Meet Our Students

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.

Javier is a 16-year-old exchange student from Spain who is eager to experience life in the United States. He describes himself as polite, responsible, sociable, and empathetic, with a strong motivation to achieve his goals and try new things. Javier enjoys meeting people from different cultures and adapting to new environments. He is very active and sporty, with a passion for soccer, padel, and fitness. In his free time, he also enjoys playing video games and spending time with friends. Javier has previous experience as an exchange student, having studied in Ireland and England multiple times, which has helped him become independent and adaptable. Academically, he is particularly interested in economics, history, and English, and he hopes to pursue a future in business and marketing. Javier speaks Spanish and Valencian fluently, has a strong level of English (B2 certified), and some knowledge of French. He values family highly and enjoys spending time with his parents, whether relaxing at home or going out together. Although he does not have pets, he loves dogs and hopes to have one in the future. He doesn't have any brothers or sisters; however he likes young kids and sharing time with them. Javier is excited about the opportunity to live with a host family, immerse himself in American culture, and build meaningful connections while sharing his own culture in return.

Jean lives with his parents, two brothers, sister and dog. He was born in the Caribbean and lived there for the first seven years of his life. He is a practicing Catholic and goes to church every Sunday. In his free time, Jean likes to play tennis, running, swimming, and cycling. He has been involved in scouting for several years. His friends and family often say that he brings energy and joy to the people around him. 

Julien is an active student from France who is currently studying management and law at his high school. Alongside his studies, Julien enjoys working out, swimming, bowling, and more. Recently, he has started to make his own music! He enjoys making beats that people can dance to. Julien and his family have one cat, Neko, which means cat in Japanese. Julien decided to spend a year in the USA because he wants to become more independent and improve his English, while also wanting to discover something completely different. While he knows it won't always be easy, he is ready for the challenge. He is excited to live something unique, meet new people, and create memories that will stay with him for life.

Aishabibi is a kind‑hearted, thoughtful student from Kazakhstan who instantly makes people feel comfortable. She grew up in a close, loving family and brings that same warmth into everything she does. She helps with cooking, cleaning, and keeping the home running smoothly, and she especially loves baking with her mom. Active and energetic, she enjoys football, volleyball, and boxing—sports she’s been around since childhood thanks to her grandfather, a former coach. She’s deeply curious about the world, passionate about languages and international relations, and eager to learn from a new culture. She uses Salbutamol only rarely for mild asthma. A family who welcomes her will gain a grateful, hardworking daughter who will leave a lasting mark on their hearts.

Wahel is a curious, energetic, and open minded boy from France who dreams of discovering life in the United States. He loves sports like swimming, running, and badminton, enjoys learning languages such as English and Korean, and has a strong passion for history. At home, he spends his time cooking with his family, watching movies, going out with friends, and taking care of his lively dog, Sania. Motivated, ambitious, and eager to explore new cultures, Wahel hopes to improve his English, experience American traditions like Halloween, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, and share his own French culture in return. His biggest wish is to live with an American family, learn their way of life, and build unforgettable memories while studying in an American high school.

I would describe myself as respectful, creative, and open-minded. I always try to understand other perspectives, and I consider myself to be a quiet person while also loving to chat. I'm part of the LGBTQ community, but it doesn't really show in my every day life. I have many hobbies and I'm willing to try new ones. I mostly dance on my own or with my friends. I also do theater which has been a dream for me since I was young. I love musicals a lot and my favorite musical is Phanton of the Opera. I enjoy studying, especially math and physics. Similarly, I like to research topics that interest me and study them. I like to self-study languages and I'm really interested in the Titanic--I love to read and watch videos about it! My favorite animal is the red pands. I love learning about cultures and how people in those cultures live. I want to share my culture with others, as well as experiencing holidays that aren't celebrated in Finland, like Halloween. I hope you'll become my second family for the year and make unforgettable memories together.

Ferdi is a friendly, active, and outgoing 15-year-old who is excited to experience life in the United States as an exchange student. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether that’s skiing, watching movies, playing football, or exploring the city together. Ferdi is passionate about staying active and trains regularly in boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, calisthenics, and fitness. He is also a dedicated guitarist who has played for eight years and has performed in competitions and concerts. At school, Ferdi especially enjoys History and Religious Education because he likes learning about different perspectives and cultures. He describes himself as open-minded, funny, responsible, and curious, and he adapts quickly to new situations. Ferdi looks forward to improving his English, experiencing American culture, trying new foods, and creating unforgettable memories with his future host family.

Luis is responsible, outgoing, and enthusiastic with a deep passion for learning, sports, and connecting with others. His interests range from boxing, skiing, and surfing, to music, cooking, and exploring personal growth. Inspired by his love for working with young children, he hopes to become a primary school teacher one day. Luis wants to come to America not only to improve his English, but also to experience a new culture, challenge himself in a different academic environment, and become part of a family with whom he can share traditions, build meaningful relationships, and grow personally. He sees this exchange as a chance to step outside of his comfort zone and discover more about the world and himself.