International Student Spotlights

NASSAU, BAHAMAS

Senior, Three years @ TFS

Activities: Huddle Leader at FCA, Captain, Baseball Team

Surprised by: Diversity, different cultures

About my country:

• Vibrant culture • Fun activities • Friendly people TFS favorites: The friendships I have made Worldview shift: Attending TFS has shown me there are so many different cultures and different styles of living. About TFS Teachers: They help you focus on individual work to prepare you for life after high school.

Tips for others attending TFS:

• Realize it’s a great place to be • Learn different cultures • Be who you are

Up next: To play collegiate baseball

AIDAN WOODSIDE

NASSAU, BAHAMAS

Sophomore, Second year @ TFS Activities: Manager, JV Boys’ Basketball and Varsity Girls’ Soccer Teams Surprised by: How friendly and accepting everyone is TFS memory: Y-camp – we fished, jumped off of high towers into the lake and paddleboarded. About my country: It is a very majestic place; I’m sure if you went for a vacation you would want to live there.

Worldview shift: Attending TFS opened my eyes to the world around me and helped me realize that people from different parts of the world do things differently from the way I would do it. It also helped me appreciate and understand other cultures on a deeper level.

About TFS Teachers: They take time to teach you the material one on one if you need extra help. A TFS education is important to have because it teaches you the value of learning and independence, especially if you are a boarding student. It helps prepare you for college and your life afterward.

Tips for others attending TFS:

• Be open-minded to change • Be patient • Be positive Up next: My plans are to go to a good college and medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon

LUIS VARONA PASTOR

MADRID, SPAIN

Sophomore, First year @ TFS

Activities: Tennis

Surprised by: That is not boring because we always have something to do. TFS memory: The friends I made from all around the world.

Looks forward to @ home: Keep the English I’m learning.

About my country: The great food, the kind people and the rich culture. TFS favorites: The people I’m getting to know from all around the world.

About TFS Teachers: They care a lot about you getting a good grade and they help you. Tips for others attending TFS: It helps you a lot to be able to work independently. Up next: I’m not sure just yet.

Junior, First year @ TFS

Activities: Varsity soccer, Esports, Pool Club

Surprised by: Friendly atmosphere, liveliness

TFS memory: Everything (one memory is not enough)

About my country:

• Rich history • Exciting sports TFS favorites: Becoming friends with different people from other countries, learning new languages. SABAC, SERBIA

Worldview shift: Learning how people behave and live away from home.

About TFS Teachers: Amazing people, humble, interactive, always willing to help, always with a smile, and always encouraging. Prepares you for a further step in life and gives you a clue of what college life is going to look like.

Tips for others attending TFS:

Don’t miss this opportunity.

Up next: Attend a European university in the Netherlands/England/France.

JOVANA DERMANOVIC

NOVI SAD, SERBIA

Freshman, First year @ TFS

Activities: Theater, Track & Field

TFS Memory: How everyone makes you feel welcome

About my country:

• Novi Sad is the city of the culture in 2022 in

Europe. • The word ‘Vampire’ is from Serbia. • Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe. • Food is the best thing ever there.

About TFS Teachers: They love what they are doing, they always have a smile on their face and they are trying to help us as much as they can; it is like a family. Worldview shift: I traveled a lot when I was a kid, so this wasn’t something new to me. I like living with other kids my age but from different countries, I hear a lot of fun stories and how are other people who are the same age as me but living in different countries and having different lives.

Tips for others attending TFS:

• Don’t be scared, you will find friends. • You will have so much fun, and you will learn a lot of cool stuff. • There is a place for you here.

Up next: Attend college in US or Europe to study business and management.

Junior, First year @ TFS

Activities: Tennis, Pool Club, Outdoor Club

Surprised by: More friends, more English, American food, I can play all the sports here.

TFS memory: The first snow at TFS

Looks forward to @ home: Eat all Vietnamese food and snacks, go back to my hometown in Bac Lieu, hang out with my friends, and go around the city, district.

About my country: My country has a lot of good food (Pho, Bun Bo Hue, Com Tam,etc), snacks (che, banh trang tron/nuong)

VY “V” VO

SAI GON, VIET NAM

TFS favorites: Convenient, good weekend activities, have a lot of breaks

Worldview shift: Attending TFS upgraded my view of the world – people are more friendly than I thought

About TFS Teachers: Teachers are always there and always ready to help me.

Tips for others attending TFS:

• Bring money • Bring social skills • Know how to play sports