International Student Experience

Our Diverse Community

At Tallulah Falls School, students from every corner of the country and the globe come together to form a thriving community

At TFS, students from across the U.S. and around the world come together to form a vibrant and welcoming community. With more than 500 students representing many states and countries, our classrooms, dorms, and campus life are enriched by diverse cultures and perspectives. This unique environment encourages students to broaden their worldviews and build meaningful connections.

Global education is part of everyday life at TFS. Events like International Day celebrate heritage and traditions, while overnight class trips to Charleston, Florida’s Space Coast, and Chattanooga give international students a firsthand experience of American culture. These opportunities inspire understanding and help prepare students to become leaders with a global mindset.

Whether it’s a Georgia middle schooler partnered with a student from China for a science project, high school students from Spain joining South Carolina classmates in clubs and sports, or a student from the Bahamas sharing family time with basketball teammates, TFS unites learners from all walks of life.

Diversity is embraced here, and life in the beautiful Northeast Georgia mountains is the perfect setting to experience it.

Antigua and Barbuda
Austria
Bahamas
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Cayman Islands
Czech Republic
China, P.R.
Ethiopia
France
Germany
Ghana
Italy
Jamaica
Lithuania
Malaysia
Mexico

Montenegro
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
USA
Venezuela
Vietnam

International Student Spotlights

Rafaela Almeida Leao

Santana de Parnabia, Brazil

Full transcript on bottom of webpage

Alejandro Barbosa Delgado

Madrid, Spain

Full transcript on bottom of webpage

Jason Dong

Beijing, China

Selah Wiltshire

CLASS OF 2026

My name is Selah Wiltshire, and I’m a senior boarding student from St. George, Antigua. This is my third year at TFS, where I’m involved in swim, track and field, FCA, and serve on the Tribal Council for Residential Life. In this role, I listen to fellow students and work with counselors to make boarding life even better. My time at TFS has been life-changing. I’ve discovered new languages and cultures, built confidence in the classroom, and learned the value of independence and responsibility as a boarder. From trying new experiences—like swimming in a lake for the first time—to being supported by caring teachers and surrounded by kind classmates, TFS has prepared me not just for college, but for life.

Karen Sanchez

CLASS OF 2025

I am from Panama Oeste, La Chorrera, Panama. I’ve been a boarding student at TFS for two years. I have developed more confidence in myself and become more independent, and I have learned to value even the smallest things. From the moment I arrived, I felt very welcome by everyone. I love this school. I love Tallulah Falls. I love the teachers. They encourage students to be better and to be good individuals in life. When I had a hard day, teachers knew how to find a way to make me happy. As a boarder, getting to know people from different countries helped me create different perspectives. Even though we are from different countries, we share similarities. I have learned about many cultures, and now I want to visit those countries. I've made many friends here. I have loved being here.

Jason Dong

China

Trent Thomas

Bahamas

Vjera Radovic

Montenegro

Nikolina Dermanovic

Serbia

Junho So

South Korea

David Rodriguez Moreno

Spain

Peter Wang

China

Gabe Iluma

Nigeria

Programs

International Day:

Each year, a favorite day on campus is International Day. On this day, students share stories, images, music, dance, and songs that showcase the traditions and cultures of their countries. The presentations range from festive Balkan wedding performance to a dramatic traditional Aztec dance, as well as Spanish, Panamanian, Vietnamese, and Afro-Caribbean dances.

International Games Month:

Dinners and Cultural Celebrations:

Our dining services partner with our international community to bring authentic dishes to campus, sharing flavors from around the world during International Week and on special holidays.

Each year, President and Head of School Dr. Larry A. Peevy joins in the celebration of Lunar New Year with a special visit to an Asian restaurant, highlighting the school’s commitment to honoring global traditions.

Clubs:
Outings:

Clubs:

Outings:

Jason Dong - a student at Tallulah Falls School

from Beijing, China - Jason Dong in his native language

1. What is your name and where are you from?

2. How did you find out about Tallulah Falls School?

3. What are your favorite things about the school, the campus, and the location?

我很喜欢Tallulah Falls School的自然环境，因为坐落在一片森林中，所以空气非常好，很适合进行一些户外活动。比如说划船，登山等等。四季更替时，树木和植被的变化也给学习生活带来了独特的风景。这所学校的老师都非常的好，他们不仅专业知识丰富，而且非常耐心。无论是学术问题还是个人困扰，他们总是乐于帮助学生，提供指导和支持。这样的教育环境和师资力量让我感到非常幸运和满意。并且这所学校还提供多样的课程供学生们选择。

I like the natural environment of the school because it is located in a forest, so the air is very nice and it is good for outdoor activities. It's great for outdoor activities like boating, hiking, etc. The changing of the seasons, the changing of the trees and the vegetation also gives a unique view to the study life. The teachers at this school are very good, they are not only knowledgeable but also very patient. Whether it is an academic problem or a personal distress, they are always willing to help students and provide guidance and support. I feel very fortunate and satisfied with this educational environment and faculty. The school also offers a wide variety of programs for students to choose from.

4. How do you feel like TFS is preparing you for your for college? What are your plans when you graduate?

Tallulah Falls School会提供大学课程来让我们有机会获取大学所需的学分，并且会有老师来指导申请大学的需要以及规划高中需要修的课程，确保每一个即将毕业的学生可以很好地完成大学的申请。这所学校还提供AP考试的场地，让学生有机会获取AP的学分。我毕业后准备在大学学习生物专业，这所学校提供了很多生物方面的课程来帮助我打下生物方面的基础。让我可以对大学有更好的准备。

TFS offers college courses that give us the opportunity to earn college credits, and has teachers to guide us through the process of applying to colleges and planning for high school courses to ensure that each graduating student is well prepared to apply to colleges. This school also offers AP testing sites so that students have the opportunity to earn AP credits. I am planning on majoring in Biology in college after graduation, and this school offers a lot of Biology classes to help me build a foundation in Biology.

