Our mission at Nova Pioneer is to develop a generation of innovators and leaders who will shape the African century. In order to achieve this we strive to ensure that our students develop strong connections with the world and with themselves.

Mark Paterson, a professor in sociology believes that nothing instills learning more than traveling the world and accumulating experiences and in support of this philosophy for this month’s post we feature our very own Andrew Mungai a form 3 student in our Tatu Boys high school who was part of a group of students that travelled from Kenya to one of our schools in South Africa for a 1 week exchange program in September 2023. 

We got to ask Andrew a couple of questions to get a feel of his experience and below you will be immersed into the virtual reality that was his experience. Enjoy!

 

Briefly explain what the exchange program is about?

The program is designed to give Kenyan students an opportunity to build connections with the South African students thus allowing them to gain first hand experience on the similarities and differences between Nova Pioneer schools in both regions. 

The image above portrays our visit to the military history museum where we got to see the weapons that were used to fight for independence gained in 1994.

 

How would you say the exchange program impacted you?

The exchange program helped me discover that I would like to pursue my higher education in one of the aviation schools in South Africa. 

As you can see in the image above my fellow students and I had just attended a Business Studies lesson in South Africa and we had the opportunity to give the Dean of Instruction and Learning who couples up as a Business Studies teacher feedback as is our Novaneer culture on our take of the lesson. During the feedback session we also had a chance to discuss available career opportunities in South Africa based on competitive pay and career progression.

 

What did you enjoy most about the exchange program?

Bungee Jumping at Soweto Towers which is a location where Costa Tich, a dearly departed South African artist shot a video for one of his songs. This image portrays some of the art at Soweto Towers and it was so exciting to engage in activities outside the classroom.

 

Is there anything about the South African culture that you found intriguing?

The classroom culture in both regions is similar. Outside the classroom, South Africa owns a lot of supercars and in their culture they do not take off their shoes while getting inside the house. To sum up the trip below are additional memories that we created with the students in South Africa.

 

In an increasingly diverse world, celebrating a culture’s heritage has become a powerful tool for fostering unity and understanding.  Nova Pioneer Eldoret Girls  is proud of its commitment to honoring and appreciating the diverse backgrounds of its students and staff.

As such, they hosted their annual High School Heritage Day, a cherished event that brings together the entire school community to showcase and embrace the vibrant tapestry of cultures represented within their walls. This event offers an opportunity for cultural exchange, fosters inclusivity and builds a strong sense of identity.

Nova Pioneer Eldoret Girls students had a golden chance to proudly display their cultural heritage. Our budding innovators and leaders shared the richness of their customs and traditions, from traditional attire to authentic cuisine.

The 2023 event buzzed with a lively atmosphere as students, and school staff  showcased artifacts, photographs and interactive displays representing their respective cultures. This showcase of cultural pride allows our Novaneers to appreciate their own heritage whilst also learning about the diversity of their peers’ backgrounds. Our students also had the chance to engage in meaningful cross-cultural interactions. 

Heritage Day is a tool that enables the school community to dedicatedly live up to our mission of building lasting connections among the leaders and innovators who will shape the future of Africa.  Through this, they are able to gain firsthand knowledge of different customs, traditions and practices through engaging presentations, performances and exhibitions.

The annual celebrations enable students to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for cultural diversity, breaking down stereotypes and fostering empathy.  It encourages dialogue and fosters a spirit of curiosity and becomes a catalyst for building bridges of understanding between individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Heritage Days don’t simply focus on traditional meals and coverings but also are an immense educational experience where students are encouraged to research and present on their cultural heritage, honing their research skills and public speaking abilities.

The event allows Nova Pioneer to incorporate multiculturalism into the curriculum, providing students with an interactive learning experience that expands their knowledge base and nurtures global awareness. We equip our students with the skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world by fostering critical thinking and intercultural competence during the preparation and presentation sessions.

The winner of the 2023 edition was Hafsa Tunny Nasser. Join us in celebrating her as the reigning queen . She has begun her journey to becoming a leader in a globalized society. This is a good and true example of how our students develop leadership skills, teamwork, and an understanding of the importance of cultural sensitivity through their active participation and engagement during Heritage Day.

