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Ray Zhu, a Freshman at Pennsylvania State University majoring in Marketing, recently sat down with us to discuss his unique High School experience here in the United States. Graduating in 2016 from Metairie Park Country Day in Louisiana, Ray has spent the past few years acclimating to American life in the southern part of the United States; an area widely known for its incredibly rich history and breathtaking scenery. Located just outside of New Orleans, Ray had the opportunity to ingrain himself in southern culture which includes a beautiful music scene, countless historical landmarks and architecture, and most importantly, phenomenal food.
Ray also applied to some schools in more well-known regions like Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, but ultimately decided to immerse himself in the most culturally soaked hotspot. For Ray, Metairie Park Country Day was his top choice for high school education in the United States due to the rich southern culture and the low Chinese population. Ray knew he would quickly adjust to living in the United States if he pushed himself out of his comfort zone, and was able to surround himself with a completely unfamiliar culture. He was also well aware that his language development and social skills would likely be impeded if he was studying with other Chinese students. This great want to immerse himself in an unfamiliar place along with the tremendous amount of determination to succeed ultimately allowed Ray to gain immeasurable life experience that would perfectly prepare him for the college environment.
When commenting on the rich southern culture, Ray explained New Orleans as having “great food and great people. I had a lot of help over there and I had a great experience.”
The campus at Metairie Park Country Day can be described as very pretty, aesthetically historical with gorgeous architecture, and quiet. As Ray became more familiar with the traditional southern American culture, he developed an affinity for the lifestyle in New Orleans, and the culture that revolved around Metairie Park Country Day. “It’s not like any school I have ever seen” explains Ray.
Similar to most international students arriving in the U.S for the first time, learning a brand new language was the biggest challenge for Ray. When one becomes engulfed in a foreign culture with little preparation, it can be very difficult to figure out how to properly express yourself. Fortunately for Ray, he was able to take advantage of the small classroom sizes at his school. It is highly beneficial for an international student to be involved with other students in a small class – something that is less accessible in highly populated areas of the country like New York City or Los Angeles. This encourages more intimate dialogue, and promotes relationships between the students and in the classroom as a whole. “I was so nervous but I forced myself to come out and talk” explained Ray.
Another way Ray was capable of overcoming the language barrier was seeking help from his host family. His host mother, a psychologist, was able to communicate clearly with Ray in a calming manner, allowing him to properly align himself and work through his toughest frustrations. She taught him to tell himself “take a deep breath and let it out. No need to stress”. This sense of community helped Ray develop the confidence to assert himself in otherwise uncomfortable situations, allowing him to more quickly adjust to the new culture.
Ray enjoyed all his classes. Whenever he had questions, his teachers were happy to help him after school. There were also a number of clubs and activities that Ray became involved with to help adjust to the new lifestyle: the math team, basketball team, and even the football team. Since football is not internationally recognized, Ray sought the opportunity to learn of a new sport that was popular among his peers.
“My host family brought me to a football game, the New Orleans Saints. I was so confused. My host family started teaching me how to play football. My senior year, I joined the football team at my school and it was a really great experience. Some people see football as just a physical thing. The way I see it, it teaches more about teamwork. Don’t quit no matter what. You have to stick through it. You have to fight with all you got. I think it will really help me with other stuff in the future, not just football”.
Even though Ray was technically a beginner on the football team, the school promoted striving to learn new activities, and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. Metairie Park Country Day is a school that gives students the tools and flexibility to learn and adapt to new scenarios, and also encourages students to not only learn from their peers, but to teach them as well. A strong support system is crucial for any international student yearning to learn and adjust to the American culture.
When Ray first arrived at the airport, he was unsure of what to expect from his host family. He quickly learned that they would be an amazing support system, and great friends to him. They welcomed him with hugs and made him feel at home as best as they could. Ray quickly found himself loving the food the south had to offer, but also was able to make his host family love the typical Chinese food he was accustomed to. Ray believes the best way to learn American culture is to live with a host family, especially since they will teach you many things you will not learn in school.
It was not long before Ray had become very close friends with the host family’s son. “They’re like my second family over here” Ray added. Ray stands by the notion that the best way to learn the culture is through the host family.
With High School graduation on the horizon, it was time for all the seniors to begin the college application process. Metairie Park Country Day has encouraged each student to meet with college counselors in order to properly prepare for the arduous task. When Ray felt stressed out when writing his college essay, he was able to bring it to his college counselor, ESL tutor, and an English teacher for help. The support system offered at Metairie Park supplied Ray with the tools he needed to successfully develop a powerful college essay that would ultimately help get him into his number one pick for college: Penn State.
Ray’s experience has taught him how to fend for himself and become a more independent person. He was given the tools to succeed has striven to achieve. When he felt stuck or stressed out, he reached out to his peers, teachers, host family, or Cambridge’s Support Service Coordinator for help. His advice to international students is to fully immerse yourself in the culture if you want to learn as quickly as possible. He also suggests never being afraid to seek help if you ever need it. If you are an international student interested in learning more about Metairie Park Country Day, click the link here to fill out a quick inquiry form and we will contact you with more information.
