Above: Johanna Lam (far right) with her host family at her U.S. high school graduation in 2019.

International student returnee Johanna Lam from Andhra Pradesh, India, took some time from her busy schedule to talk with Global School Access (GSA) and share about her unique and life-changing study abroad experience. Johanna spoke frankly about challenges she faced and how she coped with being far away from family. But her message to students and parents who may still be on the fence about study abroad was clear: “Just go, enjoy, experience everything!”

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GSA:  Johanna, take me back to when you were first contemplating study abroad, when you were talking with your parents about your education and your future. What reasons did you and your parents have for you going to the U.S. for your high school education?

Johanna:  Because my mom and my dad wanted me to have a good environment and a better quality of education. And we know a U.S. education provides this. Where I live, they do have a really good quality of education. But it’s very strenuous and students have to work very hard, and it’s very stressful with the amount of homework we get. Typically, in Asian countries, you just push the children with lots and lots of homework. Even though I did well in my classes, it was hard for me because there was a lot of stress to meet deadlines, do all the work, and so on. And I was fine doing that. But my parents wanted me to be in a place where I don’t have to stress as much. They wanted me to have a refreshing experience. So we did some research and groundwork on which place would suit me, and then they came to the conclusion that the U.S. is a good place to have exposure and to study.

GSA:  What were some of the challenges you faced when you started school in the U.S.?

Johanna:  Well, the way we learn in the U.S. is completely different from how we learn in India. Our study system in India is entirely different. The grading system, everything, was different than us. So, when I first went to the U.S., I didn’t know what to do. I was clueless. I was like, “What do I do?!” Because the way it works in India is you get loads of homework. And then you’re supposed to write it out, write everything out. It’s like 20 pages, or let’s say 30 pages a day. It was similar to the amount of work that you get in one U.S. AP course, but this was for every course we take, so we are used to completing a lot of work for every class. The way subjects are taught, shuffling from one class to another class, that is also different. And I don’t know how to put it into words but adjusting to the new atmosphere was very hard in the initial days. But by the end of the first semester, I got the gist of it.

GSA:  And did you have support while you were going through that process, did you have support from students of staff? Did they help you navigate this new system?

Johanna:  Yes, the school’s international program director, she was really lovely and helpful, and my school counselor. They were both super supportive, and also the teachers. They purposely matched me with an Indian teacher, who was my homeroom teacher. She helped me get used to the atmosphere and daily life. And all the teachers were very understanding about my joining classes a bit late in the fall. They all listened to me and helped me to stay calm when I felt out of sorts.

GSA:  I’m really glad to hear that you found yourself in a very welcoming environment. Once you finally got settled, and you had time to reflect, what really surprised you about your high school experience?

Johanna:  What really surprised me is how understanding people are. And, at first, I thought I was so different from them, coming from a different country. But then when I started to, like, be with them, and get to know them and spend time together with the teachers and the students, we found we had a lot in common. I realized they’re normal human beings that you would meet on any given day, so kind, and they’re so nice, so good. That really surprised me because I didn’t expect any sort of kind treatment or anything, because I thought I would experience racism. Because I had been hearing things like that a lot when I was at home and when I first arrived – people told me to expect this, and I was prepared to deal with that. But when I was actually there with the teachers, and everyone, I never had a single negative experience like that. And all my experience were very smooth, very positive.

GSA:  Did you experience homesickness while you were here?

Johanna:  In the beginning, yes. But then as time passed by, I was fine. Because I am someone who is very close with my family. Until I went abroad, we had never lived apart. So, it really took a major toll on me in the beginning, it was very hard. I used to FaceTime my mom every day and used to cry, and my mother used to cry we – we cried together. It was hard. But then as time passed by, I got involved in campus activities, such as campus ministry and Justice League. I love service and all the activities that were going on in the school, so I used to get involved and I used to spend my time there outside of school. Once I got more involved in school, the time passed by quickly and I made good friends.

GSA:  How do you think your study abroad experience helped you to grow as a person overall?

Johanna:  It gave me more exposure to different kinds of culture and different kinds of people and also experiences.  I’d say I learned a lot, I don’t know how to put it, but, overall, it was a positive experience. It was a good thing that I went […] it gave me insight on life. I learned that, even if things don’t happen your way all the time, it’s okay.

GSA:  How about living with a host family? How was that experience for you?

Johanna:  My host mom was amazing. I love her. I love her so much. She is such a kind person. And we got connected on so many things. She used to help me with little things, she is a very sweet person.

GSA:  Yes, I’ve met her, and I agree, she is delightful. And she continues to host and support international students today. What would you say you are most proud of about your study abroad experience?

Johanna:  What I’m most proud of? Well, again, I’d like to say how much exposure I gained and like how much I’ve evolved as a person and how much it opened my eyes to see things in different ways. The learning in the U.S. required active learning, instead of passive learning; here we just sit in the classroom all day and stare at the board, and just read, read, read. But in the U.S., there are so many activities, so many clubs that students can join to explore new interests. And the way of teaching is also so different, and so much more fun and engaging. That is such a contrast to the stress I felt in India while learning.

