MINNEAPOLIS _ Of the many expectations Zijun "Vector" Zhang had about studying abroad when his father broached the idea about four years ago in the family's home in southern China, at least one has been dispelled.
"It's generally believed in China that subjects I would study in American schools would be easier than the ones I would study in China," Vector said recently while relaxing after a day of classes at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield. "So I thought, 'OK, easier subjects, plus my parents won't be around, hanging over me, I could do that.' "
The surprise for Vector (he adopted his American name from a video game) was that classes here aren't easier. "Especially math and science" he said.
Still, Vector, who speaks English fluently, has settled in nicely in America, and in Minnesota. Though he misses his family in the Fujian province capital city of Fuzhou (population about 6 million) _ including an only sibling, a sister, and also misses his grandmother's cooking _ he says American steaks and ribs are excellent stand-ins. Also among newfound favorites are playing piano in the school jazz band, acting in Holy Angels theater productions, including "Arsenic and Old Lace," participating in math club and Knowledge Bowl ...
And squeezing the trigger of a shotgun.
This last interest is notable, given that no one in his family has every owned a gun or even fired one. In China, only military and police officials possess firearms.
Vector nonetheless was intrigued in his sophomore year when he heard via email about the Holy Angels/Richfield High School trap shooting team.
"I told my host father (in the Twin Cities) I was interested in joining," Vector said. "He said OK, and I took the (DNR) online firearms safety course."
Notification to his parents in China about his proposed participation in shooting gained a mixed response.
"I would need a gun, and when I called my parents to ask if it was OK, my dad was OK with it," Vector said. "But my mom said no. And when they told my grandma, she just shook her head."
Vector's interest in shooting isn't unique.
Trap shooting is by far the fastest growing high school sport in Minnesota, and elsewhere. As many as 20,000 students will shoot competitively this spring in 18 states, with another 10 states expected to join the prep trap shooting ranks within a year.
And while Minnesota State High School Clay Target League (mnclaytarget.com) competitive shooting doesn't begin until April 2, a March 1 deadline looms for teams to sign up for the spring season, which will culminate in June with state championships.
