Brodi Gary

Senior Lior Poupin describes her school life as well as her extra curricular activities in France compared to America.

Packing all the essential items, saying goodbye and boarding onto the airplane. Becoming a year-long tourist is what a lot of people dream of, and that dream is becoming a reality for senior Lior Poupin.

Traveling from northeast France, Poupin finds many differences in American school life compared to her hometown.

“So when we [in my hometown] have school, we start at 8 a.m. and we finish at 6 p.m.,” Poupin said.

There are many differences between Olathe schools and Poupin’s schooling, but one of the differences is that the school day here is three hours shorter compared to Poupins school.

“[In France] you’re just sitting on a chair and listening to the teacher and that’s it,” Poupin said. “We don’t have all these interactive classes.” 

Some interactive classes that American schools have that Poupin’s home school didn’t have include performing arts, social studies and physical education classes. 

Even though Poupin doesn’t have the option to have these interactive courses in her hometown, she made up for it by doing them outside of her school day.

“I’m in a competitive [trampoline] group,” Poupin said. “So we went to the French championship and things like that and I also train a group of kids.”

Poupin enjoys sports and chose to take on some similar activities here in America.

“I was in gymnastics before and I think I will do dive or something like that in the spring,” Poupin said.

Even though Poupin is making a big impact on her life here in America, she still has one extra school year to finish.

“So I have to do my senior year in France too, because it’s not the same because here the school is easier,” Poupin said.

Even though Poupin believes American schooling is easier than France, she also thinks that here there is an environment to make an impact.

“I think here we have a lot of responsibilities, more than in France, because we have more liberties, and we are more free here,” Poupin said. “And so you have to take this freedom and make something good and I think students have a big impact in the school, more than in France.”