We received so many amazing April nominations for Stellar Student of the Month, 我们不能只选择一个! 这个月, we would also like to introduce 蕾奥妮 from 德国, who has been a rock star in the classroom and has brightened the lives of her host community in Texas. 谢谢, 蕾奥妮!

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What surprised you most when you came to the U.S.? I was really surprised by my school, because it is so different from what I’m used to. We have technology everywhere, and we use our laptops for everything. And the learning dynamics are way different from what I expected. They have a thing at my school called project-based learning, where you work in projects and you have a lot of independent study and you’re supposed to teach yourself a lot. I guess it’s not the typical American high school, but it’s really cool. I had different expectations when I came here, but I was positively surprised. 

What are some of your favorite memories of your host family? Some things that really stood out were the trips that we took. Over Thanksgiving break, my host family and I went to Washington, D.C. and New York City, and over spring break, we went to California. We got to see so many things, and it was cool to see different areas of the U.S.这是一个非常大的国家. By now, I’m used to Texas, so seeing a city like Los Angeles or New York City was so different. I made a lot of memories, and I’m really grateful that my host family gave me that opportunity. 我会记住的. 

你在学校表现很好. Do you have any advice to give other 交换学生s about how to excel in school in the U.S.? I paid attention to the classes that were a little more special to things that I wouldn’t learn in 德国. 作为交换生, it’s important to show your interest in other people and in other classes and experiences, and I guess that’s just part of the whole plan. 我希望我做到了, that I showed my interest and learning from other people, 老师, 还有我的课. 

We heard you did really well on your Advanced Placement practice exams! 你能给我们介绍一下吗? AP exams are in May, and I signed up for AP exams and took the practice exams. I decided to sign up for English and World History, because they were the classes that were the most rewarding for me. English, for obvious reasons—I want to improve my English and my 写作 style and everything. 我也很喜欢历史课. I did pretty well on the practice exams—I got fives on both [最高分]. I wouldn’t say I’m looking forward to my AP exams, but I’m kind of excited for them. 我想展示一下我所学到的.

Can you tell us more about your involvement with Model United Nations? Even though politics can be frustrating at times, I think it’s really important to know what’s going on in the world. And I felt like the club would really help me with my knowledge about different countries and their politics, and also with my English skills because you have to do a lot of researching, 写作, 和口语. And I’ve actually made a few friends, which is really cool. 

这个周末我们举行了州际比赛. It’s pretty hard—it’s not really a leisure activity, 但这是值得的, 我们学校做得很好. I got an award for outstanding position paper, which is the paper you prepare for the debate. I also got an award for best delegation, along with three other people at my school. 我们代表日本. Our school was really happy, and we all cheered for each other. 

 

 

In what way has your exchange prepared you for what might come next? It was really cool to be immersed in this different culture and have a completely different lifestyle for awhole year. It helps me be a more well-rounded person with more life experience. I think I’ve made some important experiences, and I can continue my school career with more knowledge and confidence in myself. So I think NWSE really helped me get out of my comfort zone. It was a whole year of my life, so it’s a lot! 

What is one piece of advice you would like to give to incoming foreign 交换学生s? 尽量多找点乐子, 选择看起来有趣的课程, and join interesting clubs that you couldn’t take at home. Try to have fun and collect experiences, try to talk to people, and just do a lot. In the end, it will be a fulfilling experience!