Honoring Our Foreign Exchange Students

This 2024–2025 school year, Sauk Rapids-Rice High School had the pleasure of welcoming two incredible foreign exchange students into our Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm family, and now it’s time to celebrate the impact they made and the memories they’ll take home.

From school traditions to community involvement, these students dove in with open minds and open hearts. They weren’t just visitors—they became a part of us.

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Michelle, a high school senior from Germany, shared that one of her favorite memories was the Track Mega-Meet:
“The vibe was amazing! Everyone was so supportive and we even got some cake for placing 3rd. This is an experience I won’t forget!”

She also reflected on her first leadership project, which led to a memorable meeting with Mayor Hunstiger:
“It gave me the opportunity to get to know Sauk Rapids better and also share some of my own leadership experience. I felt really honored to have this chance.” 

When asked what she’ll miss most, Michelle said:
“All the moments I collected with the people here. How amazing the teachers are, what great friends I found, and all the silly little interactions.”

She leaves with valuable insight gained over the year:
“I definitely learned to not take everything too seriously. This year was refreshing—I learned to enjoy it. It gave me the chance to learn something about myself.”

Her advice to future exchange students:
“A lot of things will be scary at first and there might be some hard times—but it will be alright! Train a positive mindset and be open and confident. That’s how you gain as much experience as possible.”

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Anano, our second exchange student and high school junior from Georgia, said her favorite memory was Homecoming week:
“The spirit days, the football game, and the dance—it was such a fun and energetic way to feel like part of the school community. I had never experienced anything like it before.”

One of the biggest surprises during her time here:
“How casual the student-teacher relationships are. Teachers joke around and really try to connect with us. It makes learning feel more relaxed and enjoyable.”

When reflecting on what she'll miss, Anano said:
“The friends I’ve made here—they’ve become like family. I’ll also miss little things like school lunch conversations, driving around town, and so on.”

Anano is excited to tell friends and family back home about American traditions like Thanksgiving and school spirit weeks:
“It gave me a deeper look into the culture in a way that’s hard to understand until you live it.”

Describing the year in one word? “Transformative.”
“Because I feel like I’ve changed in so many ways—personally, emotionally, and culturally. It wasn’t always easy, but it helped me grow so much.”

Anano's advice for the next student to take this journey?
“Say ‘yes’ as much as possible. Try new things, talk to people even if you’re nervous, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The more you get involved, the more rewarding the experience will be.”

We are so proud of the growth, curiosity, and positivity that both of these students brought to Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. Thank you for being part of our journey—and wherever life takes you next, you’ll always have a place in our #SRRStorm community. 

 View a few photos from their year!