Manitou Springs High School staff and students have been missing the presence of exchange students since March of 2020. MSHS has always hosted as many as 8 exchange students a year, but there has been a sudden disappearance due to various reasons, mainly COVID-19.

Terrence Batson, a world language teacher at MSHS, has been involved with exchange students over the years. “My role is to be an unsung advocate for the exchange students,” Batson said.

Being involved with the students, Batson seemed to form a personal attachment to the presence of exchange students. He sees several opportunities and positive experiences from hosting students from other countries. “[Hosting exchange students] really means a lot because it gives our students a chance to see the world without traveling,” Batson said. “I think it also helps students understand culture in ways that they probably didn’t before by getting to know the person and having a relationship with that person. You gain insight to the person but you also gain insight into where they’re coming from and what their worlds and culture is like as well. So that’s super important.” 

Batson also seems to believe that having exchange students benefits the exchange students by giving insight as to what America is really like. “I think a lot of times students have perceptions, especially in Europe, of what America is like. Everybody’s wearing a cowboy hat, [and has] a southern accent from Texas,” Batson said.

Ashlyn Thompson (12), who hosted an exchange student Natalija Budzane from Latvia her freshman year, formed a powerful bond with the group of exchange students and misses their presence. “I think it just brings in a lot more diversity than we usually have. It brings in different perspectives,” Thompson said.

Thompson believes that the district should bring exchange students back, and she seems to like the benefits they bring. “I do think we should bring them back,” Thompson said. “I think it was great. We had quite a few that played sports…and they brought a lot of fun, like good things for everyone to be around. So I would definitely say we should do it again.”

Meleah Perkins, MSHS counseling center secretary, has hosted a total of 8 exchange students over the years; and she has a firm opinion on them. She speculates the reasons for the sudden disappearance of the students. “So I’m gonna say it’s probably from COVID. Well, that was part of it,” Perkins said.  

When COVID-19 hit, the exchange students at MSHS had to go home early.  Perkin’s exchange student, Mariam Gachechiladze, left at the end of March 2020. Her farewell to MSHS had to be done through a letter posted on The Prospector.

During the 2020-2021 school year, we were still faced with COVID. “The next year, we just didn’t [have exchanged students], I think because of COVID. And I don’t know why [ we don’t have them] this year, if it was because of COVID or what the reasoning was,” Perkins said.

Although no one seems to know the concrete reason for their disappearance this year, everyone seems to want them back. Batson, the advocate for them, has some final words about their sudden disappearance. “It’s disappointing, to be honest. I think having exchange students in our school is a tremendous opportunity. And one that was lost this year, for whatever reason. So it’s sad. And I hope, my hope is that we will have exchange students again, among us and in our school,” Batson said.