Sydney Quirmbach both literally and figuratively dived into the deep end. A junior from Germany, she arrived at Calabasas High School for the 2025-2026 school year with no roadmap, no social circle, and a foreign campus that felt like a maze. Yet within weeks, she found her footing by joining both the water polo and swim teams, immersing herself immediately into CHS life.

“They’re different, but both very fun. Water polo is a lot together as a team– you grow really close, and I love that,” Quirmbach said. 

For countless students, the built-in network is an entry point into finding their place. 

“It helped me really get to know people and [make] friends. Sometimes I sit with some of the swim team people at lunch. I feel like it makes you feel included in a group or in a community because you all share the same interest.”

Through months spent working toward a common goal, shared interest and familiarity accelerate connection. In a setting defined by teamwork, relationships form quickly, and students build deep friendships.

Yet the path to participation is not always straightforward. Exchange students interested in joining athletics face bureaucratic hurdles rarely witnessed by domestic students.

“So anytime you participate in athletics, you have to get cleared through the CIF. And if you’re an exchange student transfer, you have to get cleared. The CIF has a list of approved agencies that they work with, but those agents are not the same as the agencies that LVUSD works with,” said Thomas Cassidy, CHS athletic director and head baseball coach. 

This disconnect oftentimes hinders students from accessing the programs that have the ability to make their transition easier. 

For those who are able to participate, however, the culture of Calabasas teams transcends expectations. 

“I feel like they’re very welcoming and inclusive,” said Quirmbach.

In Germany and numerous other countries, this ecosystem doesn’t exist.

“Our schools don’t have any types of athletics at all. We don’t have any athletic clubs or competitions. Everything would have to be club outside of school,” said Quirmbach.

Physical education is universal; varsity culture is not. German PE classes cycle through many sports, introducing students to many. Students are then encouraged to participate in sports they find interesting privately. 

“I think over here you guys focus on one maybe two sports very intensively, train every day and put a lot of effort into it, have a real team,” said Quirmbach. “What we do in PE class in Germany is they try to introduce us to every one of them and then encourage us to decide on which one we had most fun with and continue that as a club. Privately, though.”

Quirmbach was especially surprised by the level of training American athletes go through. 

“I do think there are quite a few kids who get burnt out or overworked because it’s quite a lot,” Quirmbach noted

Her observation points out a broader issue within American adolescent athletics: the same intensity that cultivated excellence can also strain students physically and mentally. In fact, through a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine on American high school student athletes, it was found that 91% of surveyed students experienced stress caused by sports, commonly due to fear of failure and self-pressure. 

“It should be encouraged to take a break and watch your mental health,” said Quirmbach. “I do think the coaches are doing a great job talking about that.”

For Quirmbach, athletics did not just structure her schedule, but her entry into American life. 

“I feel like athletics did play a big role. You grow together so much,” said Quirmbach. 

In Germany, Quirmbach swam once a week while earning her pool lifeguard certification. In California, she trains nearly every day. As the intensity has increased, so has her passion for athletics. 

For future exchange students weighing whether to try out, she offers simple advice: “Just go for it. Don’t take it too seriously. It is really fun. You get to know great people, and you improve so much.”

Throughout the past year, Quirmbach and countless students have discovered that the lessons gained on the field and in the locker room can be just as meaningful as those learned in the classroom.