These qualities are invaluable in today’s world, where collaboration and respect for diverse perspectives are crucial. We equip our students with the tools needed to be active contributors to their communities and ambassadors of cultural understanding with the goal of building a harmonious future.

Life is an unpredictable journey, often leading us on unexpected paths that shape our futures in profound ways. In this series of alumni spotlight, let us turn our attention to Shakira Mwakitawa, a remarkable alumnus of our Tatu City Girls School, class of 2020. She is currently a Civil Engineering major sophomore at the University of St. Thomas.

 

 

Career Pathway

What began as a traditional academic pursuit took a turn into unchartered territories ultimately redefining Shakira’s professional trajectory.  In High School, Shakira was a Gold Key student. We were very inspired by her artistic expression in painting. In fact, in 2021 she ran a business called Sunnysideupke, an online art business that supported her friend and Novaneer classmate Jeanne Sere to donate sanitary pads to a centre in Kibera.

After pursuing her high school education, she applied for the alumni internship program at Nova Pioneer where she joined the Marketing team as the Content Creation Intern. Curating content for the Nova Pioneer Kenya social media handles was a project that she enjoyed doing. Her dedication, innate flair for innovation, and creative ideas contributed to her success in that role.  She held this position for close to a year before joining University. This experience bolstered her portfolio and enabled her to continue engaging in the social media space as a student assistant at the University of St. Thomas.

When she joined the university, she enrolled in an environmental studies course but switched to Civil Engineering due to an interest in urban planning and landscape architecture. With each lecture, project, and discussion Shakira has expressed that she finds herself increasingly drawn to the world of Civil Engineering, its challenges, and possibilities igniting a new fire within.

 

Personal Scoop

During her free time, Shakira enjoys watching  Netflix and reading African literature. She enjoyed reading  “Havoc of Choice,” authored by Wanjiru Koinange. A book that she highly recommends for all who find reading engaging. 

 

The Nova Pioneer effect

Shakira felt prepared for the professional and university environment because of the Nova Pioneer culture that challenged her to set high expectations, grow from every challenge, and defined her as a Novaneer. She learned to structure her time when she was in High School. She expressed that she had support from her teachers notably Mr. Godfrey Otaka and Ms. Margaret, that helped her in her journey from being shy and reserved in opinion to being confident and outgoing in nature.

If you want to find out more about how we prepare our Novaneers to create their future, take a moment to click here and get scheduled for one of our Campus Experiences.

 

If I were to choose two words to describe this experience for me, they would be, Life Changing and Memorable.

In June, I had the opportunity to travel to the United States of America to attend a two-week summer program offered by Yale University. When I decided to apply back in October of last year, I had no major reason for applying, I was simply just drawn to the program and that proved to be the best decision I have made so far in all my seventeen years of living. After months of anxious waiting I received the long-awaited congratulations message, on the morning of the 21st of December.

On the 18th of June, my nine months of long wait came to an end. I travelled to the United States of America to attend the Yale Young Global Scholars, 2023.

Check-in was between 9 am-4 pm ET at Davenport College. I arrived at 9 am. I was assigned to Jonathan Edwards College which was relatively quiet as per my preference. We were assigned to suites and in each suite were individual rooms. My mother and family friends helped me settle in for about two hours until they left because they did not want to be late for church. Then I was alone. And that’s when it all sunk in. Had I just flown across the world for the very first time? Was I walking in the streets of New Haven? Was I attending a summer program hosted by one of the most prestigious schools in the world? After unpacking, came the hard part … getting to know people.

Luckily I made it through that hurdle and by around 3 pm I had made it past the awkward first-time meeting formalities and had gotten used to making conversation with others. At 4 p.m. those from Jonathan Edwards gathered at the HQ lecture hall and we had a welcome briefing from the Residential Life Patrons. Around 7:40pm after dinner we finally met our families. Our family leader took us on a family walk to show areas we had access to and areas we did not in New Haven.

On applying one had four academic tracks to choose from

• Innovations in Science & Technology(IST)
• Literature, Philosophy, & Culture (LPC)
• Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE)
• Solving Global Challenges (SGC)

The YYGS curriculum is divided into:

• Breakout Discussions where you dig deeper into lecture content by sharing knowledge, posing questions, and brainstorming real-world implications with members of your family. During this time several debates arose which left you questioning your initial standing.

