Dainfern learner gushes over memorable USA trips
Juliet jetted off to the USA during an exchange programme facilitated by her school, Dainfern College.
As a member of the international network of Round Square schools, Dainfern College was able to facilitate an exciting and varied student exchange programme. Juliet Pretorius packed her bags and jetted off to the United States of America after she was selected for the programme.
According to Dainfern College’s communications and compliance manager, Joana Pettitt, the students from the college have the opportunity to select an international school to visit for anything from two weeks to three months.
That way, students from Round Square schools across the globe also get a chance to visit South Africa and be hosted by Dainfern College families.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience other cultures and education systems and meet young people from all over the world. Students at the college have enjoyed exchanges with schools in Colombia, Peru, the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Kenya, Jordan, Australia and Tasmania, among others,” Pettitt explained.
Fourways Review caught up with Juliet who is currently in matric to chat about her exchange experience at The Athenian School in Danville, California, where she spent four weeks earlier this year.
“My trip to the USA was a most memorable and life-changing experience. Everyone was extremely welcoming and friendly and made me feel at home right away,” she said.
But this was not her first time in the USA. “I was fortunate enough to have visited Florida back in 2018 with my family. Exchange, however, was a completely new experience, not only because I was now on the West Coast of the USA, but I also had a greater sense of independence. I was able to feel like a local when exploring and creating a daily routine, rather than a tourist only able to visit major attractions.”
Juliet can’t stop thinking about the lessons she was able to take away from the exchange programme. She said she was impressed with the education system of the USA.
“I felt as though there was far more freedom when deciding on what subjects to do, as they have a far more diverse selection. This meant that the students were really able to explore what they enjoyed learning. The students taught me how much fun school could be when you have the freedom to learn about things that excite and intrigue you.”
What made the retreat even more rewarding for her was meeting people from all walks of life. “It was fun to hear all of the culture shocks that they were also experiencing and how similar we all were even from our different backgrounds. While I was there I signed up to help their theatre department paint sets for their upcoming musical, The Addams Family. I would say that joining this department made the exchange so much fun as I was able to make so many friends while painting and also learnt so many new skills about set design and construction.
Juliet is planning to pursue medicine at the University of Pretoria in 2024. She wishes every matriculant all the best with their upcoming final exams.
“I would then like to specialise in neuroscience, and perhaps do a postgraduate qualification overseas. I thoroughly enjoy learning about anatomy and physiology and the way the brain works fascinates me. I therefore thought that this would be a good path to follow. Good luck to everyone writing. We are almost there, keep pushing and make yourselves proud.
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