Since the beginning of the year, senior Kim Koeckeritz lived without her mother.  Instead, Koeckeritz is living with a host family.

“I want to show my friends and family I can make it on my own,” she said. “I can stand on my own two feet.”

Koeckeritz came to the United States from Germany earlier this year and lives with a host family, the Dykes.

“I really like my host family,” she said. “They are pretty nice.”

Since Koeckeritz came to the U.S., she has joined the tennis team. She chose to play tennis because she also played in Germany. While on the team Koeckeritz has made new friends, and loves going to practice for the entertainment and exercise. Although practicing in Germany was fun she prefers practices here.  In Germany she practiced for one hour, once a week. In Mansfield, she practices every school day for about three hours.

“I have played tennis before and I really like it,” she said.

Although Koeckeritz enjoys being in Texas, she misses things in Germany. She especially misses her family, the transportation system and the food.

“The bread. We had really good bread,” she said.

Before Koeckeritz flies back home later this June there was one thing she hoped to accomplish here.

“I want to leave a legacy. A Kim legacy,” she said.