Sam Barlow is among many high schools registered with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Fortunately for many, this means we have foreign exchange students who get to live the Barlow experience every year. Last year, four lovely students from around the world joined us at Barlow; this year, we have one. Her name is Daniela Marco Martinez, a senior at Barlow, and I have had the honor of learning more about her.
Daniela was born and raised in Barcelona, a city in northeastern Spain. She is now here in Oregon, attending Barlow. When asked what made her want to be a foreign exchange student, Daniela responded, “I have wanted to go on an exchange since I was little, and my parents also wanted to give me this opportunity.” When someone becomes a foreign exchange student, they leave their parents or guardians and live with a family in the new country they are traveling to. So, for parents to give their children the opportunity, they allow them to learn the ways of a new country and experience freedom in a new place. “I knew that I wanted to do it in the United States to improve my English, experience a different culture, and see things that I couldn’t see in my country,” Daniela said. Since Spain is on a different continent and an ocean away, it is very different from the US. So, some things that we are so used to in the US, and at Barlow, Daniela is getting to experience for the first time, and getting used to living them every day.
A new country and a new school are big changes for anyone. But out of all the High Schools in the US, Daniela chose Sam Barlow. She said, “I liked Sam Barlow because I think the people here are nice and supportive of each other, which I find really great.” Although the fall season is about to end, Daniela joined our incredible Cross Country program this fall and spent two months with her team. Daniela is also enrolled in Barlow’s Anatomy & Physiology class, taught by Andrea Anderson, which she tells me is her favorite. I asked Daniela about her plans after graduation from Barlow, such as college, her career, and her plans to go home. She responded, “After graduation, I think I will go back to Spain to finish my last two years of study, and then I’ll go to college.”
The Pacific Northwest, especially Oregon, is known for its nature and greenery. Daniela, who is new to the US, told me, “I think I like that it’s different from everything I’m used to seeing every day, especially all the landscapes… I’m not used to seeing this much nature in Spain.” While in Oregon, aside from school, Daniela told me she wants to volunteer at various places because, in Spain, she couldn’t until she turned 18 years old. There are many things to like about Oregon, but Daniela says, “I also appreciate how friendly the people are.”
Although Daniela is our only exchange student this year, the Barlow community loves to welcome new students from out of the country. This school year, we didn’t have enough hosting families that expressed interest in time to have more than one student in our school. Oscar Rethwill, one of our counselors here at Barlow, oversees all foreign exchange duties. So, if you and your family have expressed any interest in hosting for the 2025-2026 school year, you should set up a meeting with Mr. Rethwill in the counseling office so he can point you in the right direction before it’s too late.
