Lebanon Trail High School is a community that cultivates and fosters a variety of student experiences. Among the most impactful of these are foreign exchange students, who play a vital role in shaping the LTHS identity while navigating a uniquely different high school experience of their own.
For many exchange students, expectations of life in the United States often clash with the reality they encounter upon arrival.
“When I heard I was going to Texas, I thought it was going to be a lot of cowboys and the desert, and I thought it was going to be extremely country,” junior Cati Magnet said. “I didn’t know the school was going to be this big, I actually thought it would be small.”
Beyond the size of the school itself, the physical environment also presents a striking contrast for students arriving from Europe. The landscape of Texas, in particular, feels vastly different from what many exchange students are used to.
“I am from Austria, and the biggest difference is probably the scenery, the landscape, and how things look. In Austria, we have more greenery and small roads, and the stores are much smaller. Here, everything is much bigger.” Magnet said.
While the environment can be surprising, school culture often stands out even more. For some students, the emphasis on spirit and extracurricular involvement is unlike anything they have experienced before.
“I am from France, and the biggest difference is the school spirit. You really feel it through pep rallies, dress-up days like Santa Day, and sports being recognized. Where I’m from, sports are just a hobby you do outside of school, so they aren’t recognized at all.” Junior Alicia Noel said.
Despite the initial challenges, exchange students quickly find things to look forward to in their new environment. Opportunities that may seem ordinary to local students can feel especially exciting to those experiencing American high school life for the first time.
“I am looking forward to performing in The Little Mermaid musical and spending time with people, getting to know the American lifestyle better, and seeing more things around Texas,” Magnet said.
Every day, exchange students balance academics with social life and extracurricular commitments, creating a routine that blends familiarity with new experiences.
“First, I drive to school with my host siblings and do my schoolwork here at school, meet friends, and then I go home with my host siblings. We go somewhere, like a new restaurant, or sometimes I have theatre rehearsal.” Magnet said.
However, not all surprises come from social life or school traditions. One of the most unexpected adjustments for exchange students lies within the American grading system itself.
“Probably the retests. We don’t have retests or extracurricular activities in school. That’s very unexpected for it to be an actual period. That’s really fun. I wish we had that back home too.” Magnet said.
Outside of school, exchange students face another major transition: living with a host family for an extended period of time. While this experience can be challenging, it often becomes one of the most rewarding aspects of the program.
“I’ve had a great experience living with my host family,” Magnet said. “They have welcomed me so nicely, and I really enjoy living with them. It really feels like home.”
Noel echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of involvement and initiative.
“I would encourage them to try to join a sports team. I didn’t do it, and I really regret it. Go to people, don’t wait for them to come to you.” Noel said.
After months of adjusting to a new country, school, and culture, exchange students often gain valuable insight increasingly beneficial to other students aspiring to do this program in the future.
“You have to be open to everything and shouldn’t have set expectations because you don’t know what’s going to happen,” Magnet said. “Be sure to try everything, get out of your comfort zone, and sign up for everything. Enjoy your time because it goes faster than you think.”