• Capstone Project –We had the liberty of choosing the area we would like as our Capstone. I chose to do Global wealth and inequality. Under the mentorship of YYGS staff, the project is all about encouraging us to think carefully through difficult, real-world issues, engage in research, and work through various arguments and considerations (economic, social, cultural, legal, and political) to better understand a topic of concern. We were assigned to a team of four or five and were tasked with designing a presentation within our assigned theme.

The research question that my team finally settled on was : To what extent do fast food chains influence the economies of developed and developing countries, how does this contribute to societal inequality, and what potential solutions can address these issues?

And we prepared a thesis and a 15-minute presentation surrounding this question.

This had to be one of the most difficult components of the whole experience. My group and I had a rocky start. We were all butting heads with each other. One side wanted to focus on Amazon as a multinational corporation and how it contributes to inequality whilst the other saw we would have more content focusing on fast food chains as Amazon is not as prevalent in some countries. From our research question you can tell our side won this debate:), but that wasn’t until one of our instructors had to mediate and help us work things through. In the end, our presentation was successful and we got a lot of praise. I thought I wouldn’t struggle with group work as we always do it in school, however, this experience taught me that, that was only because in school I was surrounded by people I was familiar with. During The capstone project, I was Working with people from all over the world with different experiences and different opinions. Coming to understand their point of view took some time.

• Family Time-We were assigned to families which consisted of 10 students and a family leader. During this time we would play games and generally get to know each other better. Family time also started a bit rocky. We didn’t know how to interact with each other. Fortunately, this wasn’t a long-lasting issue, after one game of Mafia the tension in the room disappeared. The game of Mafia became our “thing’ and any free time we would get we would gather to play. By the end of it, I had convinced everyone that I was always right and that they should vote for the person I suspected(regardless of them being innocent or not.

• Lectures-We had the opportunity to learn and hear from distinguished professors and practitioners who offered case studies, explain backgrounds, and explore innovative ideas.

In total, I attended five lectures:

 

• Creating Change in an Ever Changing World, Onyeka Obiocha, Executive Director, CTNext

 

 I still have mixed feelings about this lecture. Mr.Onyeka Started by explaining his background and how with time he slowly began to acquire his core values. He then asked us to list five of our core values. He gave a story of how he and his friend started a business and how slowly by slowly the business gained success. As he was doing this he would at times stop and tell us to cancel a value from the list, By the end we were all left with one value and he explained that despite the business being a huge success he decided to leave simply because it did not align with his values anymore. We all thought he was crazy. He proceeded on to explain that resiliency is crucial in creating social change, building community, and taking action, and in order to do so tough decisions will follow but it is our values that will drive us to make the right choices.

 

•      New Energy Technologies for a Green Planet, Dr. Daniel Prober, Professor of Applied Physics, of Electrical Engineering and Physics.

 

Dr. Prober dove deeper into how the lack of national resources can impose challenges on future development limits and about how we can use promising solutions to generate and store energy and water, faster and cleaner transportation, and how construction and buildings can save energy. He described co-generation at the Yale Central Power Plant, and the Yale Solar and Wind farms. He proposed many ideas, their benefits, and their disadvantages. It was mainly a factual session but still engaging. Some of his propositions seemed a bit…there’s no word to explain it, in short, his lecture brought about a huge discussion during our breakout session.

 

• Empowering Young People for Challenges in Global Mental Health , Sirikanya (Sanya) Chiraroekmongkon, MD, Yale Global Mental Health, Resident Leader, Yale Department of Psychiatry, Resident Physician

 

In the lecture, we dove into what global mental health is and looked at a personal anecdote, case example of mental health conditions, and barriers to mental health care including but not limited to poor quality of services, low levels of health literacy in mental health, and stigma and discrimination. In all countries, mental health conditions are highly prevalent and about one in eight people in the world live with a mental disorder. Suicide affects people and their families from all countries and contexts, and at all ages. It is a leading cause of death among young people globally. People with schizophrenia or other severe mental health conditions die on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population, often of preventable physical diseases. Sanya suggested that a community-based approach is the best way to tackle this problem.

 

•     The Political CEO, David Bach, Professor of Strategy and Political Economy, IMD Business School.

