Classes etc... Continued!

The diverse population allows for some really interesting perspectives on virtually any subject. Just the other day while studying imperialism, and the question of whether or not the Imperialistic country should change the rituals of the occupied country, a boy from Saudi Arabia was able to give a full account on some of the customs and regulations of that country (although he disagreed with many).

With about 10 students per class, the teacher never misses a confused expression and automatically questions a student, who she recognizes is lost. The teacher is upfront when describing the difficulty of a test, but reassures those who receive an uncharacteristic grade, that they still have opportunities to make it up before receiving grade reports. In my last period class, many A students received C’s. My teacher went through the material and then excused the class early so that those who needed to, could stay behind and ask him questions. There is no opportunity to fall asleep during class, and you have to be on your toes pretty much all the time, but this makes learning a lot easier. For me, Science was always a particularly difficult class. I would listen to the teacher lecture, while doodling on my notes. Therefore, I often missed ideas and was forced to go back and relearn things. Now, when the teacher goes over something, she asks me questions, prompting me to pay attention and testing my knowledge at all stages until we actually take our test.

Homework sucks, it is the same endless stuff, I have always received and there is a lot more of it. I would like to think that it is easier because it was something we already talked about earlier that day. The classes are definitely in a unique set-up, but it is very efficient.

Kate

PS...I need some pictures!

My Classes

How are the classes at boarding school different from public school? Well, let me first explain to you my schedule. Today, an ordinary Thursday, I only had four classes, spread throughout the day. During free periods I usually do homework or check my email. We only have school every other Saturday. A lot of people complain about this, but it is a lot easier to have a few classes on Saturday since we are here anyway, than it is to have them all piled into the week. We call Friday extended Thursday, but really Saturday is extended. I don’t really miss my Saturday, so much as my Friday nights.

Anyway, we have a ton of discussions. Class time mainly consists of our own opinions and thoughts being voiced rather than the teacher droning on for endless amounts of time. This allows us to better comprehend the material, and often adds to not only our understanding, but the teacher’s as well.

Oops late for class gotta run!

Kate

The Down Side

All right, now I would be lying if I said that there is no down side, and because I am a truthful person, I would like to paint you a full picture, instead of one half obscured. I am separated from my family and my old friends, this is hard, and communication is sometimes a chore. There is no privacy. People can poke their heads into the middle of your life whenever they see fit. The rumors, though usually not cruelly intended, can be exaggerated cruelly.

I cannot make my own schedule; sometimes it is difficult even to manage my time efficiently because it is not the way I normally would have done things. I miss home cooked meals, watching a favorite TV show with my family, playing with my dogs, going to the grocery store, and other small things that I took pleasure in not too long ago.

Often, students here get bored, sometimes resulting in getting into trouble. It does cost a lot of money, not only the tuition, but other things as well. We had to buy our books, buy supplies for our trips, and pay to use the laundry machines or go on most trips. Your whole way of life changes, so if you aren’t open to change it might not be for you. I would not recommend going because I can’t since I don’t know you, but I will recommend looking into it.

The Rules!

The rules are strict, but easy to follow. There are expulsions pretty much every year, but the disciplinary committee (comprised of students and teachers) is usually fair and consistent with its punishments. Teachers are very well educated, maybe even overqualified, staying here for many years because they love their job, and taking interest in the well-being of every student.

In my opinion, one of the reasons the colleges accept the students from this school is that they come with high personal recommendations from people who know them well. I do not feel restricted either. Recently, another student decided he would like to learn Latin. He approached a teacher and she began giving him informal lessons. Intrigued, I joined in, bringing along a friend. Now, the three of us meet twice a week and are applying for credits. I have found that it is a very valuable experience in many different aspects.

Kate

Fashion - Keeping up with The Rockefellers

The next thing that people may be wondering: what about fashion? We don’t have uniforms at my school, some people daily wear cute outfits and some people wear baggy school sweatshirts and jeans. It is not a discriminating factor among us, financial standing does not determine style and mostly it is what they feel comfortable in. More on this later!

Gotta Run,

Kate

The Chow at Boarding School!

The food here is nutritious, usually, and as long as you don’t get caught in a whirl wind of dorm food and faculty offered cookies, you will find yourself staying healthy. Still, trips out to restaurants are always a joyous occasion. Some useful snacks to have in your dorm: popcorn, chocolates, fruit, chips, water, sodas and some people have quick meals like cup-a-noodle or rice bowls. Personally, I can’t stand those though; they taste like the noodles we get here anyway!

Kate

Sports at Boarding School

Sports are done for fun mainly, even though they are usually also required. It is not intense, although that varies from team to team. Overall, people choose a sport they are interested in, go with the outdoors program, or do some independent training. As long as that person is active enough to need a shower afterwards, there is no problem. This takes a lot of the stress off, it is still competitive enough to keep you on your toes and progressing as an athlete, but it is also about having fun. Different levels enable people to find where they best fit in.

Kate

The Good Things About Boarding School - Part I

First, let me tell you some of the advantages. Students who poured themselves into their studies, have every resource at their door, they no longer need to sacrifice their social life for their future. For me, arriving on time to school every morning was an ever-passionate battle between my family and me. Rushing my brother and even my mother out the door at 6:45 in the morning was my heaviest burden as a student because it was a near impossible task and I was always so close to failure. Now, I can role out of bed ( I am the required to make my bed) put on some clothes and walk to breakfast and class. Easy! So, independence is the first good characteristic of a boarding school student. I would say it has already made me more responsible also, but I must confess, I take my laundry home on the weekends.

I live a mere half an hour a way. So, actually, I had a tough decision to make between being a boarding and day student. Day students miss out on a lot, since many of the activities are geared towards boarders, plus often they have to stay here very late anyway. All in all, it is a lot less stress.

Boarders also grow very close to everyone on campus. The school becomes not only a home and community, but also something that closely resembles a family. Though it sounds cheesy, it is true. Everyone becomes connected, which is also one of the reasons why rumors fly like rockets around campus, but this is more because people are concerned, not because they are malicious. I found myself feeling a lot more free to express who I was. Many times, eccentricity is celebrated; some of the weirdest people I know are the most popular!

Gotta Run, More Later!
Kate

How I Got To Boarding School

My life has been a series of changes. I constantly changed homes, and as I grew, faces and bodies, and then also personalities. One thing I thought I would never change is the fact that I was a public school student. Something I could say easily with pride. I looked forward to working my way up, gaining admission to choice colleges by my sheer dedication and hard work. I had always been a diligent student and knew I would be taking the maximum every step of the way.
However, a realization hit me my Freshman year of high school. I was looking through the graduating class acceptance list and there were few schools on there that I would have considered going to. Many of the students who wound up at mediocre colleges took many of the same classes that I myself planned to take and they participated in various extra-curricular programs also. I got on the internet (my ever faithful companion) and proceeded to check out some other schools and their acceptance rates. Meanwhile, my aunt, a boarding school alumna, had sent out applications to some of the local boarding schools. Boarding school had never been an option for me, unless I had been dreaming about Hogwarts and magic wands, but after I was accepted I began to question further: was public school right for me?
In the end I went, and took with me a hefty chunk out of my parents’ pocket. Don’t be alarmed now, there is a ton of financial aid available. I might even qualify next year. This year, because I had not even considered going originally, my parents never filled out the required forms. My experiences at boarding school would qualify me, maybe not to rate every boarding school across the country, but to offer some information, or guide potential students into this complicated new world.