Having lived in Irvine California due to his father’s job, Patrick Park (8) became accustomed to and embraced the diversity in this part of the world. Although he was unaware before moving to Korea, Patrick has realized how the diversity present in Irvine has become an important part of his identity, affecting how he behaves and thinks.
“There is an increase of diversity in an American public school,” Patrick said. “Hanging out with diverse friends gives you several different points of view of family life. In several ways, SIS can be a better school, yet I still favor the American public schools in Irvine for their diversity and variation.”
After his encounter with various cultures in the United States, Patrick took diversity for granted, until he came to Korea as his father came back for job opportunities. In SIS, he was shocked by the homogeneity.
“I was shocked by the similar faces throughout SIS, because I was more accustomed to different faces and behaviors among people in Irvine,” said Patrick. “Over time, I see many benefits and disadvantages with diversity and homogeneity.”
Patrick also experienced different educational cultures in both nations. After experiencing both the hands-on learning style of the American curriculum and the Korean way of education, Patrick has formed a strong opinion on how education should go.
“Rote memorization never works if that is the only educational system,” Patrick said. “But with memorization and hands-on learning used together with hands-on learning, this can give the student a wider understanding of the topic. We clearly see this in educational models such as Finland and Sweden, where rote memorization is not encouraged, but education is on the top of the world.”
Despite the competition in SIS, Patrick is finding ways to educate himself the way he believes is best for him.
“He always finds the best way to study in a way that helps himself,” said Andrew Ham, Patrick’s classmate. “It clearly shows how he is happy in the way that he teaches himself.”
“There is an increase of diversity in an American public school,” Patrick said. “Hanging out with diverse friends gives you several different points of view of family life. In several ways, SIS can be a better school, yet I still favor the American public schools in Irvine for their diversity and variation.”
After his encounter with various cultures in the United States, Patrick took diversity for granted, until he came to Korea as his father came back for job opportunities. In SIS, he was shocked by the homogeneity.
“I was shocked by the similar faces throughout SIS, because I was more accustomed to different faces and behaviors among people in Irvine,” said Patrick. “Over time, I see many benefits and disadvantages with diversity and homogeneity.”
Patrick also experienced different educational cultures in both nations. After experiencing both the hands-on learning style of the American curriculum and the Korean way of education, Patrick has formed a strong opinion on how education should go.
“Rote memorization never works if that is the only educational system,” Patrick said. “But with memorization and hands-on learning used together with hands-on learning, this can give the student a wider understanding of the topic. We clearly see this in educational models such as Finland and Sweden, where rote memorization is not encouraged, but education is on the top of the world.”
Despite the competition in SIS, Patrick is finding ways to educate himself the way he believes is best for him.
“He always finds the best way to study in a way that helps himself,” said Andrew Ham, Patrick’s classmate. “It clearly shows how he is happy in the way that he teaches himself.”