Growth, Learning and Fun are three adjectives Brazilian, Luiza Cordeiro, uses to describe her time in America as an exchange student at Forrest High School in Chapel Hill. Luiza, 16, hails from Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. As an only child, Luiza has stepped out of her comfort zone to come here to improve her English. She knows she has made her parents proud of her bravery, but her journey hasn’t been without trials. Leaving her parents at the airport in Brazil was extremely difficult and her first days at Forrest were nerve wracking. Therefore, her biggest lesson learned has been that not everything goes according to plan.
Luiza’s favorite school activity has been celebrating Forrest Homecoming. She is also looking forward to her first Thanksgiving that she will celebrate with her host family, Shane and Lisa Chapman of Chapel Hill. Lisa and Shane’s oldest daughter, Cadence, a senior at Forrest, is close friends with Luiza. They have attended dances, concerts and shopped and dined together during Luiza’s stay.
Luiza has discovered she hates milk duds but loves ice cream sandwiches.
Luiza plans to further her education one day by majoring in Journalism/Marketing. She loves the choices she has had in her education at Forrest. In Brazil, there are no elective courses offered.
Cadence, her host sister, says, “We just clicked instantly. I love her company and she makes me laugh. I’m so glad I met her.” A little piece of the Chapman family’s heart will always be in Brazil when Luiza leaves in December, but Cadence hopes to visit Luiza there one day soon.
