10
Tania dlg
AlejandroMartínez
18martinez4785 @ asfm . mx
A Mexican in an American school
“ The school is supposed to be forming the country ’ s next leaders , but can we really lead a country we don ’ t know much of ?”
I ’ ve been a student at The American School Foundation of Monterrey ( ASFM ), an institution amongst the best in the country , for the past 14 years of my life , and I have loved it . An education at this school has given me an intellectual foundation that is reason for envy . But amongst all of this opportunity and vast sea of knowledge there is an evident gap : Mexican culture .
In my mind , and the same goes for the rest of ASFM , there is a shameful blank space when it comes to learning about the riches of our nationality . This school has succeeded in everything an American school should , but in doing so it ’ s failed to meet the educational standards of most areas regarding the country they stand on . The sad truth is that the underfunded and understaffed public schools in Mexico far surpass this expensive , top-tier institution in our knowledge and understanding of the nation . The school is supposed to be forming the country ’ s next leaders , but can we really lead a country we don ’ t know much of ?
This isn ’ t a result of bad teachers ; our teachers excel at what they do . The fact that they are able to fit language , culture and history into one class a year , and actually have the students retain some knowledge is impressive . We may know everything about everything in the world , but know nothing about our direct neighbors .
I do not aim to be aggressive in this piece , or to seem resentful . I come from a place of confusion . I am 18 years old at this point , and I am troubled at my ignorance . I just now was struck by a feeling of social responsibility and patriotism , which urges me to learn more about Mexico . I am confused because I feel as if I lived in a bubble , one popped whenever I talk with anyone who isn ’ t part of the ASFM cult . I love my American school with everything in me , but ask of it only thing : please do not deprive me of my nationality .
Opinions expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper or ASFM .