Meet Our Students

I am a FLEX Scholarship recipient, and the oldest child in my family. My family consists of my parents and two younger sisters. As a family, we enjoy traveling together, particularly to natural landscapes. It allows us to bond and appreciate nature. I live in a small town with a rich history and beautiful landscapes, which inspired my interest in street photography. I love capturing the essence of my hometown through the lens of my dad’s old camera, rather than a phone. I am looking forward to improving my skills and capturing unique American landscapes. At school, I have a passion for music and play a traditional instrument called the rubob. In the future, I hope to learn guitar. I love playing volleyball and chess with my friends. I am excited about this experience and hope it will give me a new outlook on career paths and help me to discover my true passion.

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!

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.

Sevara is an ambitious and thoughtful individual with a passion for understanding human behavior. She aspires to pursue a career in psychology and hopes to one day become a research professor. In her spare time, she enjoys a wide range of activities that reflect her dynamic personality. She loves engaging in intellectual games, running, basketball, photography, cooking, and reading. These hobbies allow her to balance physical activity, creativity, and a love for being outdoors. Sevara also deeply values time spent with loved ones, often enjoying movie nights, picnics, playing games, and simply hanging out with her two brothers and friends. Driven by a strong sense of social impact, Sevara is eager to volunteer with organizations that focus on education, healthcare, and community development as an exchange student.

Meet Nina from France, a shy, loving, sweet, athletic girl. Nina lives with her mom, dad, and little sister with whom she has a very tight bond. She adores family time and seeing beautiful sites with her family, having done a lot of camping around Europe with them. Nina loves children. Her bond from caring for her sister helped her love of being with children. She is hoping to study Education and become a Kindergarten teacher in the future. She is also interested in political science and International Law since she loves learning about other countries and their ways. She is athletic and has tried many sports from gymnastics to basketball. She loves to ski but her passion is volleyball. She always felt like it was truly the sport for her. Nina is excited to celebrate Thanksgiving with the US family, decorate the house, dress up for Halloween, and participate in all the great things on her exchange year. Host Nina today and start creating amazing memories.

Lisa is eager to embark on an exciting journey to America. As the third child in her family, she enjoys a close-knit relationship with her older siblings. Despite her parents being separated, Lisa appreciates the ease of moving between their homes, where she cares for her two beloved cats. Living close to the sea, Lisa thrives in the fresh, coastal air. Her athleticism is evident in her passion for gymnastics and athletics. She spends sunny afternoons cycling with friends to the beach, where they enjoy volleyball and swimming. Creativity flows through Lisa, who often engages in DIY projects and assists her mother with sewing and embroidery. Photography is another of her cherished hobbies, capturing memories to treasure. An avid reader, she has been captivated by Colleen Hoover's novels. Though a bit shy, Lisa is adaptable and quickly makes friends, embracing new experiences with enthusiasm. Ready for her American adventure, she looks forward to meeting her host family and delving into life in the USA.

Elene, an enthusiastic student from a historic European country, is eager to experience American culture. Her wide-ranging interests include chemistry, physics, astronomy, and psychology, revealing her deep curiosity and love for learning. She enjoys reading psychological books and watching adventure movies, which inspire her to explore new worlds and understand the human mind. Elene is passionate about youth work, volunteering, and leadership, demonstrated through her roles as a PR manager and content creator. Her love for travel and photography highlights her adventurous spirit, while her drama club experience showcases her creativity. She aspires to join an exchange program to represent her country, embrace new experiences, and gain independence, while sharing her culture and learning from the American way of life.

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, .

Energetic, independent, and full of curiosity, Ethan from France, is eager to embark on an unforgettable journey to the U.S. With a strong academic background, especially in math and science, he dreams of becoming an automotive engineer, fueled by his passion for cars. Growing up in a lively and close-knit Jewish family, he balances tradition with modern life, sharing a home with his father, mother, two brothers, and a beloved, dog-like cat. His weekends are a mix of city adventures with friends and peaceful countryside retreats, where he hikes, climbs, and helps his father with gardening and DIY projects. An active and social spirit, he thrives in sports, transitioning from competitive ping-pong to basketball, boxing, Ju-Jitsu, skiing, and even surfing on the Atlantic coast. His love for the arts led him to theater, where he once performed Shakespeare and received flowers on stage. Through his involvement in a Jewish scouting movement, he embraces values of solidarity and fraternity, participating in camps, charity work, and humanitarian trips.