For the ten exchange students in Chelsea High School this year, the experience is filled with both excitement and challenges. While discovering new classes and traditions, they are also navigating the uncertainty of making friends and finding a sense of belonging in a completely different culture. Advice from local and exchange students will show simple ways to make them feel welcome and supported.
“Someone just came to me and talked to me, I kind of felt more included.” Yian Choi (‘26) from South Korea said.
Taking the first step may feel uncomfortable at first, but it has a powerful effect. When local students make an effort to include newcomers, it can help break the social barrier. It gives exchange students the confidence to participate fully in school life, making their experience much richer and enjoyable.
“Just ask more questions to exchange students,” Choi said. “Where they’re from or how the school in their country is, and then, be more friendly.”
Curiosity is a simple but powerful tool. Asking questions and showing interest is a good way to start friendly conversations and help exchange students feel valued. It also opens doors to learning about other cultures from around the world.
“I’d say invite them out to any events at the school, it’s weird to go when you don’t know what’s happening,” Jasper Lawrence (‘26) a mentor in the key club, said.
For students who are unsure about school events or unfamiliar with traditions, being included removes the stress of trying to figure things out on their own when everything is new. Even a simple gesture like asking them to meet you for lunch or class can help exchange students feel like they truly are part of the school community.
“I think about the exhaustion of having to speak a different language than the one they natively speak,” Emma Woodard (‘26) who host an exchange student this year said.
After talking to exchange students, you might notice some difficulty in using some words or understanding the conversation. Indeed, language barriers add an extra layer of challenge that is often invisible to others. Exchange students spend their entire day translating thoughts and conversations in a second language. Being patient and showing understanding can ease that mental workout and make everyday interactions feel easier.
“I wish more students understood how much their support and kindness mean to us,” Ana Monteiro De Castro Borges (‘28) from Brazil said.
Staff writer Lola Creton is a senior exchange student from Belgium
