Our campus is home to students from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. Each year, we are fortunate enough to host exchange students from all around the world. 

This year, we welcomed Aroa Sánchez from Spain. She arrived early August 2023 and joined school as a Sophomore. 

Aroa has enjoyed her time at the school and holds her fondest memories of football games. She enjoys the atmosphere and being a part of a crowd since she doesn’t have the opportunity of doing so at home. So far, Aroa has been a double-sport athlete. With volleyball in the fall, and soccer in the winter, she’s quite a busy student. Even more so, she plans on swimming in the spring. 

Aroa said, “I wish other students could be more aware of the cultural differences between someone from Spain and the United States.” For example, when arriving at school, she was surprised to hear a new-founded pronunciation of her last name. She said, “It caught me off guard but I had to get used to it because a lot of people don’t bother to learn its pronunciation.”

Another difference she has encountered is the continuous rotation of teachers and classes. She mentioned back home, students are taught in the same classroom with the same teacher and students. Thus making it easier to connect and make friends because she is constantly surrounded by them. However, instead of viewing this as discouraging, she views it as six times the opportunity to create new friendships. 

Despite the excitement of a new school and country, she still misses certain things back home. With family being the main thing, she said, “Family gatherings happen a lot here and are very laid back. In Spain, they are extravagant and sometimes long overdue.” She went on to explain how she misses family parties and being around such familiar faces.