Ruany’s Educational Journey: Mexico vs. United States

By LIAM VENEGAS 
The Tower 

For many students at Manteca High, the educational journey began at schools in Mexico, where the cultural differences created an obstacle after moving to The United States. 

Case in point: Ruany Medina, a junior who isn’t just learning a new educational system. He’s also trying to navigate a new country with new customs and a new language.  

In America, at school sites like Manteca High, they have bell schedules, testing, late start, rallies, and tardy sweeps. In Mexico, many of the schools have uniforms, strict schedules, and even stricter stances on personal hygiene and substance prohibition. There’s also testing like in the U.S. 

At Manteca High, a large percentage of the student body is Hispanic. Approximately 60 percent of the students are of Hispanic or Latin descent, and many of those students have come from other countries where they all must adapt to the norms of an American high school.  

“Some are motivated to succeed and build generational opportunities for friends, family, and their future. They’re very hopeful and determined,” stated Manteca High counselor Rocio Carillo. 

She also talks about how hard the struggle of being a new student from another country is, explaining how it's overwhelming it can be to adapt to new norms and rules, customs, and environments. 

“Overwhelmed, that’s how I would explain it in one word,” she said. “It’s a lot to take in, and they receive information that we explain each system to them.” 

Ruany moved to the United States on the 6th of February 2024. He was in Ripon for his first year where he originally had ELD, AP Spanish, Algebra 2, World History, Intense English, and Biology. He transferred to Manteca High School during the summer. This year he had ELD 1, U.S. History, English 3, and Algebra B. He is currently in ELD 1 still, Body Conditioning, Science, and Spanish Speakers. It has been a rough journey adapting to different norms in a new country for him. 

The Tower caught up with Medina to discuss the difference in education between Mexico to the U.S. and how his experience at Manteca High has been. 

TT: How has your experience been here at an American school?  

Ruany Medina: I mean very well, yes, very well.  

TT: Ok, so what do you want to do with your life after graduation?  

RM: Hmm, well get a job and buy a house, that’s my goal.  

TT: Sounds good, do you think maybe you want to keep going with education to achieve more in your life?  

RM: Yes, that would be fine. If I had the chance, I would.  

TT: What is a school like in Mexico?  

 RM: Well, very fun, in fact, I say it’s different there.  

TT: What was the best part of your school year?  

 RM: I mean, meet more friends and have fun with them.  

 TT: What was the hardest thing to get used to in this school?  

RM: Well, I mean English. I don’t know English and it’s the hardest thing to understand.  

TT: Yes, I understand you; it’s difficult to learn from the beginning. Is the education system here more difficult than in Mexico?  

RM: Yes, a little bit, because there are more specializations here.  

TT: Does education offer more opportunities in Mexico?  

RM: No, it’s just that you need someone there to help you with that.