Meet Our Students

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."

Ethan is a kind-hearted and thoughtful boy from Thailand. Known by his friends as the “gentle giant,” he’s admired for his caring nature and quiet strength. He comes from a close-knit, supportive family and cherishes time spent with them, especially enjoying spicy Thai dishes made by his grandma. Ethan is passionate about basketball and plays as a main team member at school, where he also shines in academics, particularly in English and Business Studies. He’s musically talented, playing guitar in his school band, and enjoys anime, gaming, and exploring different cultures. Ethan is excited to join a host family, share his Thai heritage, and build meaningful connections through this exchange experience.

Franziska, or Franzi, is a friendly and open-minded student from eastern Germany who loves both the energy of the city and the calm of the countryside. She has a deep passion for music, having played the transverse flute for nine years, and she enjoys how it connects people. Swimming is another major part of her life—she has trained for years and now coaches young children, something she finds both fun and meaningful. Outside of her main hobbies, Franzi enjoys being active outdoors, skiing in winter, and doing creative activities like baking. She hopes to come to America to experience everyday life in a U.S. family, celebrate American traditions like Halloween and Thanksgiving, explore new foods and activities, improve her English, and grow more independent while building lasting connections.

Meet Leanne from France who loves to sing and dance, and she is part of a kpop dance association back home. She loves cooking or baking and cannot wait to make something for her new host family. She loves animals and enjoys going to the zoo and seeing the lions. Leanne did a year of horseback riding as well. She enjoys long walks and being outdoors. Her friends would describe her as empathetic, mature, organized, sensitive and an honest person that loves to dream. She cannot wait to meet you!

Rebecca is a warm, curious, and spirited student who’s eager to embrace new experiences and build meaningful connections during her exchange year. With a deep love for science—especially chemistry—she dreams of helping others through research and discovery. She’s a longtime volleyball player, a passionate cook, and a creative soul who enjoys music, hairstyling, and spending time outdoors. Rebecca thrives in social settings, easily makes friends, and brings a joyful, can-do attitude to everything she does. Her gratitude, humor, and openness make her a delightful addition to any host family.

I’m an active, positive, and family oriented person who enjoys sports, baking, and creative hobbies. I love skiing in winter, scuba diving when traveling, and staying energized at the gym. Styling is another passion of mine—I enjoy doing my makeup, experimenting with hairstyles, and dressing fashionably. In my free time, I like meeting friends, reading, and sharing my creativity. Friends describe me as kind, reliable, and open to new people. I look forward to my exchange year as a chance to grow more independent, improve my English, join new activities, and share my culture through language and food with my host family.

Melina is a cheerful and adventurous girl from a small village in the south of France, where she enjoys a close-knit community and a lively family life. She loves outdoor activities like climbing, hiking, and canyoning—interests she shares with her dad—and also enjoys dancing, cooking delicious treats like crepes and cookies, and spending cozy afternoons with her beloved cat. Melina is excited to come to America because she has always dreamed of discovering new cultures, improving her English, and becoming more independent. She hopes to build meaningful connections, share her French traditions, and experience life in a whole new way during her exchange year.

Meet Nina from France! She has practiced modern dance for the past 10 years, and this allowed her to meet new people and participate in competitions. This taught her to manage stress and gain confidence, but she has not been able to do it much lately and it would be great if she was able to participate in a dance program in the US. Nina also enjoys school, her subjects like business management, economics and human resources will help her with her future endeavors. She hopes to join some clubs at school to focus on leadership as well. Her friends would describe her as fun, outgoing, meticulous, and loves to laugh. Nina likes to meet with friends for coffee, celebrate birthdays, go to concerts and watch football games. She wants to continue to discover new things during her exchange year and cannot wait to meet her new host family.

Lucia lives with her parents, sister and cat. With her mom, she enjoys walking outside and going to the gym three times a week and to do weights, stretching, and other exercises together. Her time with her dad is spent watching soccer, either on TV or at a stadium, and they also enjoy learning about new cultures, meeting new people and visiting lots of places together. Lucia loves shopping, doing make up, singing and dancing with her sister. She loves animals and has always wanted a pet of her own. Her cat is a recent addition to the family that she is over the moon about. Lucia's favorite animal is horses, she has been riding for eight years, including show jumping. She has also played volleyball in the past. She really enjoys sports and being active. In the future, Lucia hopes to be a psychologist.