Congratulations Nacel Open Door Star, Ella!

Nacel Open Door (NOD) is excited to introduce one of our amazing international students and NOD Star, Ella from Belgium!

Ella’s exchange year is a shining example of a student stepping outside their comfort zone, saying yes to new opportunities, and making the most of their time in the United States. When she first arrived, Ella was not always confident in her English. Like many international exchange students, she sometimes felt self-conscious about her grammar, needed extra time to think through what she wanted to say, and at times used a translator to help her communicate.

However, Ella did not let that hold her back.

Throughout the year, Ella challenged herself in the classroom, taking courses that interested her and helped her build her vocabulary, including psychology and anatomy. She also found great success in journalism and became a regular writer for her high school newspaper. By the end of the school year, Ella was recognized for her strong academic performance and received her school’s Journalism Award! 

Ella’s willingness to get involved also extended well beyond her classes. She was a three-sport athlete, participating in cross-country running, Nordic skiing, and track. She also took part in a musical with her host family, which was performed at their church.

Ella’s exchange year was also shaped by the support she received from her host family, the Tieman family in Minnesota. Ella’s placement came together later in the season, when some schools were already full or no longer accepting exchange students. However, her host family worked closely with NOD to help find a school option that would be the right fit for her, and when a school was found near where her host dad worked, he offered to drive Ella each day so she would be able to attend.

That support helped make Ella’s school experience possible, giving her the chance to take on new challenges, become part of her school and community, and make the most of the opportunities in front of her.

This fall, Ella will attend university in Belgium, where she plans to study journalism.