Live Blog

Live Blog - Student and parents this is a blog for you to get a taste of how typical day of boarding school works. Here is a live blog of me walking through a day in the life of a boarding school student. This may not apply to all school but this was a recollection of my journey being  in boarding school. Hopefully this blog was a help for you. If you have any questions or concerns  please free to comment down below.


6:45 a.m. -  Wake up and get ready for school.

7:00 a.m.  -  Packing bags for school and eating breakfast

8:00 a.m. - Advisee meeting also known as homeroom where students receive their daily announcements.

8:20 a.m. - First period class of the morning.

9:05 a.m. - Second period class of the morning.

10:00a.m. -  Break with a 15 minute intermission.

10:20 a.m. - Third period class commences after the bell rings.

11:05 a.m - Fourth period  class commences.

11:40 a.m. - This is fifth period and lunch one for students and faculty.

12:30 p.m - This is sixth period and lunch two for students and faculty.

1:20 p.m. - Lunch two is over and seventh period commences.

2:15 p.m. - Eighth  period commences.

3:15 p.m. - Classes are complete. Students return to advisees to be released for the day.

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m - Extracurricular activities

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Dinner in the dining hall.

7:30 p.m. - Check in with duty teacher. Study hall begins

7:30 p.m - 9:00 p.m. - Study hall.

11:00 p.m. - Lights Out

Top 4 Experiences

Many of you probably are wondering what are probably my favorite memories from boarding school. I honestly have one too many. I really do not know where to start. I have had lot of memories being in boarding school. From sophomore year to senior year and the experiences were unforgettable. Here are some of most memorable memories from my years at Darlington. Even, though I may not be able to remember every single day. These are the moments that always pertinent to me. So here are the some of the moments that I have enjoyed during those years. If you are wondering what made my Darlington experience. Click here to see. I hope you all enjoy this blog and I hope that it inspires you. If you have any questions please leave a comment down below.


1. Moving In Day: Moving In Day was probably one of my favorites because it is the day of reconnecting with friends and setting up your room. That was they day you catch up with all your friends after the three month long summer break. It was the day that kicked off the year.

2. Tiger Pride Day: Tiger Pride Day was the day we celebrated our mascot.  Students would enjoy riding a mechanical bull, colorful snow cones and watching movies outside on the quad. This particular activity would happen after school usually during the beginning of the school year.


3. International Fair: This is has to my absolute favorite day. This usually takes place between February. This is the day that international students from different countries get together represent their country and cook foods from their country. This would be a half day for other students and they would come to the gym to learn about the international student customs.

4. Rumpus: After a three-week Christmas break students gear up to challenge each other in house sports. Boarding and day students of Cooper, Register, Thornwood, Summerbell, Moser and Neville compete in competitions such as a gauntlet, lip sync and food factor.

Moving In Day

One of the bittersweet moments in the process about the transition to boarding school is moving in. Moving In Day is a day full of feelings tension and a lot of emotions. This is the day most first time boarding student leave their parents. Many may process this differently but before they leave you get to get to decorate it. However, depending on the school you attend you can only do so much with your room. I think it is important that every parent make sure that their child feels as if they are home. I remember my first room. When I first matriculated into Darlington I lived in the dorm of Cooper House I was very scared because to me it looked like a prison. I literally started crying. However, thanks to my mother I was able to turn that "prison" into a home. A home comfortable enough to be in. As an international student I had some items that I had from home to personalize my room that reminded everyday of home. I also had photos of my friends and family. I would like to encourage students and parents to take this blog to heart. If you are parent or a student looking for some ideas for your dorm I suggest you click here . The link that is provided allows you to watch videos on how to create your room. Students I do suggest that you participate in this activity seeing that you will be the one living in the room. As also stated in previous blogs I suggest that you speak with your child/children's head of house so that to make sure that you also follow dorm guidelines. Hopefully this blog gave some comfort and helped you the parent and you the student. If there are any concern feel free to comment below. Thank you for reading.

Personal Boarding School Experience.

