Taiwanese male and female students from Xiong Zhong experience American education and Silicon Valley technology.

Recently, students from Kaohsiung Girls’ High School and Kaohsiung Senior High School participated in the 2025 US-West Education Tour, visiting the sister school Diamond Bar High School in the United States for exchanges. They also visited prestigious institutions such as Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UCLA during a 14-day in-depth learning journey.

The educational tour, which took place from January 20 to February 2, aimed to give Taiwanese students firsthand experience of the learning environment in American high schools and universities, expand their international perspectives, and deepen their understanding of American workplace culture. Participating student Yang Cheng-Rui expressed his long-standing aspiration for studying in the US and how visiting top institutions and receiving guidance from alumni currently studying in the US has provided him with clearer academic and application goals for the future.

In addition to academic exchanges, students had the opportunity to visit tech giants like Google and Nvidia to gain insights into the American workplace environment and the development of the tech industry, providing them with a more concrete idea for future career planning.

Accompanying the students on their trip to the US, Xue Ming-Yan, an English teacher from Kaohsiung Senior High School, noted the significant differences between the US and Taiwanese educational systems and lifestyle habits. However, she found that regardless of these differences, high school students share common traits and challenges, such as the universal tendencies to procrastinate, work hard, and experience moments of confusion and doubt.

Xue Ming-Yan discovered that the Wellness Center at Diamond Bar High School, similar to Taiwan’s counseling office, is operated by students with assistance from teachers, emphasizing student autonomy in emotional and mental well-being support. The presence of therapy dogs at the center further enhances the students’ emotional support network, providing comfort and assistance.

During the exchange at Diamond Bar High School, students participated in local classes, experiencing a different educational model from Taiwan. First-year student Qiu Yu-Xuan from Kaohsiung Girls’ High School shared her initial nervousness upon stepping into the campus and classrooms but found the American teachers and students to be friendly and genuine, easing her anxieties. She gained knowledge beyond textbooks and established new friendships.

“We’ve made many different friends here, bridging friendships across borders and barriers, creating unforgettable memories,” Qiu Yu-Xuan observed the diverse courses in American high schools, including IB, AP, and CTE career development programs, where students independently move between classes, unlike the traditional Taiwanese classroom structure.

Furthermore, while Taiwanese high school students have a “lunch break” that includes time for napping, American high school students only have about half an hour for “lunch,” limiting their time for a quick snack. These experiences have provided Taiwanese students with a fresh perspective on school cultures.

Students also engaged in sports classes with local American students, experiencing uncommon sports activities in Taiwan, such as sack races. The unique operation of the school cooperative store, which only opens during break times, lunch, and after school, offers carbonated drinks for sale only after classes, providing Taiwanese students with a deeper understanding of American campus culture.

The students expressed numerous benefits from their exchange trip to the US, including improved English communication skills and a deeper appreciation for American education and culture. This journey will be a memorable experience in their lives, igniting their excitement for future international learning and development opportunities.

The alumni from the America Strong Friends Association shared authentic American cuisines with the students from Kaohsiung High Schools and shared their experiences studying and working in the US. The alumni thoughtfully arranged performances such as Mexican dances and choir during the America Strong Friends Association annual meeting, creating cherished memories for many students.