For foreign exchange students at Glacier Peak, senior year wasn’t just about graduation, it was about diving into a whole new world of experiences. Coming from around the world, Greta Gandossi, Giulia Masala, and Federico Zamolo spent their final year of high school miles away from home, learning not just in class, but through culture, community, and connection.

In Italy, high schools don’t offer school sports, prom, or graduation ceremonies, which made this year feel especially exciting for Greta. “We don’t have sports in school, so being here gave me the opportunity to try new ones. I’m super excited for prom and graduation, we don’t have anything like that at home. I also loved getting to take classes I’ve never had the chance to before,” Gandossi said.

Giulia had a similar experience, especially when it came to relationships with teachers and the overall school spirit. “The school here is so well organized, and the teachers were really nice to me. In Italy, it’s not like that. Prom was amazing, we don’t have that in Italy and I’m really looking forward to graduation, too,” Masala said. With her return home coming soon, she admitted she’s feeling sad to leave. “Everyone here has been so nice, and I hope I can stay in contact with them.”

For Federico, the highlight of the year was getting involved in sports such as football, wrestling, and soccer. “I had so much fun and met a lot of people through sports. Where I’m from, school doesn’t include activities like that. Here, everything is connected, you feel like you really belong,” said Zamolo.

As these seniors prepare to head home, their time at Glacier Peak has left a lasting impact. From team spirit to prom dresses, new friendships to final goodbyes, they’ve experienced a version of senior year they’ll never forget.