There are advantages and disadvantages to each school system.

“The education up to 12th grade is great over here, except for the fact that people take a lot for granted,” Suma Joseph said. “The structure that we have in India does not leave much room for getting credit for college, whereas over here you have that opportunity and it’s up to you how much credit you want to earn towards college. You can do that if you have the potential for it, so that’s a great thing that we have going over here in the school system. The amount of technology and resources that you have over here is in stark contrast to what we have in public schools in India.”

There are also some things about the school system in India that Joseph feels should transfer over into the United States school system.

“I am a big proponent for having uniforms, and the fact that we don’t have any uniforms in the public school system is sad,” Joseph said.

Students also share some of the same views Joseph has about education in the United States.

“Education can definitely be taken for granted easily here, most people just think it is a given,” junior Caroline Witken said. “In other countries some people don’t even have the chance for an education and most people don’t realize how good they have it here. The only thing I don’t agree with is that I think dress code is good, but uniforms are unnecessary. We can have a limited things we can’t wear but a variety of things we can wear.”

Regardless of whether or not there’s a dress code or uniforms, by coming to the United States and seeing the differences, Joseph can put things into perspective.

“Looking back, I didn’t have so many amenities growing up, but it was happy times because I was with my family and friends,” Joseph said. “It gives me the perspective of valuing things, like a car because I used to take the bus everyday to college and it was one hour getting to my college and one hour back.”