Keep an open mind when moving on to exciting places
Print Edition
INTERNATIONAL school students come from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities.
Some are overseas for only a few years, while others relocate more frequently. Increasingly, however, students remain at the same international school for a longer period of time.
International schools, therefore, become a “home” to many students. In these supportive environments, with small classes and family-like year levels, students learn academics, but they also learn about themselves. Teachers know students well — their strengths and weaknesses, their likes and dislikes. Leaving this support network behind and moving to a new place or another country can be a challenging yet exciting step.
Upon graduation, students should maintain connections with those who have helped them. Classmates will often experience similar emotions as they move into the “real world” and try to establish their newfound independence. Sharing these experiences with each other can help graduates feel that they are not alone. This is now easier than ever before, through the avenue of social media.
Teachers can also be a help to graduates as they move on to university. The move from, say, the IB Diploma Program to university classes, can be a big jump, and graduates may have gaps in their knowledge, or the pace of classes may be faster than they expected.
Additionally, university professors may be difficult to access. However, former teachers can reassure students they are in the correct classes, provide quick tutorials via email, and help give general suggestions.
Graduation is an exciting time, but it can also be scary, especially when your next step is a new country. Leaving the comforts of “home” can be made easier by trying new things, keeping an open mind, and maintaining connections to life in Shanghai. Of course, it helps to remember how much you will be missed too.
Maria Sieve is IB coordinator of Yew Chung International School of Shanghai Gubei campus.
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