Dare to Excel: Martina Manzano

Posted 3/14/22

Martina Manzano has traveled a long way to attend school at Warrenton High School. Hailing from Caldera, Chile, Manzano is participating in a foreign exchange program to attend senior-year classes in …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Dare to Excel: Martina Manzano

Posted

Martina Manzano has traveled a long way to attend school at Warrenton High School. Hailing from Caldera, Chile, Manzano is participating in a foreign exchange program to attend senior-year classes in Warrenton.

Manzano is staying at the home of teacher Randy Kindschuh while attending school here, and said she has been very interested to experience all the differences in school life compared to her home. School staff have commented that Manzano has been doing well in classes, a remarkable feat considering that a year ago she spoke no English whatsoever.

Manzano said she only started learning English last year by watching lessons on YouTube.

“I think I speak well for just learning a year ago,” she commented.

Improving her English is actually one of the primary reasons Manzano came to America. When she first started school in Warrenton, she had to rely heavily on a translator. But as the months have gone by, she said all the people she’s interacted with have helped her learn the language and have little trouble communicating.

Having a working understanding of English will be very useful for future education, Manzano said. She intends to study to become a cardiac surgeon at a university in Chile.

Q: What classes have you enjoyed here?
“Ceramics and government. The (government) teacher is nice, and the class is interesting, so I think it’s one of my favorites.”

Q: Have any classes been difficult?
“The most difficult one is American history, for obvious reasons. And maybe language arts.
“The first semester, I took human biology, and it was really hard because of the English. But it was so fun. We did a lot of dissection.”

Q: What has been the most interesting thing you’ve learned?
“In American history? Everything. It’s a lot of just war.
“But in government, how they divide government between legislative (branches), between states, cities. Everyone has their own government, and I just think, ‘Why do you have one for the state’?”

Q: What’s been most different about school here?
“Everything. The schedule. In my country we have breaks between every class. And here, they have more importance on sports. ... My school (in Chile) starts in March and ends in December.”

Q: Have you gotten involved in any sports?
“Yeah. It’s a great experience. And here, if you don’t do any sports, you don’t meet people. I do volleyball, a little bit of basketball — but it was really hard — and now I’m doing soccer.”

Q: How will you describe this year to people back home?
“I think I would say it’s been a good year for lived experience: new things, new food, new people? Just getting out of your typical experience. I would recommend that people go have a new experience in other countries.”

Q: What do you miss about home?
“The food.”

Q: Where will you attend college?
“Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso.”

Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite movie: Captain America
Favorite music: Reggaeton
Favorite musician: Bad Bunny
Favorite destination: Colorado

Dare to Excel, Warrenton High School

X