By Avery Holgersen
There are many students around Timber Creek who moved from different places in the United States or even in the world. Maybe because of people they already knew that have gone to Timber Creek or just happened to move into the area because of their parents or many other reasons. But Timber Creek has an Exchange Program, which means many kids from across the globe who are in the program can attend half a year or full year at Timber Creek. Last year at Timber Creek we had people from Germany, Brazil, and many more countries who came here to learn English and attend sports. This year we have many more students coming to Timber Creek for many opportunities. The exchange students are not only learning from us but we are also learning about and from them. Knowing and understanding the different cultures help us grow more as a community.
The students have pros and cons about living in the United States and getting an education. Adapting to different lifestyles is very hard, people get homesick or uncomfortable not adjusting correctly to a new environment. “I like the lifestyle here, but I would not want to live here. I just miss my family and friends in Germany, and I feel like I can live better at home,” junior Natalia Parlov said. Depending on the person, overtime they start getting more comfortable and having a routine. Moving and making big adjustments have a really big impact on how you set the outline of your experiences in a new place that is unfamiliar to you. Making new friends, learning a new language, getting an education in a new school, being far from family and friends, are hard things to take in especially when you are coming from another country. The pros of trying new things are huge benefits for students. Overcoming obstacles and becoming more confident can help students with negative emotions. There are people that join the exchange program who come from the same country so they have each other and can bond. But also making new friends and hanging out with them will definitely boost the confidence in them. Timer Creek offers many amazing on campus activities, such as homecoming, prom, spirit weeks, game nights, clubs, and many more activities that the exchange students might not have elsewhere. Creating new memories causes stories to be told when the exchange students go back home and can encourage them to come back or even encourage friends or family to try it out and experience what they did.
Testing out the fields
Football, soccer, tennis, basketball, swim, track, and many more sports are offered at Timber Creek. The athletic department of the school is very successful which drives many students to want to come to Timber Creek, transfer, or join the exchange program and fly to Orlando to experience the American sports. Over the years we have had many exchange students participate in sports like tennis, soccer, and football. This year on the football team we have many players who are a part of the exchange program. “I have decided to come to America to get an education, learn more English, but mostly because I love American football and I wanted to try it out,” said senior Tom Joas.
