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Exchange Student Connects with Community by Sharing Talents

May 12, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

A couple of years back, Mark, one of our host parents from Pennsylvania shared a remarkable story about Levi, an exchange student from Norway. Even now, thinking back to this story, we are inspired. It reminds us how students from other countries can connect so profoundly with their host community through their talents and interests.

For Levi, his talent and passion for soccer was what helped him forge a place in the hearts and record books of his host community. Mark’s inspiring account of Levi’s accomplishments follows.

Man of Steel

academic year in america international exchange student norway soccerLevi, from Norway, and the West Allegheny High School’s Boys Varsity Soccer Team made it to the WPIAL AA Championship Game after an outstanding regular season and post-season record. They dominated the WPIAL AA league all season and smashed numerous West Allegheny High School’s Boys Varsity Soccer Team records.

As a starting defenseman, Levi and his two other starting defenseman teammates became a “Steel Curtain” shutting down their opponents. Levi and his teammates played the WPIAL AA Championship Game at Highmark Stadium in Station Square, the home of Pittsburgh’s professional soccer team, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The setting of the stadium is awesome; spectators are able to view the game while looking out over the Monongahela River to the beautiful skyline of Downtown Pittsburgh.

Levi and his soccer team won the WPIAL AA championship game by defeating the South Fayette Lions by a score of 1-0. As a result of winning the championship, they moved onto the PIAA AA state championship series. They defeated their first three opponents in the state championship series by a combined score of 11-0 earning the privilege to play in the PIAA AA state championship game in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, they were defeated in overtime at the state championship. The game was broadcast live on the Internet so Levi’s natural parents, brother and sister were able to watch the game live in Norway!

Levi has had an incredible first three months since arriving in Pittsburgh from Norway and has had remarkable achievements. Congratulations Levi on all of your outstanding achievements in such a short period of time here in the USA; these achievements and memories will certainly last a lifetime and be forever cherished.

If you are an AYA student and have found a great way to connect with your host community through your unique talents and interests, we’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or reach out on Twitter or Facebook if you’d like to share. Your story may encourage other foreign exchange students to find ways of making special connections during their stay in America, simply by doing the things they love.

Host Families, Students Academic Year in America, AYA, Exchange Student, exchange students, exchange year, foreign exchange, host dad, host family, norway, passion, soccer, talent

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AYA is sponsored by the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1967. Its mission is to promote worldwide understanding through cultural exchange. Learn more >

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