Meet Sofia Gioffre, Pine Bush High School’s newest exchange student.
She is originally from Italy, specifically the island of Sardinia, located approximately 150 miles west of the Italian mainland. From an early age, she has always wanted to travel the world. But more than anything, she wanted to become an exchange student in the United States.
It’s been over two months since her arrival in Pine Bush, and she is settling in very well. Her naturally easygoing and kind personality has made her a fan favorite. She’s involved in Interact Club and Culture and Cuisine Club and has expressed interest in trying out for the girls’ basketball team in the winter.
Adjusting to life in a new country can be challenging, whether it’s overcoming language barriers or learning about cultural differences. It’s important to build strong connections with classmates and teachers to make the exchange student experience much more enjoyable. “I think the students see me as their classmate or their friend and not as an exchange student,” said Sofia.
Her favorite class is Modern World Issues, which is taught by Mr. Andrew Britto. The class consists of discussions, presentations, and projects centered on world events and cultures. “I really enjoy his class,” said Sofia. “We’re doing a project on countries that are not really known. My assigned country is United Arab Emirates.”
Mr. Britto himself has built a strong rapport with Sofia since her arrival. He enjoys having highly engaging classroom discussions with her and applauds her genuine interest in exploring new ideas. “Sofia has been a wonderful addition to our Modern World Issues class,” he said. “She is bright, hard-working, and engaged in the work. She brings a unique perspective and strong work ethic, which I believe rubs off on the other students.”
Above all, Sofia carries a deep appreciation for culture and language. As a native Italian speaker, she is highly motivated to become fluent in English and has already achieved a high proficiency level. She is also fluent in Spanish and can speak some French. She believes that being multilingual not only helps her become more immersed with the world, but can also serve her well in her future.
When asked about her plans after graduating, she will attend college in Italy and pursue a degree in International Relations. She wants to become a diplomat or pursue a career in international politics. She hopes that her experience as an exchange student will provide her the necessary skills to overcome any obstacles along the way. “I want to be more independent and feel that I can do anything all by myself,” said Sofia.
She is currently living with her host parents, Kelly Bassett and her husband, Anthony Buono. Kelly is an active member of the Wallkill East Rotary Club, which oversees the student exchange program. Kelly was once an exchange student herself, living in several cities across Brazil over the course of a year. She described the experience as transformative and believed it was crucial to her personal development.
Sofia has already established herself as an honorary family member to Kelly and Anthony, and she will also certainly leave a mark on the Pine Bush school community. The district is proud to have Sofia as one of their own and wishes her a successful and happy year!