I believe that going to another country is a once in a lifetime chance, let alone one that is across the ocean and over 4000 miles away. I think that everyone should take each opportunity that is given to them, especially ones that are rare chances to broaden your horizons. One aspect of the exchange that I am relishing experiencing is how intimately I would be able to experience another culture. Even if you travel to a different country, most people would only get to see things that were built for tourists and are to a certain degree false. Through the exchange you get to see what life is really like in another culture.
Taking this class will make me a better student. It will take dedication and discipline to do the assigned work on top of my already frantic work schedule. I will also have to become more organized to delegate my time with another class. This class will also have emphasis on rhetoric, with the presentations to the school, students, parents, and the exchange students. Going on an exchange trip looks very good on college applications, on which I will need every advantage I can get to fulfill my ambitions. 
The exchange will challenge me to leave the “comfort zone” of Hampshire County and experience the world around me. It will give me the perfect chance to be outgoing and meet new people.
The world is becoming smaller by the day, any chance for me to experience a part of another culture that isn’t so diluted by our culture would be a benefit to not only me, but to my family, community, and nation.
I live with my mother and two brothers. Jake, the eldest sibling is one year older than me, and my little brother, Luke, just turned 12. We live in the small town of Capon Bridge, which is situated along the Cacapon River. My family also has an assortment of pets; we have three small dogs and a cat, all of which are very friendly. I am lucky to live in this area, because much of my family lives in or around Capon Bridge. I have my maternal grandparents, two uncles, an aunt, and a great grandmother living within the town limits. We are regular attendants of the local United Methodist Church, which is nearby. I play both tennis and soccer through the high school and am a member of several school-sponsored clubs. I am a member of DECA, a club specializing in business and marketing, and National Honor Society. I am also an officer of the senior 4-H group in the community. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, and having as many friends as I can possible have. I love being outdoors, whether I am practicing for the soccer team, or doing yard-work. I also spend much time at the river where my uncle owns a home, from where we can fish, canoe, or just play beach volleyball on the court on summer evenings. I also enjoy music, who doesn’t? I listen to just about every kind of music available to me. We have friends with local bluegrass, rock, jazz, and alternative bands; we enjoy listening to each one of them. 
I am hopeful of forming relationships with the exchange students that span, not only my high school years, but also college and beyond. My wish would be to establish ties, which include the families on both sides of the ocean. I hope this is the first of many travels abroad and friends around the world.