Elisabeth Howell - Leavenworth, Kansas
A rising junior, Elisabeth plans to attend Wichita State University and earn a degree in Education with the intention of becoming a high school teacher.
Loneliness can occur without being completely alone; even when surrounded by chatter, smiles, and laughter, one can still feel lonely.
I have a military teen background, so I’m no stranger to changing neighborhoods and schools, having nine of each under my belt. Despite all the differences in people, geography, and activities, I still know I’m a part of the larger, American community. The transition is tough, but at least I know the words being shouted, whispered, lectured, and said around me. At least I can count on the familiar smell of hamburgers on the grills of cookouts. At least I can take in the simple architecture of the typical suburban sprawl and feel at home.
But when I look at my best friend from Germany, laugh with my classmate from Bosnia and Herzegovina, admire the fashion of the girl from France, and admire the singing and dancing abilities of my teammate from Brazil, I admire their resiliency. These people have left their culture, language, and sometimes religion back in their home countries. While they can still continue individually practicing these, they are now quite alone in their experiences and beliefs. Yet, exchange students don’t need to stay distanced in everything else.
We can integrate exchange students into our lives by helping them experience the quirkiness of American high school life. We can explain the jokes and popular culture references thrown around in everyday conversation. We can include them in the sports we play, invite them over to watch our favorite movies, and share a delicious homemade meal with them. Exchange students are sacrificing a lot to experience our culture; the least we can do is give them a true experience.
Yet, inclusion doesn’t have to end there. The exchange student’s culture is likely a large part of their identity, and just as we enjoy expressing ourselves, we should give them the ability to express themselves and feel accepted for who they are. Cultures are so unique, so why should we limit ourselves to knowing just one? While this doesn’t necessarily mean personally changing religion or becoming fluent in a new language, we can show the people value through small actions, such as being judgment-free towards different beliefs and learning simple phrases in their home language.
While it seems so simple, the smallest actions can make the biggest difference. Openness is the biggest thing - being open to accepting people who aren’t completely like us. It was the acceptance of friendship that made me, an American girl, and that German girl into best friends. It was inclusion that allowed me and my classmates to laugh with that boy from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was confidence that allowed the French girl to show off her fashion taste. It was the gift of equal opportunity that allowed my teammate from Brazil to sing loudly and dance beautifully alongside my American classmates.
In a community filled with so many people, there’s no reason for an exchange student to feel lonely. Through helping these students experience the simple parts of American culture and friendship, while not feeling the need to shroud their personal culture, we open the doors to acceptance and community.