Eureka!

Post date: Jan 05, 2015 5:22:44 PM

An essay by Shunran Xu

“Put your pants on!” my principal shouted at a student who entered the school gate.

This was a common scene every morning, when sleepy students dragged their feet into the building, but I still found it stunning. American culture has never failed to challenge my common sense, I whispered to myself, feeling estranged from everyone else. It was October 2012, my first month in America.

I knew the United States as the land of freedom and opportunity, where immigrants’ dreams come true, but in China, my only thought about life was to study hard, don’t be odd, and do what normal peers are supposed to do. Nor did I ever imagine American public high schools would be so different: No uniform, no boarding, no late night classes, but saggy pants, unusual hairstyles, and weird pajama schooldays.

Being the only Chinese student at Liberty High School, I was vacantly staring at my surroundings, until Drama Club changed everything. Initially, I joined this club to improve my speaking. Being the main actor in many shows, I gained confidence to communicate with my classmates. Yet, it did more than help my English.

During the break, some Drama Club members collapsed on the chairs, exhausted. In hope of reenergizing them, I jumped onto the stage and announced my magic hobby. After learning that I could somehow escape from being tied up, they rushed to see my demonstration.

“Shun, your magic trick was really impressive,” my Drama Club advisor, Mrs. Boelke, beamed with pleasure.

“No, it wasn’t that—.” I was about to pronounce “good” but suddenly realized that only in Chinese culture do people reply negatively to a compliment in order to show their modesty. So I babbled out my “Americanized” response, “Thank you very much! I learned it because I was bored.”

“Really? We were all amazed when you escaped. How did you do that?”

“That’s a secret,” I chuckled, pleased by the effect of my friendly deception.

“Good answer. Why not do a magic show, or incorporate some magic tricks into a play?”

“Ah, but—“

“Shine your special talent, Shun!” Mrs. Boelke encouraged enthusiastically.

As her voice dissipated in the auditorium, my mind was blown. I had never thought about adding my creativity to a play because in China, students should only follow the scripts to create a flawless performance. My Chinese classmates and teachers regarded my magic hobby as a waste of time. But here, I was invited to share my uniqueness!

Unfortunately, Mrs. Boelke retired after our wonderful performance, which included a fifteen-minute magic show for the first time in Dram Club history. The club has been closed since. However, its significance is everlasting. Coming from a world where any deviation from the norm is pounded into square conformity, I was destined to be another ordinary disciplined bird, confined in the cage. In the United States, I can warble my own songs and fly anywhere my heart takes me. Eureka!

Student Written features work written by LHS students. The views portrayed in these written works are not the views of The Leopard's Roar, as it is an unbiased news publication source.

Student Written is edited by Debra Fabian, Student Activities Editor. Fabian can be reached at dramagirl319@hotmail.com.