Dear Host Family, My name is Issie and I am from Australia. I am so excited that I have been presented with this opportunity to broaden my horizons and explore life in your country! I know that this experience has so many lessons, experiences and wonderful people waiting for me. I can also see a lot of growth for me in this coming year as I work towards leaving home for an academic semester in the USA, and adapting to life with a new family in a new environment for this time. In my home there is myself, my older sister and my mum and dad. We all appreciate and value new experiences to open our mind and eyes to what is really out there in the world - every experience has a worthy lesson to come out of it; you have just got to find the value in it. My parents have always been very supportive and encouraging of me taking up opportunities offered to me. In my family I also have 2 dogs and a cat that make great company and entertainment - I love to play with them and it is my job to take care of the dogs. I have chosen to go to the USA for my student exchange because of the multitude of cultures all across the country - it poses so many different experiences that I may be able to have. When choosing my program I took into consideration what I might be able to do for extracurricular activities and activities throughout the community and also within school. America was the most appealing with all of the options that were presented. I also think it would be awesome to stay in America because it is a very proud country, carries a lot of joy and celebrates their country's history and achievements. I would love to learn more about the USA! I am a very driven, realistic and academic person. At school I am results driven and complete work to the best of my ability. Although I like to work efficiently and keep good and studious habits, I also prioritise keeping a balanced workload making sure that I leave time to myself. I enjoy school and spending time with my friends throughout the school year, especially at school events, like swimming and athletics carnival. We have made lots of fun memories whilst I have been at high school and have had plenty of valuable experiences that I am very grateful for and I am so excited for more in the future. I have quite a few interests and passionate pursuits, some of these being taking care of animals, sewing - I do not do this often but enjoy it when I do and learn so much, I have also played basketball for many years both competitively and socially. I love to try new things even if I don’t take it up any further. I enjoy making the most out of new chances, I look forward to doing this throughout my exchange semester and maybe finding something new that I want to take up. I would say that I am a very loving person and I value close relationships with people. I'm also a very positive and glass half full person and am always focusing on the bright side of things. I approach opportunities and life with lots of excitement and energy - I do not do anything or complete anything halfheartedly. I personally believe I am very amicable and I like to express my appreciation of people's gestures by reciprocating their favour or action of kindness in any form. In my exchange semester I would love to get involved in local activities, and bring my personal characteristics and passions to them. Joining a new school community I am sure will be an adjustment with many lessons but more so rewarding and something that I am so excited to make the most out of and get stuck into and try things that I could never do here, in Australia. I am also really excited about being able to join a new household and get involved with daily living whether this is chores, get togethers with my host family's friends or extended family, or cook a meal I might usually have at home. Throughout all of this I am so excited to share my Australian culture and wisdom! I appreciate your consideration of my application, Issie