Meet Our Students

Alberto is a 16-year-old student from a small town in northwest Italy who attends a scientific high school with a sports focus. His program combines academics with sports-related studies, including economics and law of sports, and five hours of physical activity each week. He enjoys his classes, has a good relationship with his classmates, and likes spending time with friends after school. Alberto hopes to study in the United States because he is curious about new cultures, experiences, and sports. He sees this opportunity as a way to grow personally, improve his English, and become more independent. Having already completed a one-month exchange in France, he feels prepared to live away from home and embrace new challenges. Family is very important to Alberto. He lives with his parents, two brothers, and his dog, Frisky, an 8-year-old golden retriever. He loves animals and enjoys walking his dog, visiting his grandparents, traveling, hiking, and cooking with his family. Sports play a major role in Alberto’s life. He learned to ski at age three and enjoys skiing with his family and friends. He has played soccer and basketball and continues to go to the gym regularly. While in the U.S., he hopes to play basketball or soccer again or try new sports. Alberto is excited to learn about American culture, share his daily life with a host family, and build meaningful relationships during his exchange year.

Meet Denise "Deni" (16) from Italy. She is enrolled at a science high school and her favorite subjects are math and Italian literature. She loves working with children, besides spending a lot of time with her younger cousin, she attends a summer camp where she organizes activities like scavenger hunts for the younger campers. In her free time, she values spending time with her friends, who describe her as funny and energetic. Her hobbies include snow skiing, nature walks, practicing Pilates and watching sports like basketball, Formula 1 and soccer. She loves eating sweets and cooking. She promises to cook Italian food for her host family!

Doniyor is a high school student from Uzbekistan who comes from a close and supportive family. He enjoys helping at home, spending time with his sisters, and relaxing with family movie nights or evening walks. He has a wide range of interests, especially math, law, economics, and diplomacy, and hopes to study pre-law or international relations in the future. Doniyor loves staying active through sports like soccer, tennis, volleyball, swimming, and chess — and he even played on a professional youth soccer team. When he’s not studying or playing sports, Doniyor enjoys filming and editing videos, exploring his city, traveling, and hanging out with friends. He also has a fun and creative hobby: inventing meals using only eggs and potatoes (six so far!), which has earned him jokes about opening a “potato-only restaurant.” He describes himself as positive, curious, and friendly, and he enjoys making people laugh and feel comfortable. Doniyor is excited to experience American culture, improve his English, and build meaningful connections during his exchange year.

Emie is from a small French beach town and loves to meet new people and explore new cultures. She loves running, swimming, drawing, and enjoying time with family. Emie is the oldest sibling and has one younger brother. She also likes dogs and especially cats. Emie speaks English and French and wants to become more bilingual by living with an American family. She is a sunny, happy person that loves to help others and is excited about experiencing the American dream.

Samuel is a curious, caring student from Spain who is excited to experience everyday life with a host family in the United States. Family is a big part of who he is, and he enjoys spending quality time together—especially cooking and watching movies. Samuel loves being in the kitchen and would be thrilled to share homemade Spanish dishes as a way of sharing his culture. Growing up around young children, thanks to his mother’s work in childcare, has made him patient, responsible, and comfortable helping with kids. He is also an animal lover and helps care for his family’s pet turtle. Adaptable, respectful, and open-minded, Samuel values communication and teamwork at home. He looks forward to improving his English, discovering American culture, and creating meaningful connections and memories with his host family abroad together.

Meet Ludovica, everyone calls her Ludo! She is 16 and lives in a popular tourist town in Italy. Ludo has one older sister who was also an exchange student. So, she had the great stories and memories from her sister and wants to create her own adventure and memories with an amazing host family here in the USA. Ludo is an athlete and has been playing volleyball since she was six years old. Her passion for the sport allows her to challenge herself and strive to do better. Ludo ski's each winter in Italy, has played tennis and done gymnastic in the past. It is clear that Ludo has such a creative imagination, especially with her drawings and her paintings. She has found that drawing clears her mind and opens up imaginary thinking. Ludo is a family orientated person, whether it be playing board games with everyone, completing puzzles, or winding down to watch with family a good old fashion horror movie. Ludo loves participating in volunteer opportunities. She understands kids and loves being able to create fun activities for them. Ludo has a soft heart for animals, she loves cats, dogs and even helps take care of horses. Becoming a doctor to save lives is her lifelong goal. She has a plan and wants to excel at it to be successful in the future. Ludo loves just being a funny and excited teenage girl. It is important to Ludo that she gets to be a part of her host family daily life. Whether it be hanging out at home playing Uno, helping cook or participating in any family outings. Ludo is very open minded with wanting to learn new cultures all while making new friends. Be a part of Ludo's future memories!

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.

Aishabibi is a kind‑hearted, thoughtful 16‑year‑old from Kazakhstan who instantly makes people feel comfortable. She grew up in a close, loving family and brings that same warmth into everything she does. She helps with cooking, cleaning, and keeping the home running smoothly, and she especially loves baking with her mom. Active and energetic, she enjoys football, volleyball, and boxing—sports she’s been around since childhood thanks to her grandfather, a former coach. She’s deeply curious about the world, passionate about languages and international relations, and eager to learn from a new culture. She uses Salbutamol only rarely for mild asthma. A family who welcomes her will gain a grateful, hardworking daughter who will leave a lasting mark on their hearts.

Maeva is an academically strong student who loves ballet and her close-knit family.  She lives in France and has older and younger siblings who she adores.  Her town is known for football, so it is an important part of her community.  She enjoys fashion, dance, and being with her animals. Maeva always rises to challenges and is excited to spend a year in the U.S. to experience American culture and traditions like Thanksgiving and Halloween while improving her English skills. 

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.