At the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, Gretna High School got the opportunity to host four exchange students. Alongside memories, these students have learned lessons that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
For them, America was a brand new experience. Many assumptions are made prior to visiting, opening doors to surprise.
“Everything was so big, and I quickly realized how different it was. Like, how different people look at America. Because, in Europe, I feel like a lot of people focus on the bad things and think it’s really just like the movies,” senior Daniela Praulina said. “But I was proven wrong, but in a good way.”
Praulina came from Latvia, a small European country on the Baltic Sea.
America can heavily differ from outside countries and the opinions they hold looking in on it.
“I had no expectations when I came here, so I’m very happy. I’m glad I was here and didn’t even realize how good of an experience just waited for me,” Praulina said.
Adjusting to a new environment is equally intimidating and fascinating. What someone experiences daily very well could be mindblowing to another culture.
“You feel instantly like family even though you just met these people. I think that’s the best part, and what I’ve learned is just be open and say yes,” senior Chanel Kinzl said. Kinzl came from Switzerland. Both Praulina and Kinzl joined Gretna Media. The other exchange students were Christina Ziller and Thyra Muhs from Germany.
The exchange program allows students to grow through a variety of experiences.
“The thing I will miss most is the family atmosphere, because I don’t think when you only know that you don’t understand how crazy and incredibly cool it is,” Kinzl said. “Here, you have so many people, you can be open with everyone.”
Who a person – exchange student or not – spends time with can be the difference in whether or not they enjoy the moment.
“The people around me are the people that make my home. Because without them, I wouldn’t have the memories and everything else. Like all of my church friends, all of my one act people,” Praulina said. “Even Gretna Media, all my journalism people. They are the people that made my experience the way it is. People are everything.”
Kinzl echoed what Praulina said as well.
“My favorite memory is to drive at night with MJ (Kushiner) in MJ’s car and with the music on, singing loud, the windows down,” Kinzl said. “She’s really my best friend here, and for the majority of people here, I’m just an exchange student. But she doesn’t see me as an exchange student, she sees me as a friend.
New countries are a lot to take in, and some of the biggest imprints come in the form of small moments and everyday occurrences.
“I just love it so much. I actually didn’t ever see anything like it. I actually teared up when I realized how cool it is to go to this school,” Kinzl said.
Journalism opened up the ability to speak and learn from the people that surrounded both Kinzl and Praulina. Both were part of the GHS journalism program.
“ I feel like I’ve practically learned to take photos, so that’s an amazing skill that I learned here, and getting out of my comfort zone,” Paulina said. “People always like to say, ‘Daniela get out of your comfort zone.” Most of the time you don’t do it. Then I was put in this school, knowing nobody, and making friends. Just say yes.”
All of the exchange students will be heading home soon.
“I feel like my friends are my everything because those were the best people I’ve met here. Everybody I’ve met here is just like the best. But I always like to say I will find my way back,” Praulina said.
