What If Things Go Wrong?
You are thinking about boarding school. But you've heard that the work is tough. Furthermore, they will expel you in a heartbeat if you are caught doing anything seriously wrong. Is this true? Is that the way boarding schools work? Let's look at the facts.
1. The academic work is difficult.
There's no escaping the truth about academics in private schools. Academics are the reason a private school exists in the first place. The academic standards are high. There is a lot of homework. There are a lot of subjects and a lot of ground to cover in every class. Sometimes, the lessons are hard to understand. Just remember, whenever you feel discouraged that you were admitted to the school because you thought you could do the academic work involved. The school-based its decision on your academic transcripts and admissions test scores.
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The difference between taking on challenging work in a boarding school versus a public school is simply that nobody in the boarding school will let you sink. Why? Well, for one, the classes are small. For example, your teacher will know you have problems grasping a math concept. You will not be humiliated in front of your peers. If you don't believe me, read the codes of conduct for any boarding school and see just how seriously they take community spirit and concern for all members of the school community. Teaching their students to be tolerant and to respect others is part of most private schools' missions.
2. Your home away from home.
How can private schools enforce such an idealistic approach? They do it by being exemplars of what they are teaching. You see, boarding schools don't just teach physics or Chinese, and then they close the classroom door and forget about you until the next class. That does not happen because you are part of a residential community that learns together, eats together, plays sports together, and watches TV together. Boarding schools function like one big family.
I can hear you thinking, "But I am an only child. My mother is the CEO of a multinational corporation and travels all the time. My parents divorced when I was 12. What do I know about family? I don't even know which of our five homes to call home. Why should I even care?"
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That's the point. Boarding schools can fill in all kinds of gaps in your life. It's not just academics, either. Your whole life. It's how school molds and shapes you, which is probably the best thing about residential schools. They are experts at this. They have been doing it for years. They expect to do it for many more years after you have graduated. When you are at school 24/7, you learn to tolerate different opinions. You also learn to appreciate diversity, which is an integral part of most boarding schools. Private schools expose you to many good, positive things that are hard to find in most public high schools.
3. A balanced approach.
Finally, every one of your teachers wants you to be the best you can be. Boarding school teachers set a terrific example of hard academic work and integrity. Look at how many faculty have advanced master's and doctorate degrees. They are experts in their chosen fields. Furthermore, your teachers will get to teach you. You see, discipline is a non-issue in boarding school. Your teachers rarely have to worry about disciplinary matters. And when they do, such things fall under the purview of the school's code of conduct. They will stretch you and make you learn stuff you never thought you would know. The truth is that you will probably do more academic work to a higher standard than the work you will encounter in college.
Now, what about discipline? What happens if I break a primary rule? That depends on the school. But let's understand something fundamental about boarding schools: the school chose you; it selected you to be a part of its community. Yes, it costs a lot of money for this privilege. But they wanted you. Following the rules at school is just part of growing up, after all. I mean, you have to drive on the right because it's law, right? You have to pay taxes. It's the law.
That's all the school is doing. It's organizing or codifying its expectations of each community member in a document called a code of conduct or something like that. The code of conduct will not be a mysterious document that everybody talks about, but nobody sees. The school's code of conduct will be in front of you the first day you arrive. The school will explain it in great detail. Then, you will sign the document and agree to abide by its rules.
4. Lots of individual attention.
Unlike being in a public school, your teachers and fellow students will know if you are depressed or having problems. Hiding behind a wall of alcohol or marijuana won't be an option because 99% of the time, your classmates and teachers will have noticed that something is wrong. You will have had a chance to get the professional counseling and guidance you need. Private schools concern themselves with educating the whole child. They can balance academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, and social life because they have been doing that successfully for many years.
Think of boarding school as an adventure. Sure, you could stay home and mosey off to the local high school and be a number. Or a nerd. Or a jock. Or be categorized in whatever way is the vogue of the moment. But you are you. A boarding school will draw you in with its warmth and concern for your well-being. A boarding school will show you how to accomplish all kinds of things. Boarding school is not exclusively about academics. You will have the opportunity to be on the stage. Perhaps you will play football. You will do all this with your new classmates, who will become lifelong friends.
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