FRISCO, TX — Each year, Centennial High School welcomes an increasing diversity of students. Many of these students aren’t just new to Centennial, they are also new to the country. These students bring with them a unique background, varied insight, and personal stories, all of which contribute to the rich culture that makes Centennial such a lively community.  These students’ experiences strengthen the learning environment and foster deeper understanding and connections reflected in their peers at the school.

Moving schools isn’t easy, but moving across several lands is quite an additional challenge. These transitions– both challenging and enriching– faced by these new students lend themselves to countless stories of what it’s like to adapt to the new environment and experiences at Centennial.

One of the recent arrivals, Michelle Wu, who moved from Taiwan, faced many differences she had to adapt to. “The school in Taiwan is really different from the schools in The United States. In Taiwan, students had assigned classrooms so teachers would move from one class to another according to the schedule,” she shared. “For that reason, it was hard for me to adapt to that change during the first few weeks. Some of the terms used in classes were also hard for me to keep up with. But I’m trying to cope with the new things here,” Wu said. 

Another new arrival, Younghyun Yoo, who moved from South Korea, replied when asked about Centennial, “It was hard for me to understand people when they talked too fast, but they were kind enough to repeat themselves slower. Otherwise, this place is really cool and the people are really sweet,” Yoo said.

The growing number of international and out-of-state students at Centennial reflects Frisco’s rapid development in hospitality. Students from states like California and New York have also made their way to Texas. Emma Yip, who moved from San Carlos, California, shared her experience: “Texas is a lot cleaner, has better streets, and much warmer climates than California. Everyone is so much nicer here; in California, I didn’t get that same treatment. Oftentimes, as heard online, we would all have a resting angry face, unhappy with the dirty place. I felt unsafe in my old school, but here I feel the teachers and the students are more welcoming,” Yip said.

As Frisco continues to grow and attract students from across the country and globe, Centennial continues to aid in that development. Centennial High School’s administration is focused on embracing diverse students like Emma Yip, Michelle Wu, and many more in the school that they will soon call a haven.