OC HIGH / STUDENT NEWS & VIEWS

OC High asks: Do new immigrants or transfer students face difficulties at your school?

Quote Me responses were gathered by student correspondents at Orange County high schools.

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“Of course immigrants or non- (English) speaking students have difficulties. The first day that we come to school, we don’t know what to do. We don’t understand anything. Sometimes when we are in the classroom and the teacher asks us a question and I think that I know the answer, I can’t answer because I don’t speak good English.”

Adrian Robledo, 17

junior, Santiago

“Usually they receive one of two reactions: 1. Other students ignore them because they assume they can’t relate, or 2. They are teased due to the foreign nature of their cultural practices or religion.”

Jeff Garvin, 17

senior, Brea-Olinda

“It was tough for me coming from a totally different area of the country into a school where everyone’s been friends since the seventh grade. Even if I made an effort to be friendly, the response was not there.”

Courtney Adams, 17

senior, Corona del Mar

“I’m a transfer student, and my peers don’t treat me differently. I believe that if you really want to learn, it shouldn’t make a difference either way.”

Helen Flores, 16

junior, Edison

“(This) is a small school, and everyone is like family. Everyone is given equal opportunities, and Rosary loves to embrace new people into the community.”

Charlene Jacobs, 15

sophomore, Rosary

“Any change is difficult to adjust to, but if met with a positive attitude, the results can be fantastic. Transfer students have opportunities for a great experience if they take it.”

Tara Budzyn, 17

senior, Foothill

“I think new immigrants and transfer students at Century have difficulties because of the language barrier and the fact that they don’t know anybody.”

Suzy Rubalcava, 16

senior, Century

“People have cliques and aren’t really interested in meeting new people. It’s especially hard for girls. Being in a sport makes it easier to make friends.”

Sarah Brooks, 17

senior, Esperanza

“Yes, because they want to feel that they belong, and people often don’t give them a chance.”

Eric Keith, 16

junior, Trabuco Hills

“It depends on their ethnic background. I feel they do, though. They are not used to our trends or what goes on in class. But I feel they are accepted because we try to make people feel welcome here.”

Garrett Kerr

junior, El Modena

“Yes, because they don’t know the language very well and have difficulty being accepted by others.”

Tram Mai, 18

senior, Huntington Beach

“No, because we already have such a diverse background that people from different cultures fit into our social environment.”

Margaret Taub, 16

junior, University

“Of course, everyone who faces a new situation and environment will have a rocky start anywhere. It’s especially hard in high school when everyone already has an established group of friends that they hang around with. Most people find it hard to open their arms to a new student because they are apprehensive of change.”

Gloria Lee, 16

junior, Loara

“People tend to believe that school is a utopian establishment, but it simply is a microcosm of society. Immigrants and outsiders here face the same problems and challenges as they do in life.”

Souley Diallo, 17

senior, Edison

“The social atmosphere can be so oppressive that it can cause severe mental disorders.”

Jeni Terrell, 17

junior, El Dorado

“Very much so, because of the language barrier and culture shock.”

Roylyn Cabrera, 17

senior, Villa Park

“I believe since we have such a diverse background of many cultures, it is easy for transfer and foreign students to adjust. Since there are many different students who know different languages other than English, the language barrier is no problem. It makes a big problem a lot smaller.”

Tony Arias, 14

freshman, St. Michael’s

“I think it would be hard for any new student to adjust, wherever they go. But I would hope that my friends would be willing to accept a newcomer without passing judgment on them because of their background.”

Caitlin Pickart, 17

senior, Corona del Mar

“Yes, because they might have been taught different things and maybe they were raised to do things different, but there are people around to help them out.”

Donna Roberge, 14

freshman, Los Amigos

“Heck yeah. They don’t know nobody.”

Mike Steinberger, 17

junior, El Dorado

“Yes, (even though) it’s a very ethnically diverse school. There are students that come from all different backgrounds.”

Diana Cunningham, 15

sophomore, Westminster

“I don’t think so, because we have adequate programs to help them adjust.”

Chi Vu, 17

senior, Huntington Beach