Dear Family, First of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to learn about me and read this essay. My name is Roman, and I currently live in Kyiv, Ukraine. I am finishing 10th grade and plan to complete 11th grade in the United States. I consider myself an adventurous person who loves exploring new countries, learning about different cultures, discovering fascinating places, and tasting traditional foods. When it comes to my hobbies, I am passionate about tennis. I discovered this sport about a year ago when I stumbled upon a Wimbledon broadcast. From that moment on, I fell in love with the game. My biggest inspiration is Novak Djokovic—just imagine the level of dedication and skill required to compete at the highest level even at the age of 40! Besides tennis, I am also a big fan of skiing. My family and I try to visit the mountains at least once a year. This year, for example, I went on a ski trip with my friends, and I can confidently say it was one of the best experiences of my life. There’s nothing quite like racing down the slopes with friends, pushing each other to improve through a bit of friendly competition. At school, regardless of the workload, I perform well. Of course, there are rare occasions when I don’t receive the highest grades, but that happens maybe once a month. I also consider myself a proactive person with leadership qualities. For instance, this year, I organized a computer game tournament at my school and arranged food tastings with potential cafeteria suppliers. I have a deep interest in exact sciences, particularly mathematics and physics, and I plan to build my future around them. That is why I study at one of the top lyceums in Ukraine. My dad is the director of a logistics company, but more than that, he feels like a friend to me. There are no barriers between us—he always tries to stay on the same wavelength as I am. He even learns slang words to keep up with me. Admittedly, it might look a little funny when a 40-year-old man tries to speak like a teenager, but I don’t judge him. Instead, I admire him for making the effort to connect with me on such a personal level. My mom, on the other hand, is quite different from my dad. She has a more disciplined approach and occasionally scolds me when I forget to do my chores. But I understand that this is her way of showing love and care. Now, I am really curious about what it would be like to live with another family—people with different personalities, or perhaps, people who are not so different from my own family. I would also love to share some of my traditions with you. Cooking is something I enjoy, and I would be delighted to prepare traditional Ukrainian dishes for you, such as borscht, varenyky, and syrnyk. I truly believe that Ukrainian cuisine is among the most delicious in the world! Additionally, I’d love to teach you a few Ukrainian words so that when we meet in the future, we can have a small conversation in my native language. Finally, I’d like to dedicate a separate paragraph to my brother because he is a truly special person in my life. Although we have had our fair share of conflicts and endless arguments over trivial things, deep down, we both know how much we love each other. When it comes to serious matters, we always have each other’s backs and would never leave one another in trouble. By nature, we are completely different people, but when we team up, we become unstoppable. Now that I realize I’ll be moving to the U.S. in six months, I feel a little sad. However, at the same time, I look forward to bringing Tolik a souvenir and sending him pictures of my experiences so that he knows I’m doing well. Warm regards, Roman