Polish school, Arabic school, Sunday school. Whatever you and your family and friends call this “secondary education”, this is a very familiar thing to the vast majority of those who have ethnic backgrounds and rich cultures. For those who are not familiar with this idea, you are learning and perfecting your culture, while simultaneously maintaining it, while also attending the mandatory “English “ school.
My parents grew up in Poland, and now living in the United States, where English is the predominant language, many parents, including my own, sought to prevent their kids from forgetting their native tongues. My personal experience with Polish School has been two-sided. While it has been a burden at times, to go from one school to another after a long week, it has ultimately provided me with multiple opportunities in and out of school. I have forged countless friendships and created lasting memories of this unique time in my life. Currently, I am in the last year of Polish School, and reminiscing on the fact that I will not be attending this school for much longer pains me a little. On the other hand, this will allow me to have more time to hang out with friends and complete different activities outside of school. I was recently chosen as the valedictorian of my Polish school and was the representative of our school at the renowned dance “Studniowka” which many refer to as the “Polish Prom”. This was a big deal, and I was proud to carry this title.
I am not the only one however who has had an experience like this when it comes to Polish school. Fellow Oak Lawn student, Amelia Fudala says, “Even though I was not always excited to go to Polish School, I will forever be grateful my mom made me attend. Polish school helped me meet some of the best people I know and now call my friends. It helped me learn more about the culture and history of my ancestors. It also taught me how to speak another language, Polish, which I can now speak fluently and pass on to my friends.” Fudala is not the only one who thinks this way, as there are thousands of people who would back these words up.
But Polish school isn’t the only type of school. Bisan Aldeeks says,“I learned a lot about my religion, culture, and language and was able to maintain it.” After the fact, everyone ends up thankful for going to school.
Another benefit of participating in secondary school is the potential to apply the knowledge to earn college credits after high school. After passing the seal of biliteracy, students will have the opportunity to get scholarships which they can apply to the university of their choosing. Future employers also typically prefer to hire people who can speak more than one language.
No matter your experience with secondary school, it is important to know the benefits of taking extra time to maintain your culture. Many people who decided not to continue their Polish School career have ultimately regretted their decisions. Trust me when I say that it’s worth spending a few extra hours of hard work during the week.
