La Lettre - June 2014

What advice would you give to an
incoming student?

To an incoming student, I would encourage them to follow their interests and passions.

French American and International offers so many opportunities in academics, community service, athletics, the arts, etc. Anyone can find a home here. When you follow what you love and what you believe in, you become the best person you can be, which will not only help you get into a great college, but also become the person you want to be in life. With the rigorous academics, it can sometimes feel hard to keep up but when you dedicate yourself to what you love and take advantage of what you can learn at this school, you will be successful.

What was your most memorable experience at French
American?

My most memorable experience here was during my trip to Senegal in 10th grade. Since the project started, I had heard a lot about what was being done to help raise money for École Natangue and when I came into high school I enjoyed being involved in the project. When I got to visit M’Bour, the small town where the school is located, I was given an incredible opportunity to experience a community I had never seen before. Before leaving for Senegal, I had in my mind images of extreme poverty and sadness that we often associate with Africa. Though poverty does exist in Senegal and many people there have trouble providing for their families, they had such a strong sense of community that they are able to live happily and thrive.

On one occasion, we visited fields where the mothers of children studying at École Natangue are given the chance to work and out of nowhere, they decided to turn over their buckets and put on a dance and music performance for us. This moment was so special to me because I saw how these people who are living off much less than what we do are happy simply by being together and enjoying their life amongst their friends and families.

ALUMNI

Were you a “Lifer” or did you transfer
to International?

I was a Lifer, attending the school from Pre-K through the French Baccalaureate track.

How do you think bilingualism has
impacted your future?

I think one of the most important aspects of bilingualism is the way it enables us to view the world from different perspectives. Learning in both English and French, we are able to gain insight from the American and French cultures and thus view the world in a more critical way. Being bilingual opens our doors to more of what the world has to offer by teaching us more about the cultures and opinions that exist outside of our homes. Since I also took Mandarin during middle and high school, I was given a third perspective and learned more about the Chinese culture, adding yet another dimension to the way I view the world.

What part of your experience at French American was the
most instrumental to get you to Stanford University?

I feel that the rigor of our school’s academics played a major part in getting me to Stanford. Throughout the 4 years, I was in the French section of the high school, which means that at the end of 9th grade, I passed the Brevet exam, which marks the end of middle school in France, and at the end of 11th and 12th grade, I passed the Baccalauréat exams. Being part of the French track taught me a lot about maintaining a strong work ethic and developing good organizational and time management skills. Because of all the exams that constitute the Bac it is important to spread my studying out, studying lessons in advance and completing work assignments ahead of time, so as to achieve the best results possible. Studying at French American and International gave me a passion for learning that I am sure will be a good asset through college and the rest of my life. All the community service opportunities that I was introduced to at school was also a major plus for me, especially since Stanford’s founders built the school as a way to benefit the community and generations to come.