Dear Host Family,

My name is Ly, I am 17 years old. I am a high school student in Vietnam and am preparing to study in an exchange program in the US and am very happy to be able to become a student in the US and experience living as a person native with family. I see myself as a kind, hardworking, and friendly person. I really like doing things for the community such as volunteering, and participating in cultural and historical activities... to learn more knowledge about the place where I live and study, especially culturally and ethnically diverse country.

From an early age, my parents taught me the importance of learning about new cultures and languages. Of all the countries that I have learned about, the USA has stood out due to its rich history, culture, economy, and people there. I’m looking forward to meeting people from all over the world, from different kinds of backgrounds, and the American education system. I have always been interested in the USA and in fact, it’s one of my motivations to study English well.

I'm the kind of individual who can sit down and focus on 3 to 4 hours of dedicated studying. But when the weekend comes, I cherish the time I spend at home with my family. My dad and I often have coffee chats where I confide in him about my studies and seek his advice. My mom and I bond over household chores, even though I am a little clumsy at them. And my little brother? He is my badminton partner and my occasional rival when it comes to arguing over who gets the last ice cream. These moments remind me of what truly matters: connection, love, and the simple joys of life.

My curiosity has also led me to take on leadership roles in three projects that I am deeply passionate about. Being a Secretary General of the Youth Model United Nations, Vice President and Head of the Academic Department for a Psychology of Puberty project, and Co-founder of a project about Sleep Value for high school students, I have learned what it means to lead, collaborate, and make an impact. As Secretary General of the Youth Model United Nations, I have led a team of over 70 students to organize a conference that will attract nearly 200 participants. This experience taught me the importance of delegation, strategic planning, and effective communication, skills that I now apply to every project I undertake. For the project about the psychology of puberty, the President and I have developed an outreach Facebook page that reached nearly 1000 high school students and created 4 workshops with expert speakers, providing them with valuable information and resources. With the Sleep Value project, my co-founders and I are planning to implement a training program and a series of Facebook posts about some fascinating knowledge related to sleep that might help students understand the importance of sleep hygiene and improve their sleep habits.

But these experiences have not been without their challenges. There was a time when I took on too much, juggling leadership roles, schoolwork, and my personal interests, and it all came crashing down. My grades started to slip, I missed deadlines, and I felt like I was failing everyone, including myself. One particularly tough moment was when I forgot a major deadline for one of my projects. I had been so overwhelmed with responsibilities that it completely slipped my mind. When I realized my mistake, I felt a wave of regret and disappointment. But that failure became a turning point for me. I realized that I could not do it all, and that was okay. I started to prioritize, stepping back from some commitments and focusing on what truly mattered. I learned to use tools like planners and reminders to stay organized, and I began to find a better balance between my ambitions and my well-being. That experience taught me that leadership is not about doing everything, it is about doing what matters most and doing it well.

This lesson has shaped who I am today, and it is one of the reasons I am so excited about the opportunity to study in the United States. Since childhood, I have dreamed of studying abroad. The thought of immersing myself in an entirely new culture and meeting people from a completely different background naturally grants me a broader and multicultural perception. Watching vlogs from exchange students made my belief in taking this jump stronger. To me, this experience would mean everything, impelling me to grow, learn, and feed from it as much as possible, becoming the best version of myself.

I hope to achieve different goals academically and socially during my stay in the U.S. Academically, I want to do well and get adjusted to the American education system. Socially, I want to build meaningful relationships, immerse myself in American culture, and impart my own culture. My spoken English is an important goal for improvement; I also want to gain skills that will prepare me to face challenges ahead. My most important ambition is to come back home as a more confident, independent, and globally aware person. 

For me, studying abroad is not solely about academics, but rather something to do with new experiences, diverse perspectives, and personal growth. I am embarking on this journey with an open mind and a curious heart, knowing full well that this will further shape my immediate future as well as the person I intend to become. 

I am very grateful and always expect positive things from the host family and I will try to comply with what the host says so that they do not have to worry too much about me.  

Best regards,

Ly

 

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