Meet Our Students

My favorite subject in school is history, I love how different people acted and thought hundreds of years ago. I also love seeing different inventions people have made, and how we have progressed to where we are today with our phones and the internet. I also love music, I love to play the drums! I have recently started to learn how to play the bass guitar and how to sing. I also have a love for sport. I have been playing handball now for around eight years. When the weather is good enough, I love to use my longboard to get almost everywhere. Another hobby of mine is drawing and baking. When a family birthday party is coming, I often make the cake. I get that from my dad; it's one of his hobbies too! Coming to America has been my dream since I was a kid and saw the school culture in movies. In my school, we get mostly European history and the main events from America, but I would love to learn more about the details and how the culture came. I love making jokes, having fun, and being my own kind of weird self! Thank you again for considering me to be a part of your family and my life. I'm extremely excited to go to America and start a new chapter of my life!

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.

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.

First of all, I would like to thank you for your welcome this school year, which will allow me to live this incredible experience. I live in the South of France in a small mountain village with my family. We have a dog, Oslo, who is my best friend. If I were to tell you about myself, I would tell you that I love animals, drawing, and the mountains! I also love horses, I have been riding for over 10 years. What I enjoy most is spending time with the horses and concentrating on my technique without thinking about anything else. I have been drawing since I was a little girl and I even took classes in Fine Arts. I would like to go to an interior design school in the future, and help people feel good in their homes. My dream is to try out for the high school cheerleading team. This doesn't exist in French school and is something I have always wanted to do. I can't wait to meet you and to spend this year with you!

Noha is a 16-year-old student from northern France who brings a unique blend of French and Moroccan culture to her everyday life. Growing up in a close-knit family with her parents and two older siblings, she values family traditions, togetherness, and meaningful connections. Her multicultural background has helped shape her into an open-minded, curious, and welcoming person who enjoys learning about different cultures and ways of life. Creative and outgoing, Noha loves theatre, drawing, sports, and animals. She has been involved in theatre for four years, an experience that has helped build her confidence and allowed her to express herself creatively. At school, she enjoys spending time with friends, sharing experiences, and discovering new things together. Noha is excited about the opportunity to study in the United States and experience American culture firsthand. She looks forward to becoming part of a host family, attending an American high school, and embracing new traditions and experiences. She hopes this exchange year will help her grow more independent, broaden her perspective, and create lifelong memories and connections.

Luce is in 10th grade and enjoys school, especially history and French. Friendly, funny, and open-minded, she has a strong sense of responsibility and values fairness and generosity. She is excited to discover life in the United States, improve her English, and experience American traditions like Halloween and Christmas. Luce has a strong sense of responsibility and values fairness and generosity. She also babysits and enjoys being involved in her community. She loves cinema and music, practices Thai boxing and wrestling, plays guitar, and enjoys museums, concerts, and spending time with friends and family. Curious and passionate about the world, she hopes to become a journalist or reporter in the future.

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!

Darwin describes himself as kind and positive. He lives with his mother and grandmother who support him in everything that he does; especially his education and sports. Darwin says that his home is filled with laughter and good food. One of the biggest parts of his life is basketball which makes him feel strong, focused and happy and he hopes to play in the US. He also enjoys relaxing moments, listening to music, spending time with friends and trying new foods. He chose to be an exchange student so he can grow as a person, learn about American culture, and understand life in another part of the world. By living with a host family, he believes that it is the best and most authentic way to experience this. Darwin hopes that his exchange year will be unforgettable for himself and his host family.

I live with my parents and my younger sister and brother. We enjoy spending time together, especially when it considers traveling. Every week, we go out of town to camp, fish, and cook shashlyk. In my free time, I love playing football with friends. It is not just a game - it teaches people teamwork and also keeps me active. I also enjoy studying English, listening to new music, watching comedy about different cultures, and fishing, which connects me with nature and gives me energy. I want you to know that I'm open-minded, energetic, and eager to learn something new. I love trying new things and sharing experience with others. Through this program, I want to become a bridge between our countries and cultures. I hope to share interesting aspects of Kazakhstan and help Americans learn more about my home country. Thank you for considering me as part of your family. I cannot wait to meet you and create unforgettable memories together!