What Attending a Diverse Public High School Taught Me


By Jaynab Akhtar, JIF '17

It seems that the debate of public versus private schools will never truly disappear unless schools themselves do. A public school education is the only kind I have known since kindergarten, however, and I honestly cannot imagine having it any other way. The school district I am a part of, and my high school in particular, have truly made me appreciate the diversity and atmosphere that a public school provides.

My high school, Hamtramck High School, boasts one of the most diverse student bodies of any high school in Michigan. A majority of the students (myself included) come from immigrant families and are first-generation students. My classmates and friends come from Bangladesh, Yemen, Bosnia, Albania, Uzbekistan, and everywhere in between. I love it. Attending a school with such an accepting environment has definitely gifted me with a more open and worldly perspective on things. I get to learn about different cultures and customs firsthand, and the diversity is not just limited to culture or ethnicity: a variety of religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and political views also constitute our student body, making for a rich learning experience inside and outside the classroom.

I am not sure how different my experience would be had I attended a private high school, but my public school experience has undoubtedly shaped me as a person, and I would not trade it for the world.

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