Meet Our Students

Michele is excited to become part of a host family and build a close, open relationship based on sharing and communication. He comes from a loving family and has learned important values such as responsibility, respect, and commitment from his parents. Inspired by his siblings’ positive exchange experiences in the United States, he is eager to grow personally and step out of his comfort zone. Michele's greatest passion is basketball, which he sees not only as a sport, but as a life lesson in teamwork and perseverance. He also loves music, especially singing Italian songs, and enjoys spending time outdoors through walking, biking, and running. Michele describes himself as curious, friendly, and open-minded, with a strong desire to discover new cultures. Through this exchange experience, he hopes to improve his English, make meaningful friendships, and gain a new perspective on life. He wants to bring enthusiasm, respect, and positivity into his host family’s home, help with daily activities, and share Italian culture—especially by cooking pasta alla carbonara. His dream is to continue his studies, travel the world, and become more mature, confident, and independent thanks to this experience.

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.

Meet Leanne from France who loves to sing and dance, and she is part of a kpop dance association back home. She loves cooking or baking and cannot wait to make something for her new host family. She loves animals and enjoys going to the zoo and seeing the lions. Leanne did a year of horseback riding as well. She enjoys long walks and being outdoors. Her friends would describe her as empathetic, mature, organized, sensitive and an honest person that loves to dream. She cannot wait to meet you!

Meet Nina from France! She has practiced modern dance for the past 10 years, and this allowed her to meet new people and participate in competitions. This taught her to manage stress and gain confidence, but she has not been able to do it much lately and it would be great if she was able to participate in a dance program in the US. Nina also enjoys school, her subjects like business management, economics and human resources will help her with her future endeavors. She hopes to join some clubs at school to focus on leadership as well. Her friends would describe her as fun, outgoing, meticulous, and loves to laugh. Nina likes to meet with friends for coffee, celebrate birthdays, go to concerts and watch football games. She wants to continue to discover new things during her exchange year and cannot wait to meet her new host family.

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.

Marco is from Spain and was born in Italy, where his multicultural background has shaped who he is today. He is known as a thoughtful and empathetic person who genuinely cares about understanding what others are going through. Marco feels emotions deeply and is mindful of how his words and actions may affect those around him. Sports and music are his greatest passions. He plays the guitar and also enjoys learning piano. Family means everything to Marco—he is an only child and, while he sometimes wished for siblings, he is especially excited about joining a host family with kids and becoming part of a lively household.

Miharu is a cheerful girl from Japan who is excited to improve her English! Traveling on a school trip to Singapore, hosting an exchange student from India, and getting to know a Taiwanese student who joined her school, has helped her realize that learning English well will help her improve relationships and better understand cultures worldwide. She loves taking photos and is even a member of a photo club. She is excited to capture special moments of her exchange year! With a passion for Japanese anime and manga, Miharu is excited to see the books on the shelves of an American bookstore or library. She has a few allergy sensitivities that she manages well on her own. Ultimately, she is excited to learn from her host family and share wonderful memories together!

Celia is a 14-year-old (turning 15 in Dec) exchange student from Spain currently in ninth grade at a multilingual school. She is a dedicated and high-achieving student with a strong interest in biology and hopes to study medicine in the future. Celia comes from a close and supportive family and has a deep love for animals. She is especially passionate about basketball and has played competitively for several years, participating in official tournaments and three-point competitions. She also enjoys trying new sports, reading, playing the violin, and theater. Having previously taken part in student exchange programs in Europe, Celia is excited to immerse herself in American culture, improve her English, and share her own traditions. She describes herself as calm, sociable, adaptable, and respectful, and looks forward to becoming an active member of her host family.

I live in northern Italy with my parents and my older brother. I attend a scientific high school because I enjoy subjects like mathematics. I like spending time with my family, doing activities such as playing board games, watching movies, biking, and skiing. I practice athletics and I am a middle-distance runner. I also enjoy swimming, cycling, walking, and ice skating. In my free time, I like being with friends, watching TV series (especially Suits), reading novels and magazines, and playing video games. I love cooking and eating, especially parmigiana, mushroom risotto, and chocolate desserts. I chose to spend a school year in the United States to improve my English and to experience a different culture and school system. I am excited to try new subjects and meet new people. I am interested in airplanes and would like to become an airline pilot in the future. I am very grateful to my host family for welcoming me into their home, and I hope we will spend a wonderful year together.