Meet Our Students

Sofia is a 16-year-old student from Italy currently in her third year at a Humanities high school. She enjoys Italian literature and history and hopes to become an elementary school teacher in the future. She loves working with children and has spent the past three summers as a church summer camp leader for kids ages 6–10. Sofia is a curious, friendly, and open-minded student who loves discovering new places and experiences. Her greatest passion is dance—she has been dancing since age five, with experience in classical, modern, and hip-hop dance. Dance helps her feel confident and expressive, and she is interested in participating in dance or even cheerleading at her American school. In her free time, Sofia enjoys listening to music (especially rap, trap, and pop), attending concerts and theater performances, and spending time with friends. She also enjoys fashion, shopping, going to the movies, and spending time at the beach during the summer. Sofia is excited to learn about American culture and daily life while sharing Italian traditions with her host family. Her main goal for the exchange is to improve her English. She is clean, organized, responsible, and happy to help with household chores. Sofia also loves food—especially pasta and pizza—and enjoys cooking with her family and trying new foods. She is very excited to come to the United States and become part of her American host family.

Arianna, 16, from Italy lives with her family, which includes her mom, dad, brother, and their beloved dog, Lola, an Australian Shepherd, she loves animals. Her little brother is her favorite person. She describes herself as a funny girl, who loves talking, making new friendships and new experiences. Arianna has a deep passion for cooking, particularly when it comes to baking cookies. Her other interests include theatre, bicycling, listening to pop music, traveling and exploring new places and watching movies (her favorite genre is horror). Ari loves children and has worked as an entertainer at a summer camp for the past two years. She has also tried various sports, including dance, swimming, basketball, tennis, and gymnastics, with tennis being her favorite, she played for six years. After high school, Arianna dreams of becoming an au pair in the United States. She chose to participate in an exchange program to share Italian culture with her American family and community by cooking traditional dishes. Additionally, she aims to become more independent and improve her English skills. Although she is uncertain about her future, Arianna knows she loves working with children and envisions a career as a teacher. That's all from Italy for now, looking forward to meeting you!

Marcos is a cheerful happy person that loves to make others laugh. He is from a small town in Spain and is the youngest with three siblings. All of Marco’s siblings were also exchange students to the United States. He is a mature and well-mannered young man that loves to be outside and has a black belt in martial arts. Marcos loves to cook and play the piano. He is now learning to play the trombone. Marcos likes helping others and sports such as golf and flag football. He balances his love of activity with his love of music and relaxes to recharge his batteries. He is excited about improving his English in America and living with a family that is engaged and has a close relationship. Marcos loves time with others and is looking for a loving family in the United States.

Anna lives in Italy with her older brother and younger sister. She did gymnastics for years, but due to the stress on her body, she now helps coach young girls in gym and began snowboarding with her dad and siblings. She also loves to run. She is interested in trying out new sports in America, perhaps cheerleading, but also likes music and the arts. Anna likes the outdoors, but likes to spend time inside also, usually in the kitchen. Baking and making traditional Italian dishes are her passion. She loves to cook and bake and would love to help her new family learn new recipes also. She has responsibilities in her home in Italy and expects to have similar ones in her new home. Anna is excited to be part of a family and learn more about the American culture. She is excited about riding a school bus, decorating her locker and experiencing high school in America.

Emanuel (15) is a thoughtful and responsible student from Spain who brings calm curiosity and genuine warmth to every home he enters. He loves sharing stories at the table, helping with pets, and pitching in with daily routines. With a passion for nature, reading, sports, and music, he’s the kind of student who blends in easily while adding something meaningful—whether it’s a helping hand, a good conversation, or a new perspective. He writes, "I hope that, if we meet, we can create good memories together and that I can become not only a guest, but a real part of your family." Don’t miss the chance to welcome him into yours.

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.

Meea is a joyful and open minded girl from Finland who loves experiencing and learning new things. She lives with her parents, her brother, and their dog Toffee, and shares a close bond with her family. Her friends and family describe her as caring, funny, and trustworthy. Meea enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether it’s watching movies, playing board games, or going for walks. She really enjoys staying active by going for a jog or to the gym. Meea was involved with gymnastics for seven years, but now enjoys volleyball and baseball. She also enjoys cooking and baking, and looks forward to sharing traditional Finnish foods with you like korvapuustit (cinnamon rolls) and lihapullat (meatballs). At school, her favorite subjects are sports and psychology because she says "sports are fun and psychology is interesting". Meea cannot wait to learn more about American culture, especially American Holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving. She is excited to embrace American culture, join school activities, and create unforgettable memories while growing as a person and becoming more independent.

Fanny is a happy student that lives with her large family in a small town in Germany.  She loves children and enjoys spending time with kids, as they are full of energy.  Fanny is captain of her volleyball team and loves to be outside hiking or snow skiing.  When not enjoying being outside, she bakes cookies with her younger siblings and enjoys family time.  Fanny is excited to improve her English and learn all about American culture and holidays.

Meet Fanny 17, 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. 

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.