Life of a learner at boarding school
YOU can have conflicting views about going to boarding school.
You could be looking forward to meeting new people, getting out of the home, and spending time apart from your family. You could also be apprehensive about taking on that many responsibilities for yourself while being so far away from the home, relatives, and friends.
You might be thinking about what it is like to go to boarding school and if you will fit in. For learners who attend boarding school, saying goodbye to mom and dad, moving on campus and beginning a journey toward independence is often a major transition.
Learners must get ready to navigate a new home and academic environment while learning to manage what for some is an unprecedented level of freedom. They will be making new friends, meeting new teachers and joining a new system, often with very different customs and traditions. Education experts say preparation is the key to a smooth launch.
Consider boarding school as just an adventure, and if you are eager to get started or ragging your feet. Most teens will not have this degree of independence until they start university.
Smaller courses (usually 20 – 30 people) allow you to get to understand your professors and connect with them both inside and outside the classroom. That is a lot better than being a statistic on a report card at a bigger institution. A good resident school will also help you prepare for university.
Boarding allows learners from different areas to interact with a wider spectrum of classmates and to participate in curriculum and co-curricular events that they may not otherwise have access to.
It saves kids in remote places time and money by offering a secure, regulated atmosphere with norms and routines.
Rather than taking the two connecting bus ride home, boarding learners can utilise this time to study, join a sports team, or take a music lesson. Even without the stress of travel, learners’ time becomes far more controllable.
Perseverance, self-reliance, ambition, and modesty are developed by living on campus in a school environment.
Furthermore, boarding improves crucial life skills like organisation, cooperation, teamwork, communication, and the development of work and study routines — qualities that kids will need throughout their adult lives.
Viewing a day in the lives of boarding learners in combination with these advantages will assist your kid in making a seamless adjustment and enjoying everything that boarding life gives.
The boarding school’s success is based on practical considerations, and everyday schedule is a key aspect of the school’s operation.
The lifestyle of a boarding learners
Learners get up around 5am, change, bathe, clean their rooms and eat breakfast collectively before departing for class.
At 10am, the learners have a break, some it will be a tea break where they will have tea and bread, or any snack.
They break for lunch and siesta between 12-noon and 2pm before resuming afternoon lessons.
They break again and prepare for supper usually at 6pm.
After supper, it is study time and depending with the school, evening study times vary from two to three hours.
So here are a few pointers to assist you to enjoy your stay at boarding school, even if you are attending a large or small school, and make the most use of your time away from your family.
What should you do before attending boarding school?
It might be jarring to be away from the home and your childhood companions. Going into a dormitory will be different from what happens at home, even if it won’t be precisely like college.
Make an effort to make new friends. In the hallway between lectures, say hi to genuine mates, ask other people to dinner, and connect your new mates to one other. This will assist you in forming a close-knit group that will last during your stay at the board.
How to survive in a hostel at a boarding school
Alongside your housemates and dorm guardians, establish ground rules for cleaning. A dirty roommate and an untidy room might make it difficult to concentrate on homework and enjoy your freedom at boarding school. If you are the untidy one, you are essentially allowing everybody else to drop their stinky clothes on the floor with you.
Make it a collaborative effort. Encourage everybody to pick up their garbage, dump the trash on a routine basis, and maintain the rooms clean. This is especially true in the bathroom.
How to maximise your boarding school experience
First and foremost, get your stuff done, and then socialise. You would not want to fall behind because boarding school is difficult. Ask for assistance if you require it.
Request care packages from your folks. If the school permits learners to bring home food, a box of cookies and munchies will be a welcome surprise to enjoy with dorm mates.
Use your common sense when it comes to the guidelines. There will be numerous opportunities to get into mischief. However, most boarding schools have rigorous honour codes and standards, and breaching them might result in suspension or expulsion. That phone conversation home is the last thing you want to do.
Learn about the adults at the academy. Teachers, mentors, boarding masters, matrons, school counsellors, tutoring, and even offices and maintenance workers all want you to thrive and are willing to assist you.
Take full advantage of off-campus exploration options. Schools provide events such as watching TV, outdoor experiences, and community work initiatives to get you off school. — Online