“I really like this Elk Grove High School. Although many people complain about it, I think this is a great school,” freshman Edward Vere said .
With EGHS filled with familiar complaints about homework, it is unusual to hear actual compliments about EGHS.
Vere, who has recently moved to the U.S. from the Philippines, had only good things to say about the school and its many facilities.
“It’s really nice here. Back in the Philippines, our library was a small room filled with books,” Vere said. “So I was amazed at the computer labs and library when I first came here.”
At EGHS, there are students and staff members from all walks of life and as a diverse community, it celebrates the differences of all its people. A large part of our community are first-generation immigrants to the U.S.
For a majority of students, most of the academic problems they face at school are simple. It is usually a matter of not understanding the subject matter. After spending some time on the matter with a teacher, a solution is reached. However for students that come in learning English as a second language it is a completely different story.
Moving to the U.S. from a foreign country creates not only a large language barrier that creates problems with the learning experience, but it is also creates an extremely large culture shock. Math teacher Persida Bujdei recalls her first day of school.
“My mom dropped me off at school with my sister,” she said. “I didn’t know a word in English and on top of that I had never been to school. I cried for the better part of the day.”
Bujdei moved to the U.S. with her family from Romania when she was seven years old. Her parents, wanting to escape the Communist government back in Romania, hoped to achieve a better life and future for their children.
Many families have been coming to the U.S., the land of opportunity, for the same reasons as Bujdei’s family. The U.S. truly is the land of freedom, where many immigrants go to in search of success.
Looking back on the experience now, Bujdei has truly come very far. For the most part she credits her family for supporting her and easing the transition into American culture. She also credits her love for school.
“When I first came here, I had no experience of school and of learning,” she said. “As nerdy as it sounds, I fell in love with school. I just love school.”
For senior Misheel Tserenbat, however, her experience of moving to the U.S. was slightly different. She was already 13 when she moved here from Mongolia. Tserenbat worked through ESL and by sophomore year she was exited out of the program.
Similar to Tserenbat’s experience, senior Miguel Rodriguez started out in ESL classes. However, he is now in honors and AP classes.
“For many people, it isn’t much to be in the high classes, but for me it means a lot. I started from being at the bottom and now I’m at the top. It makes me feel really proud.”
Although presently Tserenbat is very content with living in the states, she still remembers some of the more difficult adjustments. Coming to the states meant that she had to leave all her family and friends and come to a land where she did not understand the language.
In Mongolia, students there spend years together in the same class. They grow up together. The subjects taught there are also different from the U.S.
“My step-dad helped me a lot, especially in history. If I had any questions, I would ask him and he would try to help me out,” Tserenbat said.
In Mongolia, the communities there are very small and close. Everyone knows each other and it is homogeneous, the complete opposite of the U.S.
“It was really hard at first. I went from living with friends that I had known for years to being by myself. I really missed my friends and family. I still miss them,” said Tserenbat.
Overcoming difficulties of social and racial barriers, it is quite amazing to see how far these members of the EGHS community have come.
However, it is more amazing to see how humble and appreciative they all are from the experiences and possibilities normal American citizens take for granted everyday.
“Although people can be rude when they act arrogant by making fun of the way I speak, I still really like it here,” Vere said. “Everything is so much nicer.”
By: Yumi Miyazaki