5. What sports and clubs are you involved in and which one has been your most favorite? Why?

在Tallulah Falls School，我参加了海洋俱乐部，户外俱乐部，象棋俱乐部，表演俱乐部，化学俱乐部，乒乓球俱乐部，游泳队。并且我们中国人还自主创建了中国文化俱乐部，来宣传我们自己国家的文化。其中我最喜欢的就是户外俱乐部，我之前提到说这里的环境非常好，所以户外俱乐部经常会去湖边或者山上做活动，每次都可以完全沉浸在这里美丽的风景和环境中，这让我可以放松我的心情，释放压力，所以这是我最喜欢的俱乐部。

At this school, I am involved in Ocean Club, Outdoor Club, Chess Club, Acting Club, Chemistry Club, Table Tennis Club, and the Swimming Team. We Chinese have also created our own Chinese Culture Club to promote our own culture. My favorite club is the Outdoor Club. As I mentioned before, the environment here is very nice, so the Outdoor Club often goes to the lake or the mountains to do activities, and every time I can completely immerse myself in the beautiful scenery and the environment here, which allows me to relax and release my stress, so this is my favorite club.

6. You were in a play. What was the best part of getting the opportunity to act in the play?

我曾经在2022年的情人节上台表演过一次以情人节为主题的演出，这是我一次全新的尝试，我虽然很紧张，但是我很好地完成了我的表演。对我来说，最棒的部分是能够尝试新事物，并在舞台上呈现出不同于平常的自己。这次演出不仅增强了我的自信心，也让我体验到了与众不同的喜悦和成就感。整个过程中，从排练到正式表演，我都沉浸在角色中，享受与观众之间的互动和连接。在这个学校，学生经常可以去尝试想尝试的新事物。

I had a Valentine's Day themed performance on stage in 2022, which was a new endeavor for me, and I was nervous, but I did a good job with my performance. The best part for me was being able to try new things and present a different version of myself on stage than I usually do. This performance not only boosted my self-confidence, but also allowed me to experience the joy and fulfillment of being different. Throughout the entire process, from rehearsals to the official performance, I immersed myself in the role and enjoyed the interaction and connection with the audience. At this school, students often get to try new things they want to try.

7. Can you share a little about your boarding experience and how that has impacted your life?

在住宿学校的四年中，我极大地提高了我的独立生活能力和自主学习的能力。这段经历教会了我如何自我管理，包括安排学习时间和日常生活，这使我在面对挑战和压力时更加从容不迫。此外，住宿环境还培养了我的社交技能，学会了如何与不同背景的同学建立和维持友谊。在学校，我有机会与来自多种文化背景的同学交流，这不仅拓宽了我的视野，也增进了对不同文化的理解和尊重。这些技能不仅在学术上帮助我取得了成功，更为将来的生活和职业道路奠定了坚实的基础。

During my four years at boarding school, I have greatly improved my ability to live independently and learn on my own. This experience has taught me how to manage myself, including organizing my study time and daily life, which has made me more comfortable in facing challenges and pressures. In addition, the residential environment has developed my social skills and taught me how to build and maintain friendships with classmates from different backgrounds. I have had the opportunity to interact with classmates from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, which has not only broadened my horizons, but also enhanced my understanding and respect for different cultures. These skills have not only helped me succeed academically, but also laid a solid foundation for my future life and career path.

from Santana de Parnabia, Brazil - Rafaela Almeida Leao in her native language

1. What is your name and where are you from?

2. Why did you choose Tallulah Falls School?

3. What would you tell a friend who's looking for a school about Tallulah Falls?

Se você está pensando em vir para a TFS

I’d tell him that if he wants a super welcoming environment, one that definitely lifts you, this is the perfect place for you. You’ll be welcomed, you’ll always have a space to take part in things. really think this is the perfect school for you. You’ll build a really big, really beautiful family here — honestly, I think this school is more than perfect for everyone here.

4. How are your classes here different from the ones back home?

Como minha vida acadêmica é diferente aqui

In Brazil, we know that classrooms are usually set up individually, but here we have this whole thing of switching classrooms. Also, the classrooms here are smaller, and you have a much more personal contact with the teacher, at least compared to what I had in my school, so I definitely think it’s going to make a big difference, but at the same time, not that big, because, you know, Brazilians have this much bigger vibe of being really warm and all that, so I definitely think if you come here, you’ll have a different experience, but not too drastic.

5. How is residential life?

Minha experiência na residência

I definitely think the best part is that you’ll be placed in a room, get to know each girl, they will ask your name, and you share a room with one of them, and from that moment on, you’ll form a really strong bond with your roommate, and she’ll become your best friend, depending on who it is, of course. And it really goes beyond that, because you’ll have to do your own laundry, cook your own food, and sleep, but these are basic things, and you’ll be surrounded by all your friends all the time, so I definitely think that’s the best part here, you get to live with your best friends 24/7. I think that’s really the coolest thing about it.

6. What’s your favorite food in the dining hall?

7. What are you involved in at Tallulah Falls School?

8. What would you tell someone to bring if they were coming to Tallulah Falls School?

Não se esqueça disso…

Definitely, photos of your family and friends to decorate your room, at least I have that, because you’re going to create a new environment for yourself, so bring a bit of home with you, so you can feel a bit more at ease. I’d definitely say bring photos, and maybe a personal item that you miss daily, just so you can look at it and remember that even though you’re in a new place and have a new family now, you will not be alone.