Every year, students arrive at this school from countries across the world, carrying different languages and customs. This year, senior Maria Eduarda, sophomore Joanna Funmilola and sophomore Mariam Mohammad each made this journey from Brazil, Canada and Egypt respectively. These students’ stories reveal the difficulties and the unexpected joys of adjusting to an American high school.

Maria Eduarda – Brazil

Maria Eduarda moved from Brazil when she was 17, when the transition to an American school came with a sense of loneliness. Though she already spoke English, connecting with peers proved harder than expected, since American students have spent years building friendships that are challenging for her to step into. “All Americans start studying together from kindergarten or elementary school,” Eduarda said. “They already have their own friend groups.”

The academic system was also a new experience. Daily schedules and grading policies were unfamiliar compared to those in Brazil, and she was initially placed in classes that were not the right fit for her. She found her footing throughout her classes over time, but not before navigating through academic struggles in her classes. “I was put in hard classes, struggled a lot, and then I realized I didn’t even need to be taking [those classes],” Eduarda said.

Eduarda arrived in the U.S. with high hopes shaped by American pop culture. While her reality did not quite match the fantasy she envisioned, she holds no regrets about experiencing it beyond what she had imagined. “Unfortunately, it’s not like High School Musical,” Eduarda said. “But it’s been a dream to be in a school like this.”

Joanna Funmilola – Canada

Joanna Funmilola moved to the United States after spending her childhood and early teens in Canada, and the cultural gap surprised her more than she anticipated. She had seen American high school life over social media and was excited, but differences in slang, TV shows, clothing and social norms took time to get used to. “I was really nervous coming from a different country,” Funmilola said.

Once she arrived, the energy of American school life delivered on its promise, where pep rallies and Friday night lights were experiences she quickly grew to love. “They don’t really do all that kind of stuff up there [in Canada]. It was so fun to have that experience,” Funmilola said.

Mariam Mohammad – Egypt

Mariam Mohammad arrived from Egypt around age eight. Coming from a traditional environment, she found the openness of American school culture striking, from the relaxed dress code — allowing for Crocs and pajama pants — to the wide mix of students from different backgrounds. “In Egypt, it’s more traditional,” Mohammad said. “Here it’s more diverse, more open.”

Despite moments of homesickness, Mohammad reflects on her experience with deep gratitude and hopes to one day return to Egypt to share what she has learned from American school culture. Her advice to any student facing a similar journey in immersing themselves into American culture is simple: “You’re not gonna regret it. It’s honestly a new adventure, a new story, a new chapter in your life,” Mohammad said.