With only two years of French under her belt, Lorna Kelly experienced the ultimate leap of faith and decided to travel abroad instead of a traditional junior year in an American high school.

As for her inspiration of the journey, that is thanks to her mother. At the same age, her mother (NHS Technology Specialist Polly Kelly) traveled abroad and wanted her to experience the same immersion of culture that she had.  Mrs. Kelly brought it up at dinner and later they found themselves filling out an application for Lorna. She applied November 2017 and waited until June to receive a host family.

Now she is off to France.

Like a cricket in a desert, Kelly felt out of place and slightly in fear of what is to come. Settling into Erôme, France and meeting her host family was exciting and nerve wracking all at once.

Regarding school, she wishes for a lazy day — wearing a simple ponytail to collect her long hair — but she must dress to impress because the French never take a day off when it comes to fashion in the public eye. Additionally, meeting new people in school that speak a language she hardly knows is challenging, but having class with the same people helps her close the gap.

“There are 18 other kids in my class, and I have every single class with the same kids.”

Through her time with these people, she met one of her best friends, surprisingly from Taiwan, and from there on every daunting step seemed a little easier.

As she continues through her time abroad, she realizes that this experience is one she does not want to end. She is now looking into possibly taking a gap year. To travel more and experience what else is out there. Kelly recommends that everyone take time to go someplace new and stay there for a while for it is the ultimate adventure.