Meet Our Students

Gaia is from a small town in Italy. She is a happy confident student with an older brother and parents that are very close. She loves to dance and trains twice a week and practices in her room to stay fit and healthy. She loves being close to the sea and spends meals with her family daily. This is a huge part of her culture, and she would love to share it with a new host family. Gaia loves to cook and would love to make Italian dishes for her new American family. She is excited to learn about a new culture and wants to improve her English. Gaia hopes to be a part of a close-knit family in the U.S.

Meet Maria, a cheerful, curious, and outgoing student from Italy who loves connecting with people and embracing new adventures. She has been part of scouts since childhood, where she discovered her love for camping, hiking, and learning practical skills like building a fire safely. Her passion for animals' shines through her dedication to horse riding—she finds peace in grooming and caring for horses and dreams of one day owning her own. Creative at heart, Maria enjoys drawing, a hobby inspired by her brother, and she often fills her free time with music from artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter. She also has a Siberian cat named Jimmy and has cared for many pets over the years, reflecting her nurturing spirit. In the summer, she volunteers as a child entertainer, bringing joy and laughter to kids, which shows her patience and kindness. Maria studies languages at school, adding Spanish and German to her English, and hopes her exchange year will help her discover her future path—perhaps as a veterinarian, combining her love for animals with helping others. She is the youngest of three children, all living at home, and treasures the lively, supportive atmosphere of her family. She admires her mom’s dedication as a teacher and runner, her dad’s love for music and reading, and her siblings’ unique passions. Maria is ready to embrace new routines, share her talents, and bring warmth and energy into her host family’s home. Don’t miss the chance to welcome her—you’ll gain not just a student, but a lifelong friend and unforgettable memories!

Meet Lina, a semester student from Germany. Lina is close with her mother, father, adult sister and younger sister.  Family is very important to Lina. She has monthly dates with her mom when they make time to do things together such as laser tag or hiking. Lina also loves her dog Buddy, whom she is responsible for taking care of.  She describes herself as an independent, open-minded person who likes challenging herself and stepping outside of her comfort zone.  She considers herself a perfectionist when it comes to her grades and personal goals. She spends her free time with a large friend group; however, she has a best friend who is very important to her. She loves cooking. She enjoys watching movies and her favorite genres are romance and horror.   Lina plays tennis and does yoga. She plays the piano and going to concerts. Lina writes, “Thank you very much for considering hosting me and for opening your home to an exchange student. I would be very grateful to become part of your family and share this special experience together.” 

Meet Fanny from France!  Fanny is extremely enthusiastic about the opportunity to spend an exchange year in the U.S. It is one of her “biggest dreams” and she has been focused on making it happen since she was young. Spending an exchange year in the U.S. is what has motivated her to study English. Fanny explains that she is extremely grateful for her friends and family and values those relationships highly. Her friends describe her as someone who is very kind, thoughtful, funny, emotional and reliable.  One of her other dreams- going to an American football game and rooting for her team!    She also loves all animals especially her cats Bambou and Ficelle with whom she shares a deep connection.  Fanny loves to do crafts and dance (she is currently on a dance team). She also enjoys the self-discipline she gets from pushing herself at the gym and often clears her head by going for a run. She also enjoys all genres of music.  Baking is also one of Fanny’s hobbies, her specialty is cinnamon rolls because she loves the smell. Fanny is overflowing with energy and excitement; she is more than ready to make the most of her exchange year here in the US. 

She’s a dynamic 16-year-old (17 when she arrives) from Italy with a passion for athletics, art, and cultural discovery. A competitive hammer and discus thrower for over a decade, she’s also a dedicated art student who loves painting, drawing, and exploring new techniques. Her hobbies include cooking, caring for animals, watching films and TV series, and learning about music and languages from around the world. She dreams of studying in an American high school to challenge herself, grow independently, and connect deeply with a new culture. Host her—and help her turn curiosity into connection, and talent into transformation.

Meet Julia who brings a unique perspective to the program as a German student from a Polish background.  In school she speaks German, at home she speaks Polish.  She is proud of her Polish heritage, and her family celebrates many Polish traditions.  She would love to cook traditional Polish foods with her future host family including pierogies and chicken soup. Julia describes a very close-knit family life in which she enjoys shopping with her mom and helping with the housework. She is also very close with her dad and her older brother as well, even though he is now an adult living on his own. She is also a proud dog sister who loves and cares for her furry family member, Daisy.   Her goals for herself in this program revolve around becoming part of her host family, joining their life and being part of their everyday activities. She also talks about wanting to use this experience to grow as a person, “I believe this experience will help me grow as a person, understand myself better and become more independent and braver.” She loves experiencing other cultures and would one day like to work in tourism or for an international company.  Julia’s hobbies include swimming, she loves the water, going to the gym, cooking, watching movies and spending time with friends in nature.

Meet Luana who is from an Italian city bursting with history and postcard-perfect scenes. Italian born and Peruvian at heart, she shares her lively home with her mom, stepdad, two sisters, her rabbit, and a hamster named Taco. Luana describes herself as active, cheerful, curious and positive, a bit shy at first, then she becomes very sociable. She is a very responsible and reliable person. Luana loves hanging out with friends but also treasures her quiet moments. She enjoys going to the gym and having a healthy lifestyle. She has played volleyball for 2 years, she enjoys being part of a team. Her downtime she enjoys being with friends, music with happy vibes, and quality family time. She enjoys cooking especially desserts and lasagna is her favorite, and she also looks forward to making Peruvian dishes. At school, Law is her favorite subject. She keeps her room tidy “because I like living in an organized space and I work hard to do this every day”. She's got it all figured out—or at least seems like she does!

Katharina, who is from northern Germany, enjoys the outdoors and exercise. She also rides her bike to school every day. Besides her studies, she is a school first aider and conflict mediator. After school she likes to meet up with friends and go to tennis lessons and horse riding once a week. Her sister spent a year in the USA, and it is a dream of hers to do the same. Katharina would like to get involved in Clubs and also learn a new sport like volleyball, basketball, or even dance. She can't wait to make new friends and meet her host family so she can learn more about our culture and celebrate our holidays!

Camille is a kind, thoughtful student from France who naturally fits into family life. She enjoys helping in the kitchen, joining everyday routines, and being part of the small moments that make a home feel connected. She’s great with younger kids, happy to walk the dog, and eager to pitch in wherever she’s needed. She values conversation, gratitude, and shared traditions, and she’s excited to learn from her host family while also bringing her own culture and perspective. She doesn’t want to be a guest—she wants to belong, contribute, and grow alongside the people who welcome her. Her warmth, curiosity, and steady presence make her the kind of student who quietly strengthens a household in meaningful ways. A student like her won’t be available for long—don’t miss the chance to welcome her.

Loïs is an energetic and motivated student with a strong passion for athletics, especially race walking and running, which he practices regularly. He loves the atmosphere of training and competitions and enjoys pushing himself to improve. Formula 1 is another important interest, and he often watches races with his family and friends. Sports are a big part of his daily life and something he shares with his younger brother and sister. Loïs comes from a close and supportive family and enjoys spending time together, whether traveling, cooking, or playing games. Curious and open-minded, he is excited to become an exchange student in the USA to discover a new culture, try American sports, and improve his English. These experiences are important to him as he works toward his future goal of becoming a pilot.