Westview High School junior Abbie Ruckman spent a month in Paris in June and July, came home with college credit and advanced into Honors French 7-8 for the 2026-27 school year.
Ruckman participated in the French Language & Culture program through CIEE Global Navigators from June 7 through July 4, The Nexus, Westview's student newspaper, reported Friday, Aug. 28.
She also received a $1,000 scholarship to help cover the program's $7,950 tuition.
The four-week program combined daily French lessons with cultural excursions and free time to explore the city. Students were expected to speak French with one another throughout the stay, not just with locals.
"Acting as a local I think was my favorite part because towards the end it felt like I was one," Ruckman told The Nexus.
"I could navigate the metro mostly without my Google Maps and speaking to locals became lighter and quicker."
Ruckman described riding on the back of a moped through cobblestone streets during France's summer solstice festival, Fête de la Musique, on June 21.
She said music played morning through night across the city, with musicians performing jazz, pop and EDM on the streets while crowds danced.
The program included visits to the Eiffel Tower and the Seine, plus two-hour lunch breaks that let students roam the city on their own.
Ruckman said the mix of structured learning and independent exploration deepened her connection to French language and culture.
Only about 2% of U.S. high school students study abroad each year, according to CIEE, which offers need-based and merit scholarships covering $500 to full tuition for high school students.
The Paris program requires at least one year of high school French and is open to students 14 and older.
She wants to go back.
Ruckman said she hopes to attend college in France. She spoke during her trip with the daughter of Mademoiselle Clevenger, a Westview French teacher who lives in Paris.
Students interested in CIEE's summer 2027 programs can find scholarship information on the organization's website.
