Imagine having to go on a plane, 61,000 miles from home, and live with people you don’t know. This is the life of many adolescents across the world, international students.
International students, also known as exchange students, are students who travel to foreign countries to go to school or university for a temporary amount of time. They go live with families or hosts from that country for up to a full academic year.
According to the International Student Exchange (ISE), students must pass a screening to become an exchange student. Then they will “sponsor the J-1 visa for eligible high school students so that they may travel to the United States.”
A J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for international students going to school in another country. In order to get a J-1 visa, you must find a sponsor, complete an application, pay certain fees, and do an interview that requires things such as your passport.
Over the years, being an exchange student has been more popular. The Institute of International Education (iie) says that in 2023/2024, there were over 1.1 million international students around the world. “A 7% increase from the previous academic year.”
This year, Oakmont has two new exchange students in the school. Yael Arquez is a junior from Le Teich, France. In the interview, he said how he, “came to America for the culture around the sport and the education that we don’t have in France, and also to improve my English.” Arquez explained that there are many differences between French and American schools. “We don’t have a computer, we finish school at 6 p.m., and we have a lot of breaks between classes,” he said.
There are also a lot of differences between the countries and the people, too. “People here have a little less humor than in France,” he remarked, “I noticed that people here were not in much of a hurry compared to France.”
Another exchange student at Oakmont this year is Ornella Fabrissin, who is a junior from Reconquista, Argentina. She said in an interview that she “decided to be an exchange student due to the influence of my cousin.” One of the questions asked in the interview was what one thing about America she enjoyed, and she responded with, “I really enjoy that everyone here is very nice and the variety of cultures that can be found just in the school,” pointing out that there is a very diverse culture here at Oakmont.
There are a lot of things that can be hard about being an exchange student. At first it can be hard adjusting to a new house and new family, but you get comfortable, and over time, you start to feel at home. Making friends at the beginning can also be hard, you have to feel ok talking to new people and asking for help if you need it.
Although being an exchange student can be challenging, it can have a lot of benefits, which is why some sources highly recommend it. The Asia Exchange wrote 10 reasons why you should consider being an exchange student. It explains that being an international student can help you learn a different language and about different views and cultures. Another thing that is highlighted is how being an exchange student can be very “attractive” on your resume. This is because you will have an “international perspective.”
If you become an exchange student, it can be an opportunity to look into colleges as well. You may decide that you want to travel to a certain country to go to college. Jobs in other countries can vary as well. Finding your dream job in a country can have a great impact on your future.
India has been the top country sending exchange students to the United States. iie (Institute of International Education) wrote that there were 331,602 students sent to the United States to “pursue higher education.” China was the second top country sending exchange students. “India and China together made up over half of all international students in the United States.”
Yes, the educational value of being an international student is great, but there are some fun parts about being an international student as well. You get to choose the country you go to, which can be a dream for some people. You meet new friends from all over the world and learn about different cultures, which can be really fun. Another thing that’s fun is you can try foods you may have never heard of.
“Being an exchange student is something very interesting, you learn a new culture and a new language,” Arquez said, “It is also a way to see what we like in life and discover new things that we would never know before.”
