Meet Our Students

Meet Gabin from France! He stays in his high school dorm during the week and then visits either his mom in a medieval village or his dad on his farm during the weekends. Gabin enjoys swimming, weight training, and running for relaxation. He also enjoys music. History and technology are his favorite subjects and last year he was one of the top students in his class. He works hard for top grades. Gabin has also worked as a waiter and at a bakery. He is so excited to join your family for the year and can't wait to celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with you and make you smile all year long.

Meet Judith from Spain, your future exchange daughter! Judith is a friendly, funny girl who enjoys helping others. She describes herself as empathetic and family-oriented. She hopes you will take her to the cinema and your favorite places. In exchange, she’ll teach you how to cook some of her delicious Spanish foods. Judith’s passion is artistic gymnastics. She’s competed for many years and trains four days per week. Judith hopes you have a dog, but she loves all animals. She also loves food! She lists pasta Bolognese, hamburgers, pizza, and broccoli as favorites. She’s not just a fan of eating it but also a good cook. Let her whip up some three-chocolate cake for you. She’s sure you’ll love it! In the future, she’d like to do something related to sports or teaching. She hopes this exchange year will teach her many things, and she’s excited to learn about your hobbies and values. She promises you’ll have a great time with her. “I really appreciate the opportunity to live with you, I look forward to meeting you and sharing special moments together. I am very excited about the experience we are going to have and I look forward to the day.”

Chloe, from the South of France, is thrilled about the opportunity to join a host family in the U.S. She is eager to immerse herself in American culture, participate in traditions like Thanksgiving and Halloween, and experience a new school environment. Chloe loves sports, especially French rugby, skiing, snowboarding, and water skiing. She is passionate about fashion, enjoys stitching and drawing, and spends quality time with her family and friends. Chloe says, "This project represents for me more than a simple trip: it’s a veritable life project, an opportunity to grow up, to discover a new life living, and to create unforgettable memories which will mark my life." She is excited to share her French culture, improve her English, and build lasting connections.

Meet Shirin, a recipient of the prestigious “Future Leaders Exchange Program” scholarship. Shirin really enjoys listening to music, especially K-pop. Photography is another one of her passions. She loves taking photos and capturing moments in her life to share with others. She also enjoys crocheting, dancing, biking, and drawing. Shirin has a love for reading books, mostly novels. Her favorite books are "Pride and Prejudice" and "The Alchemist." When it comes to sports, they prefer team sports over individual ones like volleyball and basketball. Shirin has not decided on their future profession and is still contemplating her options. Shirin is looking forward to a wonderful year with many new experiences!

Maelis eagerly anticipates joining a host family in the U.S. Her friends describe her as kind, generous, funny, and sociable. She has a passion for dancing, having practiced since she was 4 years old, and dances every day at her high school. Maelis is excited about the possibility of continuing her dance practice in the U.S., hoping to explore new styles and share her love of dance with her new community. Additionally, she loves meeting new people, spending time with family and friends, and has an interest in languages and cultures. She dreams of speaking English fluently and says, "I am always in a good mood and I give it to people around me in order to make them smile too." She also loves spending time with young kids. Maelis looks forward to making new friends and experiencing American culture.

I am the youngest child in my family. I have three older siblings who have moved out, leaving me with my mom and dad. I am a creative person. I love to draw, teach dance in my village, play a couple different instruments, cook with my mom, and volunteer at three different organizations. The most recognized organization is UNICEF, where I share information with children in small schools with limited access to resources. UNICEF helps these schools, and I can work with children, which I really enjoy. I also like hiking in the mountains and taking beautiful photos. I am dreaming of experiencing the typical American holidays with my new family.

Valeria is an ambitious and culturally curious student eager to embark on her exchange journey. With a passion for foreign languages, diplomacy, and global connections, she has excelled in English competitions, debate, and international exchange programs. As vice president of her school’s debate club and an ambassador for exchange students, Valeria has developed strong leadership and cross-cultural communication skills. She is also a dedicated musician, performing as part of the Zhu Zongqing Outstanding Youth Percussion Ensemble. An optimistic and motivated individual, Valeria looks forward to immersing herself in new traditions, sharing Taiwanese culture, and forming lasting bonds with her host family. For more information, check out her host family letter!

Zahro describes herself as a friendly and social person, though a bit shy. She lives in a small city in Uzbekistan with her supportive family, which includes her parents, two older brothers, and a younger sister. She cherishes her family, especially the way they help and support one another. At home, Zahro handles chores like washing dishes, cleaning, cooking, and caring for her sister and pets. She has several passions, including swimming, photography, dancing, reading, boxing, and journaling. She values her friendships, especially with classmates and teammates from a volunteer club, and enjoys being positive and humorous. Zahro also expresses a deep interest in becoming an ambassador and believes being an exchange student will help her grow and develop important social skills. She is excited about the opportunity to live with an American family, learn about U.S. culture, and share her own traditions. Zahro hopes to be welcomed as part of the family and is eager to celebrate religious holidays during her exchange.

Mahe lives in a small town, 1 hour from Paris, with his parents, who are both managers in the metro system. He doesn't have any siblings but does have a dog. Mahe is a nice and generous person who usually thinks more about others than himself. He enjoys participating in soccer and boxing, and would love to learn about the sports culture in the United States, especially American football. He also plays piano and loves music. Mahe often travels with his family, and has been to France, Spain, Japan, USA, and Ireland, just to name a few. He would love to learn about American history, try new foods, and improve his English fluency. In return, Mahe wants to share his culture and customs with his host family. He considers himself a respectful, responsible, and adaptable person who wants to experience new things and contribute positively to a new family dynamic.