As years pass MV has been hosting exchange students every year, this year we have some great students from around the world : We all may see MV in a similar way but let’s see some of their perspective of MV.

As the months are passing by so quickly, the exchange students have been creating and collecting some sweet memories, here are some of their experiences of MV.

Giorgia Arnesano ‘24 mentioned, “I really loved watching, dressing up, and going in the field at the beginning and at the end of the games; it was just a beautiful moment because you could feel the school spirit.”

Francesca Armento ‘24 added, “The basketball game against Centralia.” 

Mariia Hruzevych ‘26 said, “My favorite memory is the Pink Out football game.”

MV has many organizations of different interests on campus.

 Some of the exchange students have joined the organizations, and here are their experiences.

Hruzevych mentioned, “I am an FBLA member and Drama Club.”

Hruzevych added, ”My favorite memory from FBLA was my participation in the Southern Area Conference, it was very fun, and my favorite part of Drama Club is the auditions for my role.”

Maria Ibba ‘25 said, “I’m an FBLA member and play for the Tennis Team.”

Ibba added, ‘My favorite part of tennis was the part where we reached the State Level.’

Arnesano said, “I’m a member of the Student Council.”

Arnesano added, “I really enjoyed when we organized the homecoming theme and spirit week, also I loved working in groups and sharing ideas and the food!”

Many expectations tag along when one moves countries for a period of time, the exchange students are a great example to hear some expectations they had of MV.

Armento mentioned, “Finding new finds, improving my English and trying new classes that we don’t have in my home country are some of my expectations.”

Ibba added, “I expected Mount Vernon to be different from my school in Italy.”

Shanina Helmig ‘25 said, “To have an amazing year full of memories.”

On one hand they had expectations but also on another hand they had experienced some shocking moments when they arrived at MV. 

Arnesano said, “I lived through culture shock such as big food portions, imperial units, and the fact people use more cars to move around town than by foot.”

Ibba mentioned, “Pijama in school is shocking to me.”

As the experiences are passing by, their days in MV are slowly coming to an end as MV is in the second semester of 23-24 school year.

There is no better feeling than being at home after a long day, more like a long year for the exchange students, but they will be also leaving a sweet home in the USA.

 Arnesano said, “I’m so excited and looking forward to what the future holds!”

Arnesano added, “I’m a bit sad because in a couple of months I will be back home and all of my experiences will be just a beautiful remembrance, but on the other hand I will embrace my parents, friends, relatives again.”

Helmig said, “It’s been an amazing year but it’s also a little bit sad because my school year is closer to the end.”

As days are coming closer to the end for the exchange students, Vernois News asked what they will miss about MV the most.

Armento said, “I’m going to miss the people, teachers, the lessons, and sport events.”

Ibba added, “Basketball games, people, friends, teachers, and the study methods.”

Helmig said, “The amount of classes you can choose from and how nice the teachers are.”

Some great memories they have shared but also they mentioned some classes they took at MV and loved them.

Armento said, “My favorite class is AP Pre – Calculus because I love math and I found it really easy to follow the lessons when Mrs. McKay teaches.”

Arnesano mentioned, “My favorite classes are English, Sociology, Law and Political Science, and Childcare.”

Arnesano added, “I want to say thank you to all my teachers for being so responsible and kind, I love you so much!”

Ibba  said, “My favorite class is P.E. because I spent all the time talking with my friends.”

Helmig mentioned, “Ceramics and Sculpture are my favorite classes because of Mr. Kessler and in Germany we don’t have classes like these.”