I’m Grace Kang. I’m an exchange student this year, and I’m from South Korea. I came to Rolla High School this year, and it is really different.

In South Korea, we think that getting a great job is really important. We usually prefer some jobs like doctors, teachers, or judges. Our society approved those jobs. Because they have good salaries and work good environment. To get those jobs, we have to get really high grades. So, schools are focused on studying for tests, and student’s grades. Students, parents, even teachers are really sensitive about grades. It’s really good to be intelligent, but students have a lot of stress. We have to study a lot, even reduce their time to sleep, to get good grades.

Our school day in Korea is different from here. School starts at 8:00 am. Like Rolla we have seven classes, but unlike Rolla, we stay in the same class and the teachers move. At 12:10 pm, the school is dismissed for lunch. We go to the cafeteria and we have 1 hour 10 minutes to eat lunch and relax with friends. School starts again at 1:20. There are three classes left. School gets out at 4:00 pm. After school, most students go to academy to study more. Academies can be anywhere from 3 hours to 6 hours depending on the academy. Some teach only one subject some teach more than one. The academy helps us study more. I usually go home at 8:00 or 10:00 pm. I came home take a shower and do about 2 hours of homework. We usually go to bed around midnight only to wake up at 7:00 am to get ready for school again. On Sunday, I go to church and take the day to rest. Some Saturdays, I can rest too, other Saturdays I do homework or go to academy.

In school, we can select from these subjects: Korean, Math, Social studies, Science, English, Art, Music, P.E, and other foreign language. We do not have Drama, Fashion design, World Foods, or Journalism. At school all middle school and high school students wear uniforms. In the summer, they are short shirts and skirts or boys wear pants. In winter girls wear skirts with black leggings, and jackets.

However, in the U.S, schools are really free and exciting. Of course, they have to study and they have required subjects to go to university, but they can select their subjects for their own aptitudes and dreams. Parents or teachers don’t press to students about studying, instead they help to find students’ aptitudes. So, they can do a lot of activities. Although students can be careless about studying, it’s a good way to get their own job, and their school days won’t be stressful.

I just came here about 3 weeks ago. It is difficult to understand all English, but it will be a really great experience and the turning point in my life.