 

 Pressure on CEOs to speak out about pertinent social and political issues has increased dramatically in recent years, a dynamic further accelerated by the pandemic. Yet many issues CEOs are asked to weigh in, from immigration to minority rights to inequality and climate change – are controversial, and taking a public stand can alienate key stakeholders, including customers, employees, and investors. How should leaders and their companies navigate a world in which business has become much more political? He explained why CEOs are increasingly being asked to speak out on political issues, and how taking a public stand on a controversial issue might affect the business. In the end, he left us all pondering whether CEO political activism is a good thing. This brought about a heated discussion during our breakout session.

 

• Granting Refuge: The Role of State Institutions in Asylum Outcomes, Angela Yoonjeong McClean, Postdoctoral Associate at the Council on East Asian Studies and Lecturer in Sociology

 

The standards and norms on the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers are powerfully sustained at the international level, most prominently by the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, the key legal documents that form the basis of the work of the UN Refugee Agency. These documents legally define who a “refugee” is and outline refugee rights as well as the legal obligations of nation-state parties. The fundamental legal and moral principle – understood as the “spirit” – embedded in these documents is the protection of forcibly displaced people. Despite this, however, a huge cross-country variation exists between the state parties in the refugee recognition rate. The disparity in recognition rate is salient even amongst the richest democracies in the Global North, all of which are equipped with the political, social, and economic resources needed to host refugees, and are parties to the Convention and/or the Protocol. She explored one reason behind this disparity by analysing the domestic institutions directly in charge of refugee status determination focusing on the case of South Korea, a rich democracy that recognizes an exceptionally low number of refugees compared to its Western counterparts. The lecture elicited questions regarding the strength of international norms on refugee protection, the salience of legal and bureaucratic procedures on refugee status determination, and other domestic and international factors contributing to refugee recognition in the Global North.

Seminars

Seminars are designed to replicate collegiate-level courses based upon the exchange of ideas and the collective and collaborative analysis of a topic. Seminars cover themes and topics taught by instructional staff who have previously studied the field and are longer than most high school or undergraduate classes.

           I took three seminars in total

 

• Is it all just in your head? Global domination, racism, and the story of how psychology became a tool for torture

 

In this seminar, we discussed how psychology and global capitalism have been intertwined to promote ideas of white supremacy, particularly how it has merged with the discipline of anthropology to argue for a narrative of global domination by the West.

2. The failed attempt at Building a “better race”: The dark history of the Ivy League’s central role in the practice of Eugenics in the United States and Beyond

In this seminar, we discussed the many ways eugenics shows up today, anywhere from our standardised tests to who we deem “intelligent” versus not, and how a lot of the ways we view the world are deeply influenced by eugenics, even if we’re not aware of it, how it has become a normal part of our lives and academics, how Yale and its neighbouring institutions have been essential in pushing eugenic ideals into other disciplines, and talked about what it means to move forward into anti-eugenics work.

3. Multispecies Worlds: Tackling Conservation on a Shared Planet

We discussed how embracing a multispecies ethic that does not value one life over another might inform more sustainable and effective approaches to conservation.

We also visited the Peabody Museum of Natural History’s Vertebrate Zoology collection, where we saw and learned from physical specimens, gaining a better appreciation for the immense biodiversity that exists and is threatened by human activity today.

Symposium –

Symposium is a two-day, six-hour simulation designed to put students into roles where they are required to work collaboratively, think critically, and solve problems interdisciplinarily. The primary goal of the Symposium is for students to work together to create a presentation outlining the culture, crises, solutions, and governmental structure of their country. We were given country profiles for fictional newly formed nations (Costa de Luna, Leganthol, or Acempur) and created several cultural touchstones and a constitution for their new country. Each country is also facing a multitude of crises, and students will engage in problem-solving by researching and designing solutions for these crises. Our Groups country was Acempur.

Symposium was a more relaxed experience compared to Capstone.

From the curriculum, you can tell that it was a very intensive program. By the end of the day despite being so exhausted we still found ways to interact with each other. At eleven at night, my suitemates and I would gather in the empty living room play board games, and get to know each other more. It was simple things like this that ended your day well.

During our free time, we were free to move around the boundaries, explore shops and restaurants and visit Yale-authorised areas. We had key cards that gave us special access to different buildings, libraries, and art galