Being a foreign exchange student means: a year of change and a year of new experiences. Changes in food, ways to spend free time, and changes in favorite sports were required adjustments for Raffaele Agate (’26).
Agate is a foreign exchange student at AGHS. He is from Florence, a city in Italy with a population of around 400,000 people. Basketball is a popular sport in his hometown, along with the more dominant national sport, soccer.
Agate began playing basketball at 9 years old and learned techniques from coaches on his club team. He grew up watching Kobe Bryant, along with professional Italian basketball players, exposing him to different playing styles. Agate plans to join the AGHS basketball team and has attended pre-season practices..
“I am practicing a different way to play basketball, I am learning a different way from what I was taught,” Agate said
Boys basketball Coach Robiy Ellison is excited to have Agate on the team.
“[Coaching Agate] has been awesome,” Ellison said.
Ellison said that Agate is a sponge at practice, absorbing all of the information he is taught.
Ellison isn’t the only one who has enjoyed Agate’s presence; his teammates share similar opinions.
“He definitely boosts team energy and team chemistry,” varsity basketball player Aidan Emerson (‘26) said.
Along with basketball, Agate recognized the differences between living in the United States and in Italy.
“The teachers are more understanding here,” Agate said.
The American school system has more unifying activities and fun events, according to Agate.
“I have enjoyed the football games and school-wide rallies,” Agate said.
A notable academic difference between Italy and America is the focus of studies. In Italy, school is focused on a specific subject one wants to study, while in America, there is traditionally a more general education through 12th grade. Agate attended an Italian school for Ancient Greek and Latin translation before his exchange to the U.S.
After his year-long exchange at AGHS, he will go back to school in Italy for one more year of schooling because students attend 5 years of high school in Florence, rather than the 4 years American high school students are used to.
During his stay, Agate has visited places such as San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York.
“New York was my favorite, since you see it in so many different movies,” Agate said.
Agate is continually learning and adapting to the changes of being a foreign exchange student.
