Meet Our Students

Meet Sofiya from Ukraine. She is a winner of the prestigious Future Leader Exchange Program (FLEX) scholarship! She is an only child and likes to share her hobbies with her parents. She has a dog she likes to take for walks. Her friends would describe her as friendly, artistic and funny. She spends free time with her friends going to parks or cafes. Sophia spends a lot of time on school and feels that studying is important. Her hobbies include art, playing guitar, singing, drawing, theater and reading books. Sofia wants to share the traditions of her country and to also learn about other cultures, because she feels every place is unique and every tradition is meaningful.

Yannick is likely as excited and curious as you are about this new adventure! He enjoys baking, swimming, water sports, soccer, riding his racing bike, floorball and flying. Yannick has been a member of a sailplane club for the past year. He enjoys flying with a flight instructor and making repairs to aircraft. Becoming an exchange student will allow Yannick to discover a new country and culture. Yannick thanks you for making this experience happen and welcoming him into your family!

Tristan is a very ambitious young man. He understands to reach the goals he has to work very hard and has prepared himself for that. He is currently a year ahead in school and has skipped a grade. He attends a boarding school and thinks it has taught him how to work and give the best of himself. One of his passions that his father passed on to him is cooking. He loves cooking dishes from various origins. He enjoys skiing in the winter and beach volleyball during the summer. He is a fan of the NBA and attending a game is a dream of his. He loves to discover new cultures and ways of life and hopes to gain this from studying abroad. "It is a unique opportunity to live in a different way, make new friends, to discover new interests, to get attached to new people, and above all to have a new family."

For more information check out her host family letter!

Meet Adilet, Flex Scholarship Winner from Kazakhstan! His family lives in a small village where everyone knows each other. He enjoys spending time with his family exploring nature, going camping and taking hikes. He has many hobbies including volleyball, football, dancing and singing. He also plays Asyk, a Kazakh national game. Adilet is interested in trying new things like swimming, art, acting and playing an instrument. He is currently learning to speak German and is also involved in volunteer work. His friends describe him as extroverted, friendly, open mind and a sympathetic person. Adilet attends a boarding school in a large city. He wants to become a diplomat and represent his country in the international political arena including solving conflicts to maintain world peace. He is currently in a leadership foundation club at school. He is excited to spend a year in America and learn about the culture and family traditions as well as share his culture with you!

My name is Mariami, I'm fifteen year old girl. I live with my parents and my younger brother; we visit my grandparents often. And my grandpa takes my brother and me to the tennis court where we have lessons. My interest includes music and sports. I get a lot of pleasure every time I play the piano or play tennis. I love sitting quietly, in my cozy room and read books. We have a beautiful yard and during summer, I sit in a hammock reading or listening to nice music. I have a lot of friends, we like walking, talking, having fun and we love shopping. My main goal is to become a doctor, to serve people and take care of their health. I am sure that participating in the FLEX exchange program will give me the opportunity to live with you, where I will grow as a person, become more independent, free, make new contacts, get to know a foreign culture. It will give me the opportunity to realize my potential and all this will help me achieve my desired goal, to develop into a worthy person and a professional.

Sarah would describe herself as respectful, polite, humorous, and a good listener. Her strengths are that she is adaptable and independent. She says she has cooperative behavior and will try her best to support anybody in a group. She is a member of a tennis club and plays every week with her team and also an hour each week with her family. She hopes to continue to be on a tennis team in the United States. Her hobbies are meeting friends, listening to music, playing the guitar, tennis, dancing, and skiing in the winter. She is interested in fashion, soccer, concerts, and learning new things. She is taking dancing lessons in ballroom dance now and has done performances. She really likes to go skiing. She likes the mountains and the freedom when you ski down the hill. With her parents, they live in a big house with a garden, and she likes to work in the garden. Every week she works in a nursing home, and she also supports a dog by giving money to the animal shelter. However, Sarah is allergic to dogs and cats and can't live in a house with them. She is anxious to learn about the "American way of life" and would be glad and grateful if you would let her be part of your family.

Do you love Italian food such as carbonara tiramisu? Well, Viky may be the perfect student for you. Viky has always dreamed of living in America with an American family like yours. In Italy, she lives with her mom, stepdad, grandparents, little brother and older cousin. She shays they are very close to one another. Viky appreciates all her family her including allowing her to be a part of the exchange program. The thing she is most appreciative of is them allowing her space to explore, grow and learn. Viky plans to study Business Law in University in the future. She hopes to one day own her own business. Viky is very studios. Though she likes sports, she spends most of her time studying. Viky describes herself as very social and friendly. She loves being around people. Viky likes to cook and hopes to cook an Italian dish for you. She also hopes to learn t cook American dishes as well such as pancakes or other typical American foods. Viky has a passion for fashion and cannot wait to shop in America. She has a huge dressing room at home and hope to add some American flare from her trip the US. For now, Viky says she cannot wait to meet you and spend time making beautiful moments together!

I am very excited for this experience to come on exchange to the U.S. I have never been there. I can hardly wait, and I am sure I will love everything. My family and I love to cook together. We cook new things, especially deserts like pie. We do it with a different fruit every time because my grandmother is really good and making the jam. We also cook chocolate cake with dark chocolate inside! In my free time, I love doing rhythmic gymnastics. I began when I was 7 years old, and I practice 3 times a week for 3 hours each time. I love to read books and my favorites are fantasy and romantic novels. I also love playing with my pets and they make me feel so good and have the power to relax me. I am very excited about the exchange experience and I am sure I will love everything.

Bigaisha is a family oriented girl who enjoys game and movie nights and camping. This scholarship winner has a fashion for passion but is looking forward to broadening her interests and sharing your community. Bigaisha would love to learn some new things like how to swim or ride a bike or even participating in cheerleading or photography club at school. Bigaisha is looking forward to becoming a part of your family! Will you be her American family?