Irvine High School - Citadel Yearbook (Irvine, CA)

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30 Special feature

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Health 29

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By Wendy Stone With ihe exception of the native American Indian, the United Slates is a nation composed wholly of immi- grants. Heritages of hundreds of peo- ples from different ethnic back- grounds combine to make this coun- try so diversely interesting. A wave of new foreign students from ethnic groups such as Vietnam- ese, Korean, Mexican, Japanese, Chi- nese, Iranian and Filipino brought new problems and more opportuni- ties for multicultural experiences to Irvine High. Escaping war, poverty, political oppression and social upheaval are some of the many reasons that bring foreign families to the United States. But once they ' re here, sometimes their problems have just begun. Breaking the language barrier is per- haps the most difficult problem for persons who have never before been required to speak English. The hardest thing of all is preserv- ing their own traditional culture while trying to adapt to a new one, explains Bruce Baron, head of the multicultural program at Irvine High. In telling their story to others, a new foreign student risks much. Being singled out as an individual when the desire to be anonymous and sharing remembrances of a past that is bitter and, therefore, best for- gotten are a couple of those risks. They are happy to be here, but they don ' t want to impose themselves any more than they already have. One of Irvine High ' s fifty Vietnam- ese students, Anh Nguyen spoke no English when she first arrived in America except for essentials like hi and thank you. Trying to be accepted was a great shock to her. I like to be different, but I have to be alike to fit into society, she explained. Heartening thoughts come from Sophomore Hien Cao, however, who escaped from Vietnam the day before (he capitol fell to the Communists. Fleeing the country in a boat, she spent two months trying to gain entrance to America, for which she says she has no regrets, Here you have so much more freedom than Vietnam, she says. I am really lucky to be here. Foreign students are very competi- tive and work long hours to over- come language problems and keep up with school, according to Baron. Low marks in education can bring disgrace and family disapproval. They have to try three times as hard, said Social Science teacher Sandy Clark. They are at a real disad- vantage. Sophomore Henry Kim explains what motivates him to work so dili- gently. There is a lot of pressure from par- ents and society in Korea. Bettering your education is a natural thing. When it is learned early to always try harder, self improvement and lime management become habits. Senior )oel Narez from Mexico says, My family wants me to go to college and further my education for my own benefit. They just want me to have a good future. An Iranian student, Nader Ghas- semi, explains that learning here is much easier for him because of the lack of pressure at school. It ' s so much easier than anywhere else, he explains. The teachers are nicer and therefore less strict. With the American embassy hos- tages held captive in his home coun- try and the two governments bitterly sparring off, one would expect him to be caught up in the middle of it. But Nader dispels that notion. I have many friends here, he says. People have been very nice to me. Surviving the pressures of adjust- ing can be a very difficult process. Some students eventually learn to cope while others may never feel comfortable. As one of Irvine High ' s foreign stu- dents said, It ' s very hard thinking that I may never see my mother country again. Sometimes I wonder how we all do so well. Special feature 31