Belleville Township High School East - Yearbook (Belleville, IL)

Page 16 text:

Breaking the language barrier, facing a different social system, and learning under a foreign school system are a few of the many problems faced by Este. Although Este declares that she is enjoying her stay, she said that there are certain aspects of the United States the bother her. One problem, says Este, is the racial problem. I had read about it but I didn ' t realize what it was really like. Now that I ' m in America, I realize the problem really exists, and when I think about it, it makes me cry. Another problem is that Americans take each other for granted. If I could change one thing at East I ' d like to change the minds of the people so that everyone would respect the person stand¬ ing next to him. American Field Service brought Este to us and sends us to other countries. Este feels that AFS is changing greatly- This is good. They used to send only the smart kids but now they are starting to send students who have the personality and ability to adapt to a new and strange enviroment and they don ' t base it on brains alone. I feel that it is better to be myself, even if peo¬ ple think I ' m crazy, than to play the part of something I am not. Este feels that since she has arrived at East she has tried to keep her identity and be herself, ignoring those who thing she is crazy because she sings in the halls. Este asks that all East students please remember this: I am not the foreign exchange student. I am not the girl from Spain.