This blog that you are about to read really means the most to me. Why ? Because it is very personal. Even though I have been providing tips and advice for you parents and students reading. I have never shared my personal story and my personal transition process. It wasn't easy and did not come over night. I was scared and was afraid to leave my parents. I honestly thought they were bluffing about sending me to boarding school because they did it before. However, when they took me to the embassy to get my student visa it all became real. In 2013 I attended Darlington School. A boarding school that was located in Rome Georgia. It was a diverse coed school. Although it was not an easy three years altogether in that school. My first year was such an amazing experience yet one of many clashes. However, that was the year I began to finally understand myself.  At Darlington I was able to meet my best friend and make other friends who I consider my family. That is where I learned how a roommate is supposed to get along. Darlington was a culture shock for me. As young girl I was always use to being the majority coming from a country where people looked and thought the same things as me. It was a school that had faculty and staff that helped me academically to get into a college that would fit. It was a place of many laughs and cries. Even though it was sometimes being tough being a student at that school. I would not trade my experiences and the people that I met for the world. In the end I found myself extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend that boarding school. I could not make this blog without paying a tribute to the school that allowed me to give the advice you are seeking. If you are interested in seeing what my particular experience was like. Click here for information on Darlington. 

Positives & Negatives to Attend Boarding School

As a student reading this blog you probably didn't have much of a choice about going to boarding school. I know for a fact that it was happening and I was not prepared for it. Hopefully this blog provides you with answers as to why your parent made such decision. For the most part their are pro's and con's with boarding school. As stated before boarding school provides the opportunity for you to try new things, create new memories and have new experience. However, I would be lying if I said that you don't sacrifice anything have those things. From personal experience here are some positive and negative aspects from what I learned about going off to school. Hopefully, this blog is useful to you.

Pros

• Make new friends: I was never social butterfly. Boarding school forced me to put myself out there and find a group of people who were similar to me. Personally, it took me sometime to adjust. However, I eventually found a group of individuals that had mutual interests. 
• Assists with college prep: My parents always wanted me to go to college. However, in my earlier teen years I struggled academically. Since my school assisted in helping students who have learning disabilities. I was able to find a college that would be able to accommodate me academically and socially. 
• Pushes you to raise standard: Where I am from people never really expect much or do the same the thing. My boarding school experience allowed me to want to do more. It opened a threshold for me to get serious about my future. 
• Learning how to live with other people

Cons

• Change: We all experience change. However, it is how we adapt. How we adapt makes all the difference.  As stated before in previous blogs I said moving away from home isn't the easiest. However, this process prepares you in the long run for college. It allows you to establish your independence. 
• Adversities: Coming across adversity is never easy. While adjusting in a new environment you will come across people who are different from you. They may of different race, nationalities, or belief systems. I have had my share of adversity and which forced me to be more open minded with others. Although, it is not an easy task. It opens your mind to more. 

For more reasons to attend boarding school and more guidance. Click here. If my blog has helped you in any way possible please comment below. 

Tips for Parents - Parents Only

Hello parents! I know that letting go of you child/children is a tough thing to do but to made this decision for a reason. You want the best for your child/children and with the best it requires you being the parent finding the best school possible that is fit for your child/children. In the process of the going to boarding to school you need to take in consideration whether the school caters to students with learning disabilities, is it large larger institution or is it small learning institution, is it coed or strictly all girls or all boys or is it in the city or in the country and does the school focus or moral values or not. As parents these are things you have to know and research ahead of time before sending  your kids off to school.  If you having any issues with finding a school fitting for your child/children.  Click here to find a school. Hopefully this fellow boarding school blog helps you in your process of finding a school that is right for your child/children.

This process is never easy and you can never be too prepared for a transition like this. As a parent you want to make sure that your child/children are prepared to take on their new environment. It is often suggested that you speak to your child/children's head of house so that they can give you a checklist of things that your child/children may need and if you are not sure I suggest that you ask them any questions that you may ask as a first time parent in the process. I also suggest that you also ask the head of houses for potential resources and tools you as the parent can use or find to know how your child is progressing in school academically and socially.  Hope you found today's blog useful. Please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

What I wish I had done - Students Only

After three years of being at boarding school I have some personal tips for you the student and you the parent. Even though I may no know everything there are somethings I wish that I knew before making the transition from home. Although, adjusting can be tough here are few of the personal tips that I have learned from being in boarding school.


1. Be open minded: Leaving home is never easy. Leaving your parents, siblings, and friends behind is never easy. However, it is important to look on the bright side. You are about to make new friends, life-long connections and make new experiences.

2.  Getting to your community: Getting to to know the people who you live with are important. From your head of house to your peers,  It is important to get to know them. They become your family and they are connections have that last a long time.

3. Get involved: From personal experience I can definitely tell you it is not that easy to get involved if you are worried about what the people around you may think. I think you should go out and do what you like and try new things. You only get an experience like this once.