Chandler Nelson

2012-13 Outbound to France

Hometown: Ponte Vedra, FL

School: Ponte Vedra High School

Sponsor: District 6970, FL

Host: District TBA, France

Chandler's Bio

Bonjour! My name is Chandler Nelson, and I can't wait to go to France next year! I am 15 years old and I live in the beautiful city of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. My family is a very distant one, but my father has always been there for me. He has been such an encouragement to me throughout this entire foreign exchange program. At my home it is just my dad and I. I have one sister, Alex, who is 13 years old, but she recently moved up with my mom and step dad. I have moved 15 different times in my life and so, I have not seen any other family member other than my immediate family for years, and I only see my mom once a year. This doesn't really bother me though, I guess I have become numb to it due to the fact that people come in and out of my life so easily. I like meeting all the new people though, and I believe this will help me as I explore and experience the diverse cultures and lands of Europe. Throughout my life, I have always been athletic. Sports have been a major factor to me no matter where I have lived. I have played football, basketball, baseball, soccer, done weightlifting, and ran cross country and track. They have been a great way to make friends in all the different places I have been. Music is also an important thing to me. My dad plays bass guitar, so I have always been around music, but we have conflicting taste in music. He loves classic rock and instrumental music, which I can appreciate, but I listen to Christian rap, Christian rock, dubstep, and techno. I have started listening to some French music recommended by my newly made foreign friends and while it isn't “Christian” I still like most of it. I have found I like some music artist, such as Nadiya, Shy'm and Sexion D'Assaut. In school I don't have any favorite subject other than weightlifting and lunch, because my interest change every year based on the class and the teacher's teaching style. This year I really like Chemistry and the teacher says I'm a natural at it. I am in all honors classes this year and it is definitely harder, but I still hold at least a 3.2 GPA. I had never even pondered the thought of becoming a foreign exchange student before this year. I'm not even sure what hit me so hard and drove me to start this long and difficult journey, but I am all in and I hope to fulfill and even surpass the expectations of all the Rotarians who had enough faith in me to give a chance at this experience. I wish to thank everyone who is behind this program, that give so much of their time and energy to send all these kids across the globe and spawn world peace. I can't thank my dad enough for being behind me this entire way and making this whole thing possible for me. I can not wait to become a proud ambassador for America.

Chandler- Outbound to France