As foreign exchange students spend their last few months in Kansas City, they’ve had to accept that their exchange year has come to a halt due to the coronavirus. Now they’ve begun to focus on their lives back home. Here’s a look into some of the foreign exchange students’ plans for the future:
Sara Dunoyer- France
Q: What did you learn during your time at East?
A: “I loved taking easy classes. They’re not easy but like all classes [in France] were [difficult] classes. A lot of classes I did were like art or music. I learned a lot of things like photography and music. I learned a lot of English and adapting myself to new situations.”
Q: How did you feel about the year getting cut short?
A: “Really bad. It was really really sad actually. I was planning this year for so long and seeing it’s really not going to [go as planned] was just bad.”
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: “When I go back home I’m doing my senior year in high school. After that I don’t really know yet, I have a lot of ideas. I want to be [an] engineer I think. I think I want to maybe come to the U.S. or maybe another country too [for college].”
Q: How did East prepare you for the future?
A: “I think East helped me prepare the future because that was a new place where I have to adapt so I am more independent. Teachers and students accompanied me in that. I learned so many things, but the most socially. I am also almost fluent in English. East gave me many opportunities I don’t have in France like being Band.”
Emma Pouetau- France
Q: What did you learn during your time at East?
A: “Probably one of the most important things that I’ve learned was, no matter what happens in your life, if people let you down, if you are completely lost about everything, you have to keep your head up — happiness is key. Positivity is one of the most important things and it’s even more important during time like this. People [like] teachers, counselors, friends, peers and family helped me learn that through my journey at East and in the U.S.”
Q: How did you feel about the year getting cut short?
A: “It was and still is a shock, I’ve been aware of my departure almost three weeks before I had to leave for Paris where I live with my family. I had time to make great memories with my host family but I couldn’t see any of my friends, except for a couple of people. It is such a hard time for everyone and when you see what is supposed to be the best year of your life just going away it’s like something is gone in you, a feeling of excitement for the time left and for the things you could have learn, the people you could’ve met and the memories you could’ve made.”
I can’t even put word on how hurtful it is, but like I said positivity is so important, and I am trying to keep my head up even in one of the darkest times I’ve experienced. I wanted to thank every single Lancers I had a moment of lifetime with, you made my journey even better, even if we talked once in the hallways or ate together at lunch, hung out outside of school, thank you also to my teachers and people that helped me out when I needed it. I am looking forward to seeing you all again one day.”
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: “So next year I am going to be a sophomore in an international high school in Paris, then I am going to graduate late. I don’t really know what job I want to do but I am really interested in being a chef.”
Q: How did East prepare you for the future?
A: “I learned how to be truly happy and who I wanted to be as a person. Sometimes you can get very lonely, even if you are around wonderful people. You feel empty and sad and the only thing that can get you out of that phase is yourself, and I went through [a] couple of those this year and in my life and you just become stronger after them, a different person, a better version of yourself.
Being across the world from your life can be very disturbing and hard sometimes but I think it was such small details when I look at the overall experience that I had.”
Laura La Forgia- Italy
Q: What did you learn during your time at East?
A: “Attending East helped me a lot by improving my language skills and making friends. Moreover I got to try another school system and take classes that don’t exist in Italy. I felt like I had more room to follow and develop my interests. There are just so many opportunities of any kind here — sports, art, writing, music, theatre. I guess I learned another concept of education which is more personalized and focused on each student’s success. There are just so many ways you can improve or make up a bad grade and if academics are not for you, you can succeed in any of the other activities that I mentioned. And lastly, the school spirit is something that I love about American high schools and I realized you don’t have to necessarily hate school, you can also be proud to be part of that community.”
Q: How did you feel about the year getting cut short?
A: “When they announced it, I cried almost the whole day. I just couldn’t process the fact that I went to school the last day without even knowing I was walking the East hallways for the last time. I wish I could’ve said goodbye to all my teachers in person and all those people that no matter how close, were still part of my school life and my exchange year. I have an American flag sitting on my desk and I was planning to let people sign it the last week of school and now I can’t. Especially at the beginning of quarantine I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that I would miss prom, graduation and so many big and small events. It was just so unfair that all the past generations of exchange students were able to live all of that till the end and I couldn’t. Leaving would’ve been hard enough, but in these conditions it’s even more emotionally challenging. But now I’m simply grateful [for] what I had and I realize more and more how much East gave me. I was so lucky and I wouldn’t change a single thing, my experience has been amazing and corona will never change that.”
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: “I’ll go back to Italy to finish my last year of high school since we have five instead of four. Then I’d like to come back here in the U.S. for college, but I don’t want to build my hopes up. We’ll see.”
Q: How did East prepare you for the future?
A: “Of course knowing English almost as if it was your native language is a huge advantage when looking for a job, especially if you plan to go abroad. I think the overall experience prepared me for the future because it opened my mind and made me more independent and responsible, perhaps more mature than some other people my age. East gave me amazing friendships and maybe a clearer idea of what I want to do after school.”