International schools are a melting pot of cultures. People from different backgrounds, and with their own stories, make up a whole new culture. I was blessed to attend such a school and encounter diversity earlier in life. Therefore, my school life was quite different from what typical Korean students experience, and I want to share my story as a former international school student.  

  I went to a small international school from first grade. The school accepted kids from kindergarten to grade 12, but it only had around two hundred people, including students and staff members. Each grade level usually had less than 15 students. So, because of the small size, everyone knew each other, and classmates had a strong bond. In fact, I have known some of my high school friends since first grade and most of them since middle school. The interesting thing is that even though there are not many people in the school, people came from all over the world. I had friends from France, Poland, Singapore, Hong Kong, and more. Most of my teachers were from the United States since our school was based on the American curriculum, but some teachers were from the United Kingdom, Cameroon, and Australia.             

  Thanks to different cultural backgrounds, our school has a special event called International Day. Around every October, the school hosts the special event, where people can have cultural interactions. People with the same nationality – or sometimes from within the same region, when there were not enough people from one single country –prepare their countries’ classic dishes, perform cultural dances, and wear traditional clothes. Parents, usually moms, prepare food for the day, and Korean dishes are one of the most popular. Other than Korean food, there are Takoyaki from Japan, Laksa from Singapore, pretzel and sausage from Germany, and delicious desserts and pastries from France. Once, I tried vegemite from Australia, and it was not my thing. Yet, finding out my likes and dislikes, from the other side of the world, was a precious experience. Additionally, getting to know people’s cultures without visiting their country was an essential gain from the event.       

  During the event, the student council opens a carnival as a part of their fundraiser for the Winter Formal. Each member of the student council hosts a booth. These booths are a picture booth, face painting booth, fish cup game, Ping-Pong ball throw, and more. As a member of the student council, I also managed some booths. Although I could not enjoy much of the other parts of the event, it was heartwarming to watch the children’s wholesome smiles. 

  Winter formal is an event arranged by the student council for secondary students. During this event, students and teachers gather in a fancy hotel for a dinner party. At this event, students are required to dress formally while acquiring the need to meet the theme of the formal. After the dinner, some students prepare performances such as K-pop dance, band performance, and magic tricks. At last, the highlight of the event is when the floor is open for all students and teachers to get crazy and dance along to the music. This event allows students to get to know more about other students from different grade levels as well as teachers. 

  Last year, I graduated high school from the same school I started schooling. Which also means that I attended the same school for more than ten years. Hence, school became a lot more meaningful than a place simply for education. The school environment has taught me the diversity and differences of the world, fostering tolerance and understanding among students from various backgrounds. The strong sense of community and support among my peers and teachers has made my journey through education truly unforgettable. As I embark on the next chapter of my life, I carry cherished memories and invaluable lessons I learned at this exceptional school.