Spending the majority of our lives in a rather smaller area, growing up with the same people and conversing in the language we grew up speaking on the daily, most of us probably never think about studying in a vastly different country. Foreign exchange students experience the school in ways most of us do not.
While many of us often complain about rigid rules and rigorous academics, exchange students describe American high schools to be surprisingly laid-back. To them, classes feel easier and the atmosphere is more welcoming. “In Germany, it’s pretty formal and focused on learning, and here it’s pretty friendly,” said Lion Hoeft, a junior exchange student from Germany.
But it’s not just about easier classes. For a lot of these students, the point of this year is growth. Matteo Berluti, foreign exchange junior from Italy, said, “I want to try new things. I want to have a new experience, new school, and new friends.” From this experience, he wishes to become more independent and improve his English.
However, though exciting, the path is not without its challenges. Otto Hultman-Alwen, a junior year foreign exchange student from Sweden, shared, “It’s quite hard to speak a language you don’t speak often. You have to speak English all the time. I never spoke English back home.”
There’s also the distance from loved ones. Berluti said, “The hardest part is being far away from my parents, my family, my friends, and all the things that I used to have at home.” And though difficult, each of them has found ways to adjust. “It helps to just talk to people, play sports with them, and just find new friends here,” said Hoeft.
Even when it gets challenging, their mindset is what makes the difference. “I know I’m gonna be here for a whole year so I can’t complain because that’s my situation, so I just lean into it and try my best,” said Hultman-Alwen.
In their courage to start fresh – whether to converse in their second language on a daily basis or enroll in new classes – these students remind us that stepping into the unknown is how you grow.
