Over the years, Milford High School has welcomed foreign exchange students from all around the world. Students come to MHS to embrace the typical American high school experience while also bringing their home country’s culture, language, and perspectives to the classroom, teaching us all a little something. Being a foreign exchange student allows students to travel and live in a new country by themselves for a year, all while facing new challenges and opportunities.
For the 2025/2026 school year Milford High School is honored to have Emma Duhem as our one and only foreign exchange student. Emma comes all the way from Lyon, France which sits near the east coast of the country. However, Emma says one of her favorite parts of France is the south because of its beautiful views of the bright blue Mediterranean Sea.
Emma has come to the United States as a foreign exchange student because she hopes to become fluent in English. She also believes this is a good experience to be away from her family in a new country so she can grow more independent. Emma says arriving in the United States was one of the most amazing experiences. She told us, “Driving home after landing at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport was one of the most surreal experiences. Driving into my host family’s neighborhood for the first time and seeing the typical American neighborhood with a colorful sunset in the sky was almost cliché, but also amazing.”
Gina Pryor, a counselor at Milford High School, plays a crucial role in helping foreign exchange students adjust to the new environment. She provides support in helping students adapt to the language barrier and the new learning environment. “It’s a big adjustment to come in as an exchange student, Pryor stated, “You’re suddenly living with a new family, attending a new school that is much different from your home school (more choices in classes, curriculum laid out differently, different daily schedule, our school is often much bigger than their home school), needing to make new friends, and doing it all in a second language. It’s a lot all at once at first, and I think these students are so remarkable for taking all of this on!”
Emma will be staying with a local Milford host family for the next year. She looks forward to making new friends and attending Homecoming, football games, Prom, and graduation! Emma also said she looks forward to trying popular American food that she has seen on TikTok, such as Crumbl and Raising Canes. We can’t wait to make her feel welcome at Milford this year!
Coming from a past foreign exchange student perspective, Till Bonau from Germany was kind enough to share some of his favorite memories. Till was a foreign exchange student here during the 2023 to 2024 school year as a junior. During his time here, Till participated in our HVU Swim and Dive Team, traveled to New York, Chicago, and Tennessee with his host family, went to prom and had so many other amazing experiences.
Till states that being a foreign exchange student really helped him grow as a person and learn so many new things on his own. He says, “Staying with my host family was one of the best experiences of my life. They were the best host family I could ever ask for! They welcomed me with open arms and made me feel as if I was one of their own.”
Milford High School students and staff have been very fortunate to have met and befriend exchange students from all over the world these past several years. We are thrilled to be welcoming another foreign exchange student in our building this year. We hope to make this a great year for Emma!