For most teenagers, moving to a new school is not the ideal high school experience.


Although, most people move only a couple of hours away, for Shahzoda Rafiera that is not the case.

Rafiera is a foreign exchange student in the junior class this school year.

She is 17 years old and has come all the way from her home country in Tajikistan on for one academic school year. 

“I decided to come mainly to improve my English,” Rafiera said. “I’ve never been abroad from my country and I wanted to see a different country.”

Getting here was not a simple task to pass; hard work was definitely implied.

“I had to pass three rounds of FLEX program, three very long rounds. It was not so easy, but I did it because I really wanted to come here,” she explained.

The FLEX program stands for Future Leaders Exchange program and is a very huge honor to be selected for this particular program.


Students are selected from many different countries for their academic achievements, extracurricular and community involvement, and personal traits and characteristics for each individual.

Rafiera may be in Searcy alone, but other students were with her on her travels to our country.

“There were many other exchange students from my country and other countries as well, but they are now in other states in the US.”

Many thoughts crossed her mind when she first landed at the Washington D.C. airport.

“When I first arrived my first thought was ‘What a HUGE airport!’, and how different most people are than what I’m used to,” said Rafiera. 

While living here, Raferia notices many more differences from her daily life here than her daily life in Tajikistan, other than the people around her.

“In Tajikistan,” Raferia explained, “I also went to school from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., but the school itself is quite different. First of all, it’s not as big like SHS and we had to wear uniforms there. We also weren’tallowed to choose which classes or subjects we wanted to take.”

Since choosing her own classes was new to her, she chose some fun and challenging courses for the school year.

“I’m taking Spanish I, English III, which is very difficult to me. I’m also in oral communication, psychology, drama, geometry, and art which I really love!”

She said her favorite part so far about living here was going to the fair and watching the fair parade. 

“There’s not really anything I like least about the school or Searcy, except for the weather. When I first came here, it was so hot. But now it’s okay, I like the fall and rain,” she said.

Rafiera seems to be adjusting pretty well, considering the fact that she has only lived for about a month. 

Searcy has been very welcoming to Rafiera, which makes her stay even better.

“While I’m here, I’m staying with a lady named Beth whom I just met when I arrived. She’s very nice. I’ve also made a couple of friends at school too.”

Junior Mary Kate Rollins said, “We have a couple of classes together, so I’ve been showing her around some. I’m just trying to be a good friend and help her feel as welcome as possible. I’ve even given her a nickname, so I call her by Zody.”

If given the chance, welcome Rafiera in hopes that she enjoys Arkansas and even more, our country, and will be able to carry great memories and more knowledge with her back home to Tajikistan.