Imagine packing your whole life into a suitcase, flying thousands of miles from home, and stepping into a high school where you know no one.

That’s exactly what three exchange students did this year at Dallastown. For Ainara Serrano, Aynar Scharnow, and Barnabus Marik, the journey wasn’t just about learning English or trying out American school lunches; it was about stepping far outside their comfort zones and discovering what it means to grow.

Ainara Serrano, a tenth grader from Murcia, Spain, said her exchange year was motivated by a desire for something new. 

“I wanted to get out of my boring routine. Since I was little, I’ve been fascinated with the U.S. because of the movies,” Serrano said.

She tried to come to the USA with no expectations, but the experience still managed to exceed them. 

“It’s kind of what I imagined, or even better,” she said.

Ainara said some of the hardest parts of her year were dealing with homesickness, adapting to American school culture, and accepting that her time here is almost over.

Early on, she swore off ever living abroad again, however after everything she’s done this year she says she would love to experience something like this again.

“My favorite memories are all with my friends, especially the ones tied to theater or just hanging out,” she said.

Compared to her school in Spain, she found Dallastown more diverse in both people and opportunities. 

“There’s more here: more classes, more activities, more everything! I honestly like it better,” Serrano admitted.

“This experience gave me so much. Despite the bad moments, I’m so grateful. This year has probably been the best of my life.”

Aynar Scharnow, a senior from Hamburg, Germany, also came to the U.S. seeking growth, adventure, and a deeper understanding of American life.

“I wanted to do an exchange year to experience the American high school life and learn about a different culture, living in a different country,” Scharnow said. 

“I wanted to learn new things and gain experiences that will impact me for the rest of my life, build lasting relationships, and have stories to tell in the future.”

His expectations were mostly based on what he had heard from others.

“My expectations for school in America were that everybody plays a sport or goes to the school games,” he said. “Based on what I heard from friends who had done an exchange year before me, I expected school to be easier and less demanding. I’d say those expectations came true.”

“Most people came to the football games, but the rest of the sports not as much, and most people do play a sport,” Scharnow said.

Despite being welcomed with curiosity, forming a tight-knit friend group wasn’t easy.

“Some of the biggest challenges were building relationships. Even though a lot of people were interested in who I am and asked questions, it was hard finding myself a friend group since most people have already known each other for a while,” he said.

Aynar’s favorite memory was a Christmas trip to the Grand Canyon.

“It was unreal to see, and even standing in front of it, I couldn’t fathom the actual sense of it.”

He found the American school system more relaxed and enjoyable.

“Comparing a US school to my school in Germany, it is easier and more fun. Here you have electives and classes you choose and want to take that will teach you things you are interested in,” Scharnow said.

“In Germany, we only have mandatory classes and no electives and you get graded for how you work in class which equals 40% of your grade so if you don’t participate in class your grade will drop severely, I realized here that as long as I finish my work on time I still get a good grade even if I do it last minute without paying attention in class.”

After finishing high school in Germany, where he still has two years left, he hopes to return back to the USA for college where he is considering studying engineering. 

“After I finish school in Germany, I want to come back to the US and go to college here, and then move here afterwards,” he said.

“I am still deciding on what colleges are going to be right and available. This exchange opened me up and made me realize that I want to live life not just in one place but see the world,” Scharnow said. 

Unfortunately, Barnabus Marik from Hungary did not respond to the interview questions, however his presence throughout the year left an impression on those around him, even without a formal reflection. 

As these students prepare to return home, they leave with more than just souvenirs and photos. They take new friendships, greater independence, and a broadened perspective of the world.

Their stories remind us that sometimes the best way to learn is to leap into the unknown. 

And that growth happens far beyond the classroom.