By: Lea Reinberger  

For most people it is probably a nightmare, adding a year of high school voluntarily, but that is exactly what I did. I wanted to have the American experience and one of them is going to high school every day. Going to school in America sounded so much better than back in Germany. Movies made school here look so much more exciting compared to school in Germany. But where is school really the most enjoyable?

School is somewhat similar all over the world. We all have to take math and science. But actually there are some differences that can make a school more attractive for students. First of all, one of my favorite things about Westborough High School are the after school activities. You can join a club or a sport from football to tennis. Clubs and sports are a place where you can make good friendships and have time besides school to hang out with your teammates. In addition, a football game or lacrosse game becomes a school event for everyone to take part in and to support the school team. The school spirit grows and everyone is proud to be part of that community.

In German schools there are no such things as after school activities. School is just meant for learning and studying instead of fun and good relationships like in Westborough. When I go back to Germany this is going to be something I am going to miss the most: building all the good relationships with the people I see every day after school. Everyone has a common goal, succeed in school and at the same time succeed on the field.

Lunch here is another time where you can connect with your friends and take a deep breath from school itself. You can rejuvenate from the day and get some energy. Most schools in Germany don’t have lunch, so no free time and no time to relax. Even such things like dressing up for junior week and seeing Mr. WHS lets you stop thinking for a moment about all the work you still have to do, and lets you start enjoying your time in school.

Another thing I like about Westborough High School is that you have every class with new classmates. In Germany you have all your classes with the same people, every day. That alone has its pros and cons.

A big plus point for Westborough High School is that we can choose electives here. In schools in Germany everyone has to take the same classes. There is no room for experiencing one semester in Oceanography or Journalism or all the other interesting subjects that can teach the student something that they are really interested in.

In my opinion, now that I have experienced a school year in a different country, Westborough High School really gives their best to make school for students not just only about academics, but also about their interests and free time. I would love to see the school spirit that we have here from all the activities that we share as a school together in Germany. Besides the fact that you have to study a lot, Westborough High School has been a very eye-opening and fun experience.