Exchange Student Q&A

Meet Tetiana Meet Tetiana

An exchange of culture, education, and family

Every so often, we are lucky enough to have a foreign exchange student join us at Gainesville High School. Tetiana Shevchenko, a junior student from a small village in Ukraine, is spending the 2021-2022 academic year experiencing Texas, the community of Gainesville, and student life at GHS.

Tetiana is participating in the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program, which is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program funded by the U.S. Department of State. Martin and Marlene Phillips, and their daughter Avery, are generously sharing their home with Tetiana and are helping her fully experience American life in our small Texas town.

Towards the end of the first semester, Dr. Stewart sat down with Tetiana to gain insight into her experience so far as a student at GHS.

Tell us about our host family.

They are really great people and I feel a part of this family. I’m really glad to have a smaller sister, Avery, who is 8. She is the cutest thing in this world and she is really nice and I love her so much.

What did you expect to gain from your foreign exchange experience?

I wanted to know as much as I can and try as many new things as I can. To live in another country is like living a new life. I also wanted to develop myself and become more independent. I would like to go back and solve some problems and to improve my town in Ukraine and living in the USA will help me get new ideas. What is your favorite class? What about your hardest?

Forensic science is my favorite. But I also love Human Geography. It’s the most fun because there is a lot of time to talk and discover topics and issues all around the world. English is the hardest. In English class, there are so many words that I have no idea what they mean.

What is your favorite American food?

Barbecue ribs are the most delicious food. It’s difficult for me to find what I really like because the food in America is really diverse. I don’t really like spicy food and a lot of the food I tried is spicy and I don’t care for it.

How has your experience been at Gainesville ISD?

I really love the people, the teachers, and the students. Everyone is so nice to me and I’m really enjoying my time here. Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

I’m playing tennis, which is my dream. In my school in Ukraine, there weren't tennis courts. I’m also doing debate and speaking to develop my English. It’s one of my goals for my experience here.

What advice would you give to students who may consider immersing themselves in a foreign exchange experience?

Don’t be scared. Speak with people and don’t spend a lot of time by yourself. Spend time with new people, try new things, and don’t be scared to ask for help.