How I Study 5000 km Away from Home

Defa Rizky Ghaisan–INA KL YES to USA YP 23/24

Hi, I am Defa Rizky Ghaisan. A high school exchange student from Indonesia currently studying in the United States. I was placed in Phoenix, Arizona and has been attending Central High School for the past three months. I will be discussing the differences that I have experienced and some of what I understand while studying in the U.S. mainly the school system.

Many of you have the stereotypes that American schools will have lockers, moving classes, tons of activities and school trips. While some of it is true, these don’t apply to everybody. My school doesn’t even have lockers, school trips are only given to certain classes, and there are only several activities that everyone can attend (Homecoming, Prom, Football games). So High school experience can be different with every student due to the different classes, clubs, or even friend groups.

Choosing Classes and Graduating

American Students attend high school for four years. Each student can freely choose whatever classes or subjects they want to learn, students choose their classes for the remainder of the academic year, they can choose to change to other classes when the next academic year starts. Its true that they can freely choose want classes they want to take for the year, but in order to graduate they need earn credits from these classes;

These are the classes that I picked. Algebra as my math, English as my language, Engineering as my science (technically it a CTE class but I make it as my elective class to make up the science credit), U.S./Arizona History as my social studies, lastly Photography and Guitar as my arts.

Scheduling and Workflow

In order to graduate, an American high school student need to finish 4 years of education;

9th grade as a Freshman, 10th grade as a Sophomore, 11th grade as a Junior, 12th grade as a Senior

Every student is assigned to 6 to 7 hours of class period, they study the same subject every week. Here is an example of the weekly schedule;

This class period is also chosen by the student (may vary in different schools or the teachers schedule) to make the best studying workflow for every student. For example if you feel that you need math in the morning because your brain is still fresh you could put your math class on your 1st period, or if you feel math is hard and want to study easier classes first, you can put it in your 4th or last period.

There are also advisory hours, which is a time for the school to give announcements, a time for counseling and so on. Essentially advisory is a free hour for the student to finish their work, travel to another class to get tutoring, or just a break of relief and hangout with friends. (they still need to be in the classroom for attendance).

iDays are days where there is no school. Students work from home to do their assignments. iDays are used for students who are left behind from finishing their work. iDays was created because of the pandemic that happened a couple years ago.

Students can access their assignments through Microsoft Teams. Once they pick their classes and periods, the student can get a laptop from the school that will automatically have a school email and the classes on your Microsoft Teams. All content that the teachers give will be sent to the Microsoft Teams classes (lessons, assignments, homework, projects) complete with their deadlines.

Clubs and Extracurricular

After the 7th period, school is basically over. But campus still opens until 5pm. students can attend various sports teams, extracurricular activities or clubs.

Sports Teams

High schools in Arizona typically offer a variety of sports for their students to participate in. These teams can include traditional sports like football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, and track and field, as well as other sports like wrestling, swimming, golf, and tennis, among others. The specific sports offered can vary from school to school.

High school sports are typically organized into three sports seasons: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Each season corresponds to different sports and has its own schedule.

I joined the E-sports Team for Central High School as a Valorant player and I am skilled enough to be in the Varsity Team, playing against other schools and sometimes colleges.

Clubs and Extracurricular Activities

High school clubs offer students the chance to explore, learn, and grow beyond the classroom. Providing students with the opportunity to pursue shared interests, hobbies, and activities outside of their regular academic coursework. They help students develop skills, discover their passions, and create lasting memories while contributing to their personal and social development.

High schools typically offer a wide variety of clubs to cater to diverse student interests. These can include academic clubs (debate, science, math), arts and creative clubs (theater, music, art), cultural clubs (Spanish club, Asian culture club), hobby clubs (photography, chess), and special interest clubs (environmental, anime, movies, books, etc.).

Some clubs may be student-run, meaning that students take the initiative to form and lead them with the guidance of a faculty advisor. Alternatively, some clubs may be sponsored or facilitated by teachers or school staff. The structure can vary from school to school.

All of the club members attend a club meeting scheduled by their leader or sponsor to discuss projects, club-related topics, plan and organize activities, and collaborate on projects that align with the club’s purpose and goals. They also do fundraising and community service activities. They might organize charity drives, volunteer at local organizations, or raise funds for causes they support to benefit and improve their clubs.

Conclusion

My high school exchange journey in the United States, particularly at Central High School in Phoenix, Arizona, has been a remarkable and eye-opening experience. The American school system’s flexibility in class selection, scheduling, and the wide range of extracurricular activities have allowed me to explore and grow beyond the classroom.

I hope that my insights into the American high school system have provided you with a better understanding of the differences I’ve encountered during my time in the United States. The variety of classes, the freedom to choose your own schedule, and the abundance of clubs and activities offer a unique educational experience that can greatly impact a student’s personal and academic growth.

As I continue my exchange journey, I look forward to embracing more cultural experiences and furthering my education. Thank you for allowing me to share my journey, and I hope that my experiences inspire others to explore and learn.