August 20, 2007 10:00 PM
Magdalena's First Post
Hi I’m Magdalena and I’m a rising 11th grader from Poland. Being an international student is tough at the times, but since I came to Mercersburg as a 10th grader, I have never regretted this decision. There have been many reasons why I have chosen to come to a boarding school in the States, far away from home, and to study in a foreign language. However, the most important factor was the opportunity to break away from everything I knew, to challenge myself, to be immersed in a completely different culture, and eventually to become a true global citizen.
Global education is an incredibly important issue. An interconnected
global society brings all sorts of challenges to those who are part of
it, and preparing students to face it shall be a key objective of an
educational institution. A complex approach, consisting of in-class and
on-campus activities, as well as of global outreach, is naturally the
most effective; not simple learning about the world, but engaging in
it, experiencing it first-hand, living up the values global community
carries. Living in a global society brings responsibilities - for world
as a whole, for fellow citizens, for peace, and for environment. It
shall be one of the tasks of a school to promote knowledge and
understanding, to prepare the students to live responsibly in the
global society.
Mercersburg Academy is a truly international
place, regardless of its inconspicuous location in a quiet part of
Pennsylvania. The most obvious indication of this is an incredibly
diverse student body, consisting of students from 22 nations and 29
states. Such a varied community provides lots of cross-cultural
experiences on everyday basis. We are learning about the world, and
actively interacting with it. Because of the school’s world nature,
virtually all activities have a global flavor. Opportunities are
countless; one just needs to be open to them.
Being in love
with Model UN, I would fully recommend it to anyone interested in
global issues. Preparing for and attending a conference is a unique
experience that has always benefited me greatly. I have learned a lot
about other countries and about issues they face as separate countries
and as a world community. I have also become more confident and
open-minded. Another great activity is Voices 4 Justice, a social
justice organization at the Academy, which works to address injustice
in the world, inform the public about it and take action to make a
difference. It brings being a global citizen to the other level – from
pure theory to meaningful action. A different initiative is the Global
Citizenship team, consisting of students and faculty alike, which
strives to enhance the school’s offerings, give students even more
opportunities and increase global awareness both through theory and
practice. Every year during spring and summer many students travel
abroad to gain further international experience and often to practice
their language skills; a few more participate in the School Year
Abroad. As a student of German, I have also greatly enjoyed a visit of
German students from Gauss Gymnasium, a school in Germany with which
Mercersburg has a long-standing exchange program. My German skills have
improved greatly thanks to that visit, as well as to my German friends
here on campus, who hold with me numerous conversations.
Whether
it is one of the student clubs, a brown-bag lunch (a talk given by an
international student about his or her home country during a
lunchtime), an international dinner, or a trip abroad – American and
other world cultures constantly mix here. Stereotypes crush, and world
issues are no longer oversimplified, or ignored. As a consequence we,
Mercersburg students, gain a precious international experience,
increase our global awareness and broaden our horizons. In addition to
being citizens of our respective countries, we are becoming citizens of
the world, prepared for life wherever we are going to head after the
adventure called Mercersburg ends.
Posted by at August 20, 2007 10:00 PM