Meet Our Students

Cindy is a warm, thoughtful, and family-oriented student from Taiwan who would bring genuine connection and positivity into any host home. Raised in a close-knit family that values communication and time together, she naturally seeks meaningful relationships and looks forward to becoming an active part of her host family’s daily life—whether that’s sharing meals, helping around the house, or participating in family traditions. Cindy is well-rounded and driven, with a strong passion for music as a longtime member of her school’s Chinese orchestra, where she plays the bamboo flute. Music is not only her talent but also her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. In addition, Cindy is an accomplished swimmer with years of training and competition experience, showing both discipline and commitment. She has grown into a confident, outgoing, and resilient young woman who embraces challenges as opportunities for growth. Her dream of becoming a diplomat reflects her curiosity about the world and her desire to build cross-cultural understanding. Cindy is eager to fully immerse herself in American culture, improve her English, and contribute positively to her school and community.

Anaelle is full of energy, curiosity, and warmth, with a deep love for cultural exchange and adventure. She is passionate about music, outdoor activities, and trying new things—from skiing and hiking to paddleboarding and zip-lining. Anaelle and her family are big fans of amusement parks. They live close to Disneyland Paris and go there quite often, but she also loves thrill rides in other parks nearby. Though she may be shy at first, she quickly becomes friendly, talkative, and eager to connect. Anaelle is academically driven, socially engaged, and excited to share her French culture while embracing everyday American life with enthusiasm and heart. "I'm really excited to meet you, explore new experiences, and enjoy every moment of this adventure. I’m thrilled to create lots of happy memories together."

This has been my dream for years! I want to follow in my father's footsteps, he spent a year in the USA as a teen and loved it so much! We have even gone back to visit his fomrer host family! I would love to share my culture, cook a French dish, and if you want, "teach" a little French. I have a younger brother who will soon be starting high school. He enjoys cooking and cooks a lot for us! He loves football too, and sports in general. Him and I have that in common! We do sports almost every day after school, at home or in sports clubs; I play volleyball and he plays soccer. My dad is an English translator, so he has been speaking to me in English since I was born. The best thing about my parents is that they LOVE board games so we have a lot of them at home. I know this experience will be life changing, and I can't wait to experience some American things like seeing a yellow school bus, maybe becoming a cheerleader, spending holidays with my host family, and making mew friends. I can't wait to learn more about you and I couldn't be happier to come to your beautiful country for a year!

I'm truly happy and excited to write this letter to my future host family! The idea of spending a year abroad, discovering a new culture, becoming part of a new family, and growing through this unique experience is something that fills me with joy, curiosity, and gratitude. I spend a lot of time with my family and extended family, especially during holidays and family events. These moments – full of laughter, storytelling, and home-cooked meals – are incredibly important to me. I have been playing volleyball for several years, and I absolutely love it! It has taught me resilience, dedication, and teamwork. I also love art, specifically architecture! If I had to describe myself, I’d say I’m a positive, respectful, curious, and determined person. I love learning, listening, discovering new things, and contributing to the world around me. I’m genuinely excited to begin this new adventure, to become part of your family, to experience your culture and your way of life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing to open your home and your life to me.

Yanis is excited to spend a year in the United States as an exchange student. Curious, sociable, and full of energy, he enjoys meeting new people, building connections, and trying new experiences. He is both creative and adaptable, comfortable in group settings as well as quieter moments. At home, Yanis is close with his older brother and sister and helps his family with daily responsibilities, showing his sense of responsibility and teamwork. In school, he especially enjoys history and English, with a strong interest in improving his language skills and becoming bilingual. He has been studying English for five years and is motivated to keep growing. Yanis plays tennis, his favorite sport, and spends his free time watching movies and series, listening to music, and working on creative projects. He appreciates music that tells a story and connects emotionally. Looking ahead, Yanis hopes to pursue a career in international marketing, where strong communication skills and cultural understanding will be important. Although he feels a bit nervous about being far from his family, he is ready to fully embrace this experience. He is especially looking forward to becoming part of a host family, sharing everyday life, and creating meaningful memories during what he hopes will be an unforgettable year.

Isabelle is a thoughtful and responsible exchange student from Taiwan who values family, connection, and cultural exchange. Raised in a warm and close-knit family, she has developed a strong sense of responsibility through helping care for her younger sister, which has also nurtured her patience, attentiveness, and love for working with children. She is passionate about music and plays jazz drums, an experience that has taught her discipline, teamwork, and the importance of listening and collaboration. Isabelle brings a positive, organized, and reliable attitude to her daily life, balancing her responsibilities with care and dedication while contributing actively to her home environment. Respectful of family routines and personal space, she strives to create a harmonious and supportive atmosphere wherever she lives. Isabelle is especially excited about cultural exchange—she looks forward to sharing Taiwanese traditions, food, and celebrations while also learning about and embracing a new culture. Open-minded and curious, she hopes to build meaningful connections and create lasting memories with her host family.

Meet 18-year-old French student Ilona who has dreamed of being an exchange student since she was 13. Family is very important to her and she lives with her mother, step-father and brother. She loves simple moments with her family like playing board games, talking, laughing and watching movies along with an evening talking with friends. Her friends describe her as sunny, kind, generous, caring and always willing to help She is passionate about reading, especially romance novels, and loves to travel. Recently she had the opportunity to travel to Slovenia for a one-week school exchange. She chose the USA for her exchange year, because the country has always fascinated her, she wants to improve her English and to step out of her comfort zone in a new environment. Ilona is excited to go to prom, choose a fun class in high school, try new activities such as cheerleading or track & field, carve a Halloween pumpkin, see an American football game and celebrate Thanksgiving.

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.

Raphael is a friendly and motivated high school student from southwest France, who is excited to experience life in the United States. He comes from a close-knit family and enjoys spending time with relatives, friends, and his dog. Active and adventurous, Raphael is passionate about sports, especially competitive karting, snowboarding, and water sports—which have taught him discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. At school, he studies a wide range of subjects and is especially motivated to improve his English through full immersion. Organized, responsible, and independent, he helps at home and values being an active part of family life. Raphael describes himself as open-minded, respectful, and adaptable, with a positive attitude toward new challenges. He looks forward to sharing French culture, participating in American traditions, and building meaningful connections with his host family while growing personally and academically during his exchange year.