She endorses sports and school athletics, but within reason. She feels that sports at American schools play a major role in students lives. Good athletes are heroes at this school, she says. You can see their pictures in local papers, but you hardly see a picture of a student honoring academic achievement. Very often it s almost impossible to get kids to go to a math competition or to stay after school to get some practice, because they have their sports activities.
Sports are first.
I tried to fight it, but I have to say that I have lost. It's nice to have someone from a different background, because your education is more diverse, it's more fun, and just the whole background makes it more enjoyable. I got my first C in her class, but she challenged me to work to be a better student. According to Maria, students in American schools have much less stress surrounding their studies. They are not pushed as hard as European students are.