GSA:  Do you feel like you learned more because you were having fun? Because you were enjoying what you learned?

Johanna:  Yes. Because when you’re having fun with what you’re learning, it stays in your brain, you’ll never forget it. And that is really helping me in college, too. I had this one sociology class with Mrs. Martin. She was an amazing teacher. And that subject, I’m now taking a similar course now at my college. But what I learned in the U.S. comes up in my college course, and it feels good knowing that I already know a lot about this subject and can answer questions very competently.

GSA: What advice would you give a student who’s considering coming to the U.S. for either middle or high school?

Johanna:  For middle or high school, just go, enjoy, experience everything. There will be good and bad days, no matter what. So it’s best to embrace it, rather than shut down and struggle with figuring out why something happened a certain way. Don’t spend too much time grieving about what happened, but it’s okay to feel sad and cry when you have a bad day. Just know it will be okay, and when you look back, you will feel so proud of yourself for not giving up. Because it’s all worth it.

GSA:  If, let’s say, a student’s parent came to you and said, “Oh, Johanna, tell me about your experience. What do you think? Should we do this? Is this something you would recommend?” What would you tell a parent?

Johanna:  Totally, totally, you should definitely do it! Number one, distance makes relationships stronger. So, when you’re far from your parents, you will only grow fonder of them – and what you learn, how you’ll change, the experience will just strengthen your relationships with your parents. Number two, your child is going to get so much experience and they’re going to have so much fun as long as they have a good attitude about it and they love what they’re doing. I totally recommend it. Just go for it. Support your child.

GSA:  You mentioned having fun with learning. Some parents may worry about their children working hard enough and being able to stay competitive.

Johanna:  Okay. There are different types of fun. But the fun I had was different from the one that usually people think of. As long as you believe in your child, as long as you know your child and your child knows what he or she wants from the school, that plays a major role. They will be successful as long as they are focused and can envision their future.

GSA:  Was it easy to make friends in the US? Did you make both American and international student friends?

Johanna:  I had few international friends. Most of my friends were local [Americans], and my friends were amazing. It wasn’t hard to make friends because people were welcoming. In the beginning, I was quiet. It was me who was more closed off and more of an introvert. But then, as I got used to the new environment, I started to open up and become more outgoing. So that really helped me to make friends. Yeah, the first six months, I didn’t really have any good friends, besides my roommate. She was a really good friend. But then, as time passed by, I made friends in my classes, and then campus ministry, and then Justice League and the clubs that we attended. Yeah, it was good.

GSA:  You talked a little bit about your transition from going from one system to the next. What do you think are the main advantages of a U.S. high school education over an Indian education?

Johanna:  In India, they assign too much homework and it’s very stressful trying to keep up with everything, and it’s very competitive. The quality of education in India is very high, but the way they teach is very different. For example, in the U.S., when you learn something, it will just imprint in your mind, you will just remember it, because so many methods are used for teaching.

GSA:  How about food? Was American food a challenge for you?

Johanna:  No, because since my childhood, I’ve been a foodie – I love to eat all kinds of foods. I did miss my home food, but I was totally fine with the food in the U.S.

GSA:  I’m glad to hear that. Food can be a challenge for some international students.

Johanna:  Yes, some of my international friends really had like a tough time adjusting to the food and all that sort of stuff. But growing up we used to eat American foods, so that was not a major adjustment for me.

GSA:  You attended a private Catholic high school in the U.S. Had you a religious school or a Catholic school in India?

Johanna:  I was born in a Catholic hospital, and I attended a Catholic school since Pre-Kindergarten. So, that was not an issue.

GSA:  After you graduated, you headed back to India. What have you been doing since you returned home?

Johanna:  I’m attending college here in India. I’m completing a degree in business administration and taking courses in a lot of subjects.

GSA:  How is that going?

Johanna:  Well, it’s stressful, but it’s okay. I’m having fun, so it’s okay. Because even though it’s super stressful, it’s worth it because like what I’m doing. So, I’m going to graduate this year, this coming fall.

GSA:  And then what comes next?

Johanna: I may work toward my MBA. Maybe I’ll do an internship for a year or so to gain experience.

GSA:  And are you thinking of staying in India to complete your graduate studies? Or maybe going abroad again? What are what are your thoughts at this point?

Johanna:  I’ll probably go back to the U.S. or to some other place that meets my educational needs.

GSA:  Is there anything else you want to add about your experience or any other advice or suggestions you have for students and families?

Johanna:  Again, it’s a really good chance for your children to learn a lot of new things about life at a very young age. So, when you send your child abroad even though you’re scared, just go ahead, take that step. Just go for it because your child will love it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.