Students from a multitude of different countries come to the United States in search of better educational opportunities as well as occupational openings. Americans can have freedoms in this country that citizens in most other countries do not. This attracts young people from all across the world to start a new life in a democratic country.

FC offers foreign exchange students the opportunity to not only gain an American education, but a Christian one as well. Exchange students share a unique experience of coming to a country where they do not know the culture or the language. This has prompted Jason Kim, ’14, to teach all exchange students about the American way of life and the English language.

These students aspire to become professionals in fields ranging from inventors, engineers, doctors, dentists, interpreters and many more. The education that they will receive in the U.S. will enable them to further their schooling and accomplish anything they want.

Kim has been in the U.S. since he was in the sixth grade; he came to America in search of a better education so that he can go to college and search for a new source of energy to help humanity better preserve the earth. Kim has gone through the process of learning English and the American culture and wishes he had had some help.

“I had a really hard time adjusting and I wish that someone would have helped me learn about how to express myself and all of the things that I can do outside of school here,” Kim said. “In Korea education was the top priority, but now I know i can do more than just school work.”

Currently the campus has enrolled around 15 exchange students from the Asian region, most of them arrive just a month or less before school starts. They hail from many different countries such as China, Indonesia, Korea and Taiwan. The bond of assimilating into America is one they all share no matter what country they are from.

The students arrive in the US and live with a host family that will provide a home, food and support. Many families will host a student until they graduate and then support another student. Principal Todd Bennett has watched the number of exchange students grow since the beginning of his career.

“They [foreign exchange students] find us, we have had several kids from Korea come to our school,” Bennett said. “The family that hosts them offers to take in a new student after each one has graduated.”

This school year Kim will be providing tutoring, and help with any and all needs of the exchange students at lunch. The current exchange community on campus is very thankful for Kim’s tutoring and help with introducing them to American society.

“Exchange students have a tough time adjusting to society in this country because there is much more to do outside of school,” Kim said. “Educating them about extracurricular activities and individual expression is tough because they come from countries where that is frowned upon.”

This author can be reached via Twitter: @beal_trevor. Follow The Feather via Twitter: @thefeather.

For more features, read the Sept. 16 article, Grandparents devote time to students, experience class (VIDEO).