In contrast to the trips abroad students can take with their language classes, another, more unique opportunity was offered recently that reversed the system and brought outside culture in to St. Paul Academy and Summit School. On the Jan. 28, eleven Chinese athletes came to SPA to learn more about American high schools. These athletes are all very accomplished and many are Olympic Medalists or former World Champions in their respective sports. Ranging from trampoline, to fencing, to wrestling they played a varied selection of sports. The athletes had a chance to tour the school and play field hockey with middle school students but one of the more impactful parts of the day was the open forum between the athletes and SPA students.

“I definitely think that people were interested in [the discussion] …. and I think that the Chinese athletes were really willing to answer the questions that we asked them and they were interested in learning about our school too,” sophomore Soph Lundberg said.

Assisted by Middle School Chinese Teacher Neil Bray, the Chinese athletes and SPA students exchanged questions comparing each other’s academic and athletic lives. Culturally these two places differ greatly in athletic structures. In China it is common for children to be selected at a young age to train for their sport intensively whereas in the United States athletics are often in conjunction with academics.

At the forum, trampolinist Lu Chunlong said that he was selected at the age of five to start his athletic training. These eleven athletes are now in Minnesota because they have finished their athletic careers and are studying for a short time at the University of Minnesota in kinesiology (the study of human movement). Fortunately, SPA was able to host these athletes and facilitate a discussion between the Chinese professional athletes and SPA students. For both the athletes and students, it was an experience that highlighted the unique aspects of everyone’s seemingly normal lives and illuminated the experiences of others.