Boarding School
Starting over
If you have ever moved before you probably know what a change of environment feels like.
When I decided to go to a boarding school in England almost two years ago I did so because I really needed a change. Believe it or not, it was kind of a spontaneous decision but one whose outcome has so fundamentally changed my life that I just can't stop telling people about it. So here we are.
Why do it in the first place
When growing up it is often very difficult to escape the physical limitations of the environment we live in. This known space that we are structurally bound to is everything we have while what lies beyond remains simply that, a great unidentifiable shadow. On one hand this situation is a very comfortable and safe one. Everything is familiar and so there isn't much to fear. On the other hand though it stops us from evolving and moving forward. With time our lives become dull and loose their spirit while we simply loose our minds. Going abroad is probably the best way to go against this. The total change of environment offers tons of new things to discover, opportunities to go after and faces to meet. True, the enormous density of unkown land can be a bit scary at first but if you bring up the courage to step into it you will see it is a tressure beyond your imagination.
It is what you make of it
As always I want to keep things real with you. Following the law of attraction you can only connect to and benefit from something if you manifest your belief in it. It takes effort, sure. But if you are the one to make the first move, start conversations, sign up to clubs and events, an international stay could really change everything for you.
The mind has a powerful way of attracting things that are in harmony with it, good and bad.
Idowu Koyenikan
What not to do
If there is one thing I would recommend you not to do, it is this: Don't go into it with expectations! Truth is, you will only take away from your experience. I myself learned this the hard way. Before I left I built up this detailed image of what I expected and wanted things to be like. Quickly I had to realize that everything was completely different to how I had imagined it. As a result it took me an unnecissarily long time to start appreciating the diversity of my new reality and regrettably also caused me to let a few great opportunities slip.
Gratitude
One of the things that struck me most abut my epxerience in England was how incredibly kind people were. Sure, there were a few dickheads as well but they were definitely the minority. Overall I was shown an unbelievable amount of love and respect from people I had never met before. From my roommates, students, teachers, up to the staff members who served me breakfast each morning I was fortunate to be part of a deeply supportive and family like community. At the beginning of my stay I didn't really understand the value of all this. Today I am just incredibly thankful and feel daily gratitude for the lesson and feeling these people taught me.
It remains a privilege
As much as I would like everyone to get a chance to go to a boarding school abroad for some time the reality remains that these schools aren't cheap. Start by talking to your parents to see if they can finance you. If they can't the only thing I advise you is to not give up too easily. If there is something you are really good at talk to different schools and see if you can arrange a scholarship. Try contact different organizations and see if they can help. And lastly don't forget that the school you choose ultimately doesn't matter too much. It is the change that matters. From my experience I can confidently say every penny I paid was well invested. And without trying say this too lightly I do believe the mental capital an experience like this creates within you will always outperform the actual sum you got to pay in return.
Everything is figureoutable.
Marie Forleo
Lasting effects
It is almost two years ago that I took my final flight from Manchester back home to Francfort and despite this long time I still think about my year abroad pretty much every day, not even exagerating. Honestly, I didn't expect this lasting chain of flashbacks and memories but they just keep coming back. The amount of fullfillness and joy these memories are still giving me to this day is absolutely mindblowing and once again proofs to me how fundamentally it all changed me. The friends I made are friends forever and the pictures in my head might loose some color over time, but they will never loose their meaning.
Conclusion
Youth is great, but the initial dependence it forces upon us can quickly become more of a burdan than it is a privilege. Because of that I believe that daring to walk on our own feet as soon as possible is an absolute necessity if we don't want life to play games with us when its brutal reality gets within reach. Spending some time at a boarding school is a great way to work on this. It allows us to become more resilient, form lasting relationships and create a basis of experience that will long after fuel us with inspiration and gratitude. If you are one of the lucky ones, don't take it for granted and take your chance.
But what do you think? Would you go to a boarding school if you were given the opportunity?
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