving, Halloween, and hockey games, and I look forward to building lasting connections with my host family and community.

Ethan is a kind-hearted and thoughtful boy from Thailand. Known by his friends as the “gentle giant,” he’s admired for his caring nature and quiet strength. He comes from a close-knit, supportive family and cherishes time spent with them, especially enjoying spicy Thai dishes made by his grandma. Ethan is passionate about basketball and plays as a main team member at school, where he also shines in academics, particularly in English and Business Studies. He’s musically talented, playing guitar in his school band, and enjoys anime, gaming, and exploring different cultures. Ethan is excited to join a host family, share his Thai heritage, and build meaningful connections through this exchange experience.

Elli is a warm, talkative, and humorous girl from Germany who loves spending time with her family, friends, and her Dalmatian, Dante. She is open-minded, honest, and always eager to try new things—even if they seem challenging at first. Elli enjoys traveling and has already visited 13 countries, which sparked her curiosity about American culture. She is passionate about school subjects like chemistry, biology, and geography, and plays tennis to relax and have fun. In her free time, Elli loves reading romance and fantasy novels, taking photos of sunsets, and sharing laughs with friends. She looks forward to improving her English, experiencing American traditions like Thanksgiving and Halloween, and building lifelong friendships during her exchange year.

For more information, check out my Dear Host Family Letter!

Melina is a cheerful and adventurous girl from a small village in the south of France, where she enjoys a close-knit community and a lively family life. She loves outdoor activities like climbing, hiking, and canyoning—interests she shares with her dad—and also enjoys dancing, cooking delicious treats like crepes and cookies, and spending cozy afternoons with her beloved cat. Melina is excited to come to America because she has always dreamed of discovering new cultures, improving her English, and becoming more independent. She hopes to build meaningful connections, share her French traditions, and experience life in a whole new way during her exchange year.

My name is Giulia, and I hope to be your future Italian exchange student! I live in northeast Italy with my parents and older brother. I love discovering new cultures and recently spent two weeks in the UK with a host family, which made me even more excited to spend a full year abroad. I chose the U.S. because I admire the culture, traditions like Halloween and Thanksgiving, and the school system with its many activities. In my free time, I enjoy volleyball, skiing in the Dolomites, and summer water sports like windsurfing. My biggest passion is music—I’ve played piano since I was seven and especially love Chopin, even though I usually listen to Italian rap. I also enjoy movies, shopping with friends, and sharing traditions with my family, like cheering for Ferrari races or watching basketball with my dad. I’d love to share a piece of my culture with you, especially by cooking Italian dishes like carbonara. I would describe myself as curious, enthusiastic, and ready for new experiences, and I can’t wait to create memories together!

Lucia lives with her parents, sister and cat. With her mom, she enjoys walking outside and going to the gym three times a week and to do weights, stretching, and other exercises together. Her time with her dad is spent watching soccer, either on TV or at a stadium, and they also enjoy learning about new cultures, meeting new people and visiting lots of places together. Lucia loves shopping, doing make up, singing and dancing with her sister. She loves animals and has always wanted a pet of her own. Her cat is a recent addition to the family that she is over the moon about. Lucia's favorite animal is horses, she has been riding for eight years, including show jumping. She has also played volleyball in the past. She really enjoys sports and being active. In the future, Lucia hopes to be a psychologist.

Anaelle is full of energy, curiosity, and warmth, with a deep love for cultural exchange and adventure. She is passionate about music, outdoor activities, and trying new things—from skiing and hiking to paddleboarding and zip-lining. Anaelle and her family are big fans of amusement parks. They live close to Disneyland Paris and go there quite often, but she also loves thrill rides in other parks nearby. Though she may be shy at first, she quickly becomes friendly, talkative, and eager to connect. Anaelle is academically driven, socially engaged, and excited to share her French culture while embracing everyday American life with enthusiasm and heart. "I'm really excited to meet you, explore new experiences, and enjoy every moment of this adventure. I’m thrilled to create lots of happy memories together."

Faustine is a girl that loves adventure and trying new things. Her family has a camper that they travel in on vacations to see new places. She has a good perspective of being flexible when on these adventures! Faustine enjoys going to camps so she can try new sports and other activities. Always learning and trying something different, she doesn't miss an opportunity to tackle a new task. When she has free time, Faustine loves reading, especially romance novels, and listening to music like rap, pop or K-pop. Whatever the day brings, she finds a way to fill it with adventure! Faustine is so excited to join your family this school year!