Meet Our Students

Artjom is a motivated and curious exchange student from Estonia who comes from a close-knit and supportive family. Growing up in a small town surrounded by nature, he has developed an appreciation for both the outdoors and meaningful connections with others. He enjoys spending time with his family, staying active, and exploring his interests. A dedicated athlete, Artjom has been rowing for over five years, often training alongside his father. He also enjoys music, movies, and learning about different cultures. His travels across Europe have sparked a strong interest in global perspectives and languages—he already speaks three and is eager to learn more. Academically driven, Artjom hopes to pursue a future in the IT field by studying at a university and building a successful career. Through his exchange experience, he is excited to learn about American culture, gain independence, and grow into a responsible and open-minded individual.

Meet Arstenbek from Kyrgyzstan. He is a serious student with a fun side! He is excited to learn about American culture and wants to try baseball and American football. He enjoys hobbies like chess, Monopoly, and table tennis. He is a recipient of the prestigious FLEX scholarship for students that have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. He spends weekdays at a boarding school where he is engaged in several interesting projects called GreenLand, Bilimbot, Olimpfund and Olimplearn. He describes the boarding school as an opportunity that he is extremely grateful to be a part of where he is learning cleanliness and respect for elders along with academic subjects. On weekends he is home with his family which includes his mother, father and ten-year-old brother. Helping out at home when he is there is very important to Arstanbek, he cleans, cooks and grocery shops for his family. He is also very passionate about his culture; he plays a traditional instrument called the Chopo-Chor. He also acknowledges what an amazing act of kindness hosting a student is and will truly appreciate this opportunity to its fullest.

Michele is excited to become part of a host family and build a close, open relationship based on sharing and communication. He comes from a loving family and has learned important values such as responsibility, respect, and commitment from his parents. Inspired by his siblings’ positive exchange experiences in the United States, he is eager to grow personally and step out of his comfort zone. Michele's greatest passion is basketball, which he sees not only as a sport, but as a life lesson in teamwork and perseverance. He also loves music, especially singing Italian songs, and enjoys spending time outdoors through walking, biking, and running. Michele describes himself as curious, friendly, and open-minded, with a strong desire to discover new cultures. Through this exchange experience, he hopes to improve his English, make meaningful friendships, and gain a new perspective on life. He wants to bring enthusiasm, respect, and positivity into his host family’s home, help with daily activities, and share Italian culture—especially by cooking pasta alla carbonara. His dream is to continue his studies, travel the world, and become more mature, confident, and independent thanks to this experience.

I love spending time with my family, and we love discovering new places together! We also spend a lot of time with my grandparents, whether its going shopping or having lunch together. I have total trust in my grand-mother, and she is real confidant with good advice. I love sports, such as weight lifting, surfing, running, skiing, and hiking! I like nature and being surrounded by green trees and the ocean. I love animals, I have a cat named Cookie who is really sweet. I probably get the desire to study abroad from my mom. She was an Aupair in the US when she was my age. She often speaks about her experience and becoming her host family's 'French daughter'. I am very excited to learn the American culture, and to an experience holidays like Halloween! I would also love to share my French traditions with my host family, to learn and transmit our culture and knowledge, like cooking. Above all, this is a human experience. The experience of a lifetime--I want to create a link for life with my host family, and maybe that one day they will meet my future children. I am looking forward to meeting you!

Javier "JJ" loves aviation and dreams of becoming an air traffic controller. His grandfather, who is an aerospace engineer, has taught him so much about aviation even taking him to air shows! A good student, JJ appreciates his math teacher especially, as he says the teacher is willing to take the time to make sure the students really understand the lessons. In his free time, he loves participating in sports, especially basketball, which is his favorite. In the summer, he goes to camp with classmates from school and during the holidays, he travels to the country with his extended family. JJ is so excited to practice his English in his new community and get to know his host family!

Larissa is excited to spend a year in America as an exchange student. She lives with her parents and several pets and values time with her family and friends. Larissa describes herself as shy at first but outgoing, caring, and social once she feels comfortable. She enjoys activities like horseback riding, theater, crafting, music, and spending time outdoors. She hopes her exchange year will help her become more independent, experience everyday life in America, build strong relationships with her host family and new friends, and share her Dutch culture while learning from new experiences.

I'm a really sporty girl, I enjoy running, climbing, doing Pilates, and wakeboarding just to name a few! Climbing is my favorite sport, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm a really curious person and I like to discover new things like new cultures, new sports, or new activities...I can't wait to discover your passions and practice them with you! In the future, I would like to be part of the scientist police and work on crime scenes. I want to bring justice to a victim's family, and I think this would be good for me because I like to solve puzzles and be observant. I have a cat called Groot, just like in Guardians of the Galaxy! She's very friendly and always hungry. I'm looking forward to meeting you and starting this adventure!

With a love for adventure and a naturally positive spirit, Janai is excited to experience life as part of an American family. She comes from the south of France and a close-knit, creative household, where she’s been surrounded by art, music, and diverse perspectives. Janai enjoys hiking, horseback riding, and traveling, and she brings a fun, easygoing personality with a great sense of humor. She values connection, loves spending time with others, and is both caring and responsible. Eager to grow and explore, Janai is looking forward to improving her English, experiencing American culture, and truly becoming part of your family.

I have two parents and a little sister. We are very close and are always there for each other. We live in an apartment building, and we do lots of activities together. For instance, me and my dad go swimming every week at our local pool as a recreational activity, even in wintertime. During summer, we go on a lot of bike rides, particularly in the mountains where we have the best time. We also play a lot of ping pong. With my mother and sister, we often walk around town and discuss various topics or play badminton at our local park. Through the years, I have developed many passions and interests. First off, I really love geography. This subject is deeply rooted in me and I always strive to excel at it by going to national competitions and participating in various online courses. At the same time, I enjoy reading books. I particularly enjoy reading about scientific discoveries, expeditions, and historical events. My main plans for the future are to graduate high school and continue my studies in the field of Earth Science, whether in my home country, or abroad. I want to help and cooperate with people to find solutions to problems affecting our planet like climate change and biodiversity loss. I would also want to volunteer more and support campaigns and events that help protect our community.