My family is made up of me, my sister, my mother, and my father. My sister is twenty years old and took part in an exchange semester three years ago. My mother is an English teacher and has been the one who encouraged me the most to pursue an exchange semester. My father always supports me—he takes me to all of my matches and constantly shows how much he believes in me.

We always spend time together on weekends: we have lunch as a family and sometimes play board games, table tennis, or basketball. On Sundays, we often visit my grandmother, with whom I have a great relationship. She always shows me how much she loves me by hugging me every time she sees me. I also spend a lot of time with my two younger cousins. I love playing video games or watching TV with them, as well as enjoying many outdoor activities. I always try to be the best cousin I can be and don’t mind spending entire days with them.

I would describe myself as an ambitious person. Whenever I start a new hobby or have a new experience, I try to learn as much as possible from it. When I meet new people, I tend to be shy at first, but as I get to know them better, I gradually open up and show them who I really am, without worrying about what they might think. I love to chat, laugh, and have a good time. I’m also good at making jokes—seeing people laugh at something I said is something I really enjoy.

As for my interests, my favorite activity is playing soccer. When I’m on the field, all the stress from school disappears, and being with my teammates is an essential part of my life. I play as a goalkeeper and train four times a week. I also enjoy playing video games, watching sports on TV (especially soccer, Formula 1, and basketball), and hiking. One of my greatest passions is astronomy—my dream is to become an astronomer one day.

Regarding the exchange student experience, my main goal—besides improving my English—is to experience a new way of life, meet new people, and discover what living in the United States is really like. Of course, I will miss my family and friends back in Italy, but I know they’ll still be there for me when I return. I’m really looking forward to becoming part of a new family in the U.S. and making new friends. Another reason I want to go on this journey is to become more aware of what I want to do in the future. As I mentioned, my dream is to be an astronomer, but if I discover another passion or hobby that could turn into a career, who knows? I might change my plans!

I love sports, friends, and nature. Food is a big part of our culture here in Italy—every region has its own culinary traditions. We’re known around the world for pizza and pasta, and I have to say they are my favorites! But I love all kinds of food and am always open to trying new things. Fortunately, I have no allergies or intolerances. My mother and sister are celiac, so I know what it’s like to deal with dietary restrictions, and I feel lucky not to have any myself.

My favorite family tradition is definitely Christmas: nothing beats opening presents and sharing a huge lunch with my closest relatives on such a special day!