Hey, my name is Leonie, I am 16 years old, and I have the opportunity to spend two years as an exchange student in Tasmania, Australia. During my time abroad, I attend Hobart College, which is an amazing school, and gives you so many opportunities to pursue your interests and develop yourself.
From the very beginning, I felt excited about this new adventure, but I was also a bit nervous because everything was so new to me and different to my home country. But the people here are very friendly and welcome, which made it easy for me to settle in quickly. I actually chose Tasmania because of a friend, but it was the best decision to come here, and I’m really looking forward to the next two years.
Tasmania has such a beautiful nature, a peaceful lifestyle, friendly people, and unique wildlife. It also has many beautiful beaches and national parks and compared to big cities, Tasmania offers a more relaxed and less stressful environment. Tasmania also has a strong education system and supportive schools for international students. What made Tasmania also special for me was that it is different from typical exchange destinations and that the people here are so friendly.
The school system is quite different from what I was used, but it is so much better. At the moment I am in Grade 11, where you have only 5 subjects, which you can freely choose according to your interests and which you can specialize in further. A typical school day starts at 8:45am and ends at 2:25pm. The school here is more tailored to your individual needs, which makes school a lot of fun and helps you learn a lot for your life. The lessons are more interactive and engaging, which I really enjoy. One of my favorite subjects is Art. Here you’ll receive individual support and learn a lot. In my course, everyone has their own studio practice place where they can simply leave all their current work-on progress and continue next time.
Outside of school I spend a lot of time with my host family and friends. We went on trips, explored new places, and experienced the local culture. I really look forward to the next trips we have already planned in the holidays. I enjoy these moments the most, because they are so special. This exchange really helped me grow as a person. At the beginning, I felt overwhelmed, but over time I became more confident. I learned how to handle new situations on my own and step out of my comfort zone. I already feel much more independent now than before I came here. My Englisch has improved a lot, especially in everyday conversations. At first, it was sometimes difficult to understand everything, but it quickly got easier and now I feel much more comfortable when I speak with others.
Overall, this experience is one of the best decisions of my life and I would definitely recommend studying in Tasmania to anyone who is thinking about going abroad. I already had a great time here and am very grateful for this opportunity and will never forget this time.
