Adrian graduated from the French American Academy 8th grade in 2019. He is now attends Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania.
Attended FAA: Kindergarten to 8th Grade
Current School: Muhlenberg College, PA

“The FAA prepared me to be different and have a mind of my own. Because the classes were smaller and had many different teachers along the way, it helped me connect more with the people around me and know what information to really take in during class by always being able to ask questions and work with peers, as there weren’t many of us in a class.”
Q: Tell me about your interests and academic pursuits?
I’m interested in pursuing business administration and finance as my majors. I’m also interested in computer science and statistics as they can help me become more qualified to get a job in the future that involves code or even data collection.
Q: Tell me about your “bilingual journey” – that is, when and why were you enrolled in the French American Academy, and why did your family choose a bilingual education for you?
I was 5 years old when I started with the French American Academy. Since my father was French, and I have a lot of family in France, it was no doubt to be enrolled in a school where I could learn French but at the same time get an excellent American education.
Q: Sometimes bilingualism benefits us in unforeseen ways … you never know when knowing multiple languages will open the world up unexpectedly. How have you benefited from your bilingual education?
I have 100% benefited from being bilingual. First of all, when I tell people that I speak French fluently, I am always praised and complimented for it, which gives a good impression. Bilingualism has not only made it easier for me to communicate with my family, but it has also deepened my understanding of French culture and allowed me to connect with other French-speaking communities around the world.
Q: Were there any particular experiences, classes, or projects at The French American Academy that influenced your future field of study in college?
The French American Academy taught me discipline and respect. This, for my field of study in business, helps a lot because you have to be patient and really connect with others in order to be successful in the field, and I have to credit the FAA for getting me ready for it. When I was in the FAA, we didn’t really have business classes, as I was only in kindergarten to 8th grade. However, using computers from a young age at the FAA, like learning how to type efficiently and use Canvas or Google Chrome, helped me with what I am learning now, like computer science or even managing Excel and Word and creating presentations.
Q: How did your time at the FAA prepare you for the challenges of High School and College?
The FAA prepared me to be different and have a mind of my own. Because the classes were smaller and had many different teachers along the way, it helped me connect more with the people around me and know what information to really take in during class by always being able to ask questions and work with peers, as there weren’t many of us in a class. In my opinion, this helped me more in bigger classes, like in public school, because I was able to connect more with other students and teachers/professors.
Q: Can you think of any fond memories, anecdotes, or unforgettable teachers from your time at the FAA?
The best memories I have from the FAA are the friends I made along the way, the unique trips we took as a class, and being part of the FAA soccer team. Some of the friends I made there are still close connections I’ll have for the rest of my life. Although it was hard to keep in touch with most of them during high school and college, I can still say I’ve maintained those friendships, thanks to the unique bonds we formed in small classes.
Another memorable part of the FAA was the trips we took as a class. During my time there, we visited places like Canada, Rhode Island, Boston, and even as far as Arizona. Not only were these trips exciting, but I got to share them with my classmates and truly enjoyed the experiences, even with my teachers being part of it.
Soccer has always been a big part of my life, especially now as I’m on the soccer team at Muhlenberg College. My love for the game started at the FAA and has never left me. Being teammates with my classmates, sharing that passion, and going to the same school brought us closer together and made us fight for each other on the field. I want to shout out my coach, Richard Guyot, as he really developed me into the player I am today by always showing confidence in me and others. He was also our gym teacher for many years. Our other coaches were also excellent, and I want to thank them as well.
I also want to thank some of my other teachers, especially the ones during middle school. My music and arts teacher, Mr. Brasseur, was very influential to my creativity and always encouraged me to be the best version of myself and try new things, like the drums. My long-time science teacher Cathy, my English teacher Mrs. Karam, and my French teacher Madame Venturelli, and many more. There are so many other teachers I can thank, but it’s such a long list. I can say all of my teachers were very good and helped me a lot in my young education!