POV: My Past 14 Years in a Beijing Int'l Boarding School

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After spending a significant portion of my life, a total of 14 years, at Beijing Royal School (BRS), the most invaluable lesson I’ve learned is how to make independent decisions. In a boarding school like BRS, students form a close-knit community where the responsibility for decision-making falls squarely on their shoulders. With the assistance and guidance of my advisors and mentors, I have the freedom to make choices that directly impact my life – a skill that will serve me well in the future when deciding on colleges or careers.

BRS has also honed my ability to adapt to diverse environments. With students hailing from various regions across China, each with their unique cultures and customs, attending a boarding school like this has allowed me to gradually develop the skill of adjusting and coexisting with individuals from different backgrounds and belief systems. Additionally, the diversity isn’t limited to just the students; the teachers also comprise individuals from diverse backgrounds. This enriches my educational experience and provides me with the opportunity to learn from educators with a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

I still vividly recall my first experience living on campus. It happened during an English camp over my winter break in the third grade, where we were required to stay at the school for a two-week session. Adapting to campus life was relatively easy, thanks to our school’s routine of primary students taking a nap during the lunch break. We were all accommodated in the student dormitories, so staying on campus didn’t pose much concern. However, the challenge lay in not returning home in the evening. As a day student prior to this, I had no previous experience of residing with friends. No one had ever taught me how to integrate into a close-knit group, and during the initial days of the camp, I felt anxious and frustrated, uncertain about how to handle unforeseen situations.

Fortunately, my tutor noticed my apprehension and paired me with a girl who also resided in the same dormitory. The presence of close friends makes adapting to a new environment much more manageable. Amy, the girl my tutor teamed me up with, was welcoming and provided insights into the life of a boarding student. We spent our evenings chatting about our daily experiences, and after tiring days of skiing, we would lie on our beds, gazing at the ceiling as if it were adorned with stars. As the camp progressed, we even enjoyed playing hide and seek in our dormitories with our peers and resident advisors.

Although the winter camp was brief, it marked my first exposure to an unfamiliar environment. This experience boosted my self-confidence, preparing me for various future endeavors such as traveling abroad to participate in numerous events, including camps, exams, and joining music theatre troupes. I became adept at handling unexpected situations and fostering new friendships.

I know the first question on every parent’s mind: How does a school ensure safety for young boarders?

The school is on top of keeping the little ones safe. They’ve got all these different staff members who are experts in different things, like the clinic doctors and the dorm administrators.

Back in the third grade, we were assigned to dorm rooms with four kids, and they were strict about keeping girls and boys in separate rooms. We had this one dorm administrator living on our floor who was essentially our ultimate guardian angel. She’d handle the morning wake-up calls, make sure the lights were out at night, and be on top of any emergencies that came up.

If we ever got sick or injured, our dorm administrators would rush us over to the school’s clinic for a quick checkup. And guess what? There were these 24-hour clinics right on the first floor of our dorms, which was pretty convenient. If things got serious, they’d give our parents a call for further treatment. They had our backs all the time. Plus, kids were allowed to bring phones on campus, but we only had access to them at specific times, such as lunchtime or dinner times so we could be in constant touch with our parents, family, and friends outside of school.

Boarding at a school like BRS taught me how to adapt to different societies and environments I might encounter in the future. It instilled in me the value of forging meaningful connections with strangers and thriving in unfamiliar surroundings – a lesson that transcends mere words and can only be truly grasped through experience.

Now, as a senior at BRS, I approach my upcoming journey abroad with confidence, knowing that BRS has equipped me with the skills to navigate diverse environments and build relationships with others.

Aside from the academic grind, this school is all about keeping our mental health in check. They’ve got a bunch of student-led clubs and mental health awareness campaigns going on. And when it comes to dealing with personal stuff, they’ve got our backs.

Over at the school’s psychological consultation room, they host all sorts of psychology events to help us out. But it’s not just about that – they encourage us to connect with our counselors and teachers if we’re going through tough times. It’s like a whole support system to make sure we’re doing okay mentally. It’s pretty awesome, honestly.

Looking back, it’s heartwarming to remember how my journey at BRS began. My parents chose BRS because it is an esteemed international school, and it has played a significant role in nurturing my English language skills from a tender age. What adds to the nostalgia is the boarding school atmosphere at BRS, which naturally led to the formation of deep, lifelong friendships with classmates. As boarders, we practically live together, sharing our daily activities and experiences. These moments when we are together not only strengthen our academic bonds but also give us evenings filled with heartfelt conversations about our lives outside of classes. Graduation is approaching, and I am treasuring my final days at Beijing Royal School, realizing that these familiar walls will forever feel like a second home

Images: Sandy Qian

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