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.

*Semester student* Meet Emma! She comes to us from Italy with a love for her native food. She is learning to cook and would like to try American dishes. Emma is an only child from a separated home. She has no pets but loves them, especially cats. She is used to a quiet home but is also excited at the possibility of a bigger family. Dancing is her passion and she works very hard at it. Currently, she dances 5 days a week competitively in various styles such as ballet, ariel, hip hop, and contemporary. Dancing gives her a sense of self. Emma attends a Scientific high school focusing on math, chemistry, and physics, her favorite subjects. Emma is a great friend and attends their high school sporting events to cheer on her friends. She enjoys listening to music every chance she can get. She has wanted to be an exchange student since she was 12 and is thrilled for you to pick her and make her dreams a reality. She is very open to new things and excited to make new friends and, most of all, join your family!

Barbi is short for Barbra, Barbi is a young lady yearning for experience and adventure. Six years ago she heard about another students journey as an exchange student in the U.S. and she was hooked. Since then, she has been improving her English and getting involved in smaller student programs to prepare for her ultimate adventure of an exchange year with a family in the U.S. Barbi is the youngest of three siblings and feels grateful for close family relations, even with extended family. Barbi finds joy in working with children, she helps with the youth group at her church and she is also a camp counselor in the summer. In her photo collage she included some great pictures from her work with children. Her passion in working with children has driven her career path in Social Sciences. She does not consider herself as sporty, but says she is always open to try new things even sports. For fun Barbi likes to read, Harry Potter, listen to pop music, Harry Styles, and go to concerts. She says that she is definitely a proud fangirl and she's not ashamed to say so. Barbi says "My goal in life is to experience as many things as possible, I want to try Everything!" Apply to host Barbi and join her in her life's passions and adventures, she is so ready to meet you!

Bonjour! My name is Virgile and I am a cheerful, curious, and responsible person who loves making people laugh. I enjoy nature, sports—especially soccer, tennis, and rugby—and following sports news. Cooking and exploring different cuisines excite me. Spending a year abroad feels like an incredible opportunity to meet new people, experience different cultures, and improve my English. I look forward to stepping out of my routine, embracing new experiences, and building meaningful connections with my host family. For more information check out my dear host family letter! I can't wait to meet you!

I’m thrilled to introduce FLEX scholarship winner Sarvinoz. She is a 16-year-old from a vibrant Uzbek family who loves intellectual discussions and spending time with family. She is the eldest daughter, juggling household responsibilities while pursuing her passions, including cooking, swimming, and mastering four languages—English, Arabic, Russian, and a bit of Turkish. Her goal is to study medicine, and she is eager to immerse herself in American culture and traditions, especially during holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving, which she has only ever seen in films. She cares for her two younger siblings often and loves their bond, while receiving guidance from her older brother. Sarvinoz is very sociable and makes friends easily, she is excited to make new ones in the US. She can’t wait to share her Uzbek customs with you and build a meaningful connection. She is looking forward to an exciting year ahead filled with friendship and discovery!

Jakob is a very active person and loves sports. Soccer is his biggest passion, and it plays a huge role in his life. He plays on a team and spends a lot of time with friends at the soccer club. He is also a soccer coach for a junior team. In addition to soccer, he enjoys skiing, hiking, running, and cycling. During the summer, he likes to visit the lake to swim or relax in the park. His favorite subjects to study are physics, sports, and history. Jakob describes himself as a very dynamic and social person who enjoys talking and being around people. He would like to share his German culture and traditions with you. He is excited to learn more about the American culture, experience the everyday high school life and try a lot of new things.

Symbat is one of our bright FLEX Scholarship students. STEM, space, and engineering is at the forefront of her ambitions right now and she can't wait to see how living in the U.S. will broaden her knowledge and experiences. Symbat comes from a family with tight bonds despite a big age gap between her and her siblings. At home she helps her parents around the house whenever she can and otherwise enjoys taking walks, staying physically fit, working on science projects and volunteering with the rocketry foundation. Symbat has a strong appreciation for her Kazakh culture, food, dancing, and language, so she is looking forward to sharing that with her host family and friends in the U.S. Thanks to the FLEX Program Symbat will get to realize her dreams of an exchange year in the U.S. while forming lifelong bonds with a host family to call her own.

Laly, a 16-year-old from France, derives her name from "Eulalie," a Greek term meaning "beautiful word." She describes herself as a sunny and open-minded individual who smiles "very often." Although she admits to being shy initially, she gradually becomes more extroverted and sociable over time. Laly is determined and always open to listening to different perspectives. Laly has a deep passion for cooking. Her travels have introduced her to culinary delights from Indian, Brazilian, and Moroccan cuisines. Five years ago, she began her culinary journey with pastries, and now she has expanded her skills to include savory dishes. She eagerly anticipates the opportunity to prepare some of her favorite recipes for her American family. Throughout the years, Laly has explored various sports but has ultimately found her passion in boxing. She enjoys watching soccer matches with her father and is a devoted fan of Olympique de Marseille, a prominent French soccer team. In her free time, Laly loves listening to music, cooking, watching films and TV series, and reading books. However, her favorite activity is going out with friends.

You are not going to want to miss reading Phai's host family letter! This young lady is so beautifully creative and she let that show through the letter. In Phai's host family letter you'll see that her friends have some really nice things to say about her! She says that most of her hobbies revolve around the arts. Phai has an older sister and lives with her parents. She does not have any pets at home, only at her grandparents' home, but she loves animals including dogs, cats and ferrets! Phai goes to an English school and hopes to peruse an art degree. Drawing, painting, singing, reading, and writing are all of Phai's passions. Phai is looking forward to making memories with her American family and cant wait to start this journey.

Nicolò from Italy is passionate about experiencing new cultures, improving his English, and embracing American traditions. Adaptable and polite, Nicolò enjoys helping around the house and has a strong bond with his family, including his older brother and grandmother. He has a deep love for cooking, often preparing traditional Italian dishes and experimenting with international cuisines. Academically, he excels in math and physics. He also enjoys history and geography. Nicolò has a background in swimming and volleyball and hopes to try tennis soon. He is a dedicated fan of soccer and Formula 1, especially Ferrari. With his enthusiasm and open-minded nature, Nicolò looks forward to forming new friendships and sharing his Italian heritage while integrating with his American host family. Apply to host this well-rounded student today!