Dear Family, My name is D., and I live with my family in an apartment on the outskirts of a large city in central Italy. I have a good relationship with my family; we share our feelings, talk a lot, and in our free time we sometimes do activities together like watching movies, playing board games, cooking, or playing video games with my brother. My father is often away for work during the week, but he is always with us on weekends, and those moments are really special. I consider myself determined, empathetic, and responsible. I believe school is a fundamental place to set personal goals and improve myself. One subject I am passionate about is robotics, which is not common in Italian schools. What I enjoy most about robotics is the teamwork: we solve problems together and make decisions as a group. For example, last year we worked on building a robotic arm; it was amazing to see the project completed and realize what we had accomplished together. I am also interested in other subjects like math, physics, and English, and I have been fortunate to build good relationships with teachers and classmates. A very important part of my life is sports. I play soccer, which has taught me how to challenge myself and work hard to achieve my goals. I also love soccer because it allows me to meet new people and create happy memories with my teammates. I remember with great joy the year we won the championship: I scored many goals, we had so much fun, and especially a bicycle-kick goal remains a vivid memory of the happiness I shared with my teammates. I love soccer and would be happy to play if there’s an opportunity, but I’m also curious to try new sports or hobbies Spending time with friends is also very important to me. I have a group of friends with whom I share many fun and adventurous moments. I believe friendship is one of the most important things in life because it allows you to share experiences, support each other, and have fun together. For me, it is essential to maintain a good balance between school, social life, and sports. I always try to do my best at school, but I also think it is important to spend time with friends and do activities that make me happy. For example, on a typical day, I wake up, have breakfast with my family, and go to school by public transport until 2 pm, then return home the same way. After lunch, sometimes alone because my parents are at work, I dedicate time to studying before going to soccer practice three days a week (plus the Sunday match). At dinner, the whole family gathers, a moment when we talk about our day and share fun or reflective moments. After dinner, we help organize the house, and before going to bed I always find some time to relax, listening to music or watching a movie. Finally, one of my most meaningful experiences is the vacations I spend with my family. Our favorite trips are to the mountains, especially in summer, although when I was younger we also went skiing in winter. In summer, we sometimes go to the beach. We enjoy sharing vacations and leisure time together, often with friends or relatives. Last year, we took a wonderful trip to the United States, where I had the chance to become passionate about American culture. For this reason, I hope to feel part of the family that will host me, to share everyday life with them, and to learn more about the American lifestyle. I know this year abroad will be full of new experiences and challenges, and I hope to share everyday life with my host family and learn from their culture and traditions. I cannot wait to meet my new host family and start this adventure together, bringing my enthusiasm, desire to learn, and wish to build a strong connection. Thank you so much for opening your home and your heart to me; I hope we will share many wonderful memories together. With love, D.