Meet Our Students

Artjom is a motivated and curious exchange student from Estonia who comes from a close-knit and supportive family. Growing up in a small town surrounded by nature, he has developed an appreciation for both the outdoors and meaningful connections with others. He enjoys spending time with his family, staying active, and exploring his interests. A dedicated athlete, Artjom has been rowing for over five years, often training alongside his father. He also enjoys music, movies, and learning about different cultures. His travels across Europe have sparked a strong interest in global perspectives and languages—he already speaks three and is eager to learn more. Academically driven, Artjom hopes to pursue a future in the IT field by studying at a university and building a successful career. Through his exchange experience, he is excited to learn about American culture, gain independence, and grow into a responsible and open-minded individual.

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!

Elsa is a creative and thoughtful student who is both calm and warm once she feels comfortable. She has a strong passion for drawing, especially cartoons, and enjoys expressing herself through art. An active and motivated person, she has played volleyball for four years and values teamwork and personal improvement. Elsa prefers cozy moments such as movie nights, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends over loud social events. Curious about the world, she is eager to discover new cultures and is particularly fascinated by American traditions and holidays. Kind, open-minded, and enthusiastic about learning, Elsa looks forward to meaningful cultural exchange and new experiences.

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.

First of all, I would like to thank you for your welcome this school year, which will allow me to live this incredible experience. I live in the South of France in a small mountain village with my family. We have a dog, Oslo, who is my best friend. If I were to tell you about myself, I would tell you that I love animals, drawing, and the mountains! I also love horses, I have been riding for over 10 years. What I enjoy most is spending time with the horses and concentrating on my technique without thinking about anything else. I have been drawing since I was a little girl and I even took classes in Fine Arts. I would like to go to an interior design school in the future, and help people feel good in their homes. My dream is to try out for the high school cheerleading team. This doesn't exist in French school and is something I have always wanted to do. I can't wait to meet you and to spend this year with you!

Lina is known for her positive attitude, friendliness, and sociable personality, and she enjoys meeting new people and discovering different cultures. Growing up near the sea has given her a love for the outdoors, especially spending time at the beach or boating with her family during the summer. Sports are an important part of Lina’s life. She has practiced artistic swimming for nine years and competes at the national level, where her team became Vice Champions of France in 2024. Through this sport she has developed discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. Lina is a motivated 10th-grade student who is excited to experience the American high school system and everyday life in the United States. She hopes her exchange year will allow her to improve her English, make meaningful connections, and become a true member of her host family.

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.

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.

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.