I have an exchange student application due April 1, and I just want some last minute revisions to my letter. I’m hoping to submit it as soon as possible, so please help!

Dear Host Family,

My name is XXXXX, though I prefer to go by Allegra(my middle name). I’m a sophomore at a preparatory school in northern California, and I’m really looking forward to meeting you. I’m currently 15 years old, and I live in northern California. I’m trying to travel to all seven continents by the time I graduate high school. So I’m really glad to be able to cross one more continent off of my list. So far I haven’t visited Australia, Europe, Asia and Antarctica. I love to travel and see new things, and I’m really excited to visit. I am currently studying two languages at school, Spanish and American Sign Language, both of which I’m really enjoying. I love learning new languages but I’m not very good at it.
Some of my other hobbies include horseback riding, soccer, photography, reading and wandering. I love to wander around taking pictures and looking at different things. A lot of times on weekends my friends and I visit flea markets and outdoor shops and look around for a couple hours. I love to cook, so I’m hoping to learn some new dishes, and maybe even teach you a few. I especially love desserts. I really enjoy being outdoors, and discovering new things. Because I live in California, I get to enjoy a mix of many different cultures and ideas, but I would still like to learn more about the way people in other countries live.
I’m an only child, so I’ve never had the experience of living with brothers and sisters. I have very close friends that I would consider siblings, but I haven’t gotten to experience the real thing yet. I am currently trying to convince my parents to host an exchange student because I think it would be a great opportunity as well as being fun. I know that my friends often complain about having siblings, but I really want one. Even if we didn’t get along it would be nice to have someone else my age in my house.
I love my school, and even though I don’t always enjoy all of the classes (especially math) I really like my teachers. My school is very small, about 400 students, but this summer we are expanding and adding another building, so we will grow to about 500-600 students. I’ve gone to small schools all of my life so I’m used to it, but it will be great to meet so many new people. At school, I play soccer and focus on English and History. I also really enjoy the arts and I’m taking an amazing photography class this year. I enjoy soccer, but my school team practices everyday and it’s hard for me to do that and focus on schoolwork. This year I decided to take a break from soccer (only school soccer) and try rock climbing. I love it! I’m afraid of heights so I was originally scared that I would fall, but now I’m getting really good, and my friend and I go twice a week.
I have a very close relationship with my parents, especially my mom, but I don’t get to see them as much as I would like. While I do live with them, we are all so busy with work and school we don’t see each other as much. I do a lot of extra curricular activities, as well as spending a lot of time out of the house with my friends. My dad is a producer who works on advertising and movies, and my mom is a researcher focusing on public health. We often have movie nights together, and we try to have dinner together every night, but I wish I could see them more often. Luckily, I don’t get homesick, so I think this trip will be very fun. I’ve been going to sleep away camps, and on trips without my parents since I was 8 or so, so I’m used to being away from them. Every summer I visit my grandparents in New Jersey/New York and I visit my other grandmother on my mom’s side in Indianapolis by myself. Often in New Jersey/New York I will meet up with my dad and we fly to Martha’s Vineyard to visit my other cousins. I have traveled all over the US and I’m looking forward to traveling more in another country.
I’m really looking forward to spending time with your family, and I know that this will be an amazing trip.

Best Wishes,

XXXXX