Meet Our Students

Meet Mila! This 17-year-old social butterfly is from the west coast of France. She loves spending time with her dog, taking him swimming in the sea daily. She enjoys cooking, shopping, and going to the cinema in her free time. Mila also has a creative side; she co-founded a jewelry brand with her best friend, which they sell on social media. Mila’s favorite subjects are economics and history, and she’s particularly curious about different cultures, especially American traditions like Halloween, Thanksgiving, cheerleading, and homecoming. She’s excited to expand her horizons and make lifelong American friends. Mila believes this experience will not only enhance her academic and professional life but also help her improve English, a language essential for her future career. With dreams of working in fashion. Mila is eager to immerse herself in American culture, as she has always been fascinated by American movies and history, and she sees this as the perfect opportunity to live out her dream.

Meet Rakhat, a U.S. Dept. of State FLEX scholarship winner. Her friends call her Roha. She dreams of experiencing life in America. She describes herself as outgoing and cheerful. Roha has a passion for dancing, singing, and sports, especially volleyball and football. She also enjoys volunteering for UNICEF. Roha is a dedicated student, and her favorite classes are history, literature, and physical education. Roha enjoys spending time with friends, nature, and the sea, which she hopes to explore more. In her free time, she watches movies, draws, and helps around the house. Aspiring to work in the film industry, although she is not ruling out other career paths. Roha hopes to build a meaningful connection with her future host family while learning more about the American culture.

Sam is eagerly anticipating an exciting year ahead in the United States, filled with opportunities to immerse himself in American culture. He is passionate about basketball, having played for several years and even participated in a thrilling tournament in Barcelona. Sam is also a talented pianist with 8 years of study, and a movie enthusiast, particularly fond of Christopher Nolan's films. Alongside his love for sports and the arts, he has started a small shoe business in Europe, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit. As an independent and sociable student, Sam values friendships and family time, looking forward to new connections and shared experiences with his host family. He aims to improve his English as he wants to delve into international business one day. Sam is also a lover of both cats & dogs and has two cats at home he currently helps care for. Sam is fully prepared to engage in this experience with an open mind, to be involved, and to positively contribute to your family. Get ready for making unforgettable memories and embracing every moment of this incredible journey with Sam.

**Winner of the prestigious FLEX Scholarship** Meet Bakzhol from Kazakhstan! This family-oriented boy enjoys spending summers with his family where they go swimming and prepare barbeques together. His favorite activity is playing soccer with his friends, though he would love to try skiing as he’s only been once! The winters where he lives are harsh, but there are no mountains to ski on. Bakzhol is passionate about math and is involved in Math Olympiads. In the future, he hopes to attend university in the US and become a mathematician. Bakzhol reports that he has many friends that motivate him and help him through difficult situations. “I really want to experience American life, I want to experience American football, also I want to go hiking with my host family and have deep conversations next to a campfire where you can be engaged with an American vibe…” Bakzhol practices Islam and cannot eat pork, but his favorite food is chicken and rice! Apply to host Bakzhol today!

Margaux loves animals and has three cats, two guinea pigs, and one rabbit! She describes herself as having a very joyful and funny nature. She enjoys all kinds of sports, including diving, climbing, swimming, basketball, and dancing. She even tried skydiving at summer camp. She also loves all winter activities like skiing since she lives near the mountains. In her free time, she likes to read and create jewelry. Margaux wants to bring you my joy by sharing all the aspects of her French culture—music, culinary art, and French fashion. She is ready to step out of her comfort zone, embrace the unknown, and come back with a wealth of experiences

FLEX Scholarship Winner, Gozel, is thrilled to cross the oceans to join your family from her beautiful city in Turkmenistan. She has a wonderful and close knit family that keeps open communication, takes daily walks together, and visits her grandparents weekly. They are very supportive of her desire to study abroad. Gozel is very helpful around the house, helping her mother with any chores that need to be done, best of all watching her beloved little sister. Gozel has previously competed professionally in rhythmic gymnastics but more recently graduated from music school specializing in piano, which she loves. She also enjoys table tennis with her close friends. She is very studious keeping grades at the highest mark. Gozel is excited to learn a new culture and wants this experience to help shape her into an effective leader who builds bridges between cultures.

Ayanat, a FLEX Scholarship Winner, is a creative and enthusiastic 16-year-old from Kazakhstan who is eager to embrace new experiences. As the youngest in a close-knit family, she enjoys organizing games and traditions that strengthen their bond. She values independence, responsibility, and the lessons learned from her family. She is passionate about music and dance, she plays the piano, sings, and she dreams of composing a song with her father. She hopes to build meaningful connections in the U.S. through her exchange year, .

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!

*Scholarship Recipient* Hello! My name is Arusyak, and I’m a 16-year-old student from a small town in Georgia. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to introduce myself and be part of the FLEX program. I live with my supportive parents and siblings, who have always encouraged me to follow my dreams. I’m an energetic, curious person who loves learning about different cultures and meeting new people. My favorite subjects are English, history, and civics. English helps me connect with people globally, and history and civics help me better understand the world and my role in it. In my free time, I enjoy reading, especially stories about human relationships and social issues. I also love writing, journaling, and taking walks in nature. These quiet moments help me reflect and grow. My family has taught me the values of kindness, empathy, and hard work—qualities I hope to share with my host family. I’d love to cook traditional dishes like khachapuri and khinkali and celebrate cultural holidays together. Thank you so much for considering me. I’m truly excited to meet you, share our cultures, and create wonderful memories together!

Meet Lorenzo from France! This guy describes himself as quite sporty, or he would be, if he wasn’t healing from an ACL injury he obtained during his first rugby match. He reports by this summer, he’ll be enjoying beach volleyball, swimming, and cycling again and his surgery will be just a memory. Lorenzo is sociable, enjoying times out with friends, but he can also be found alone, enjoying a solitary evening of Netflix or tinkering in the garden. He likes to stay informed so he can have in-depth conversations or just talk about simpler things. He loves laughing, though he is unsure if he’s actually funny. (Reader: He’s actually funny.) In school, he excels in math and science, though admits it comes easily to him. He describes himself as a bit of a perfectionist, evidenced by the time he built an entire piece of furniture from scratch because he was disappointed with the store-bought version. He’s also stubborn about achieving his goals, one of which is becoming fluent in English so he can study law, politics, or diplomacy. Lastly, Lorenzo would like you to know he has an unusually full beard for his age, but underneath it, he’s always smiling. One thing is certain: Lorenzo is motivated to have a great exchange year and experience everything he can in the U.S. Apply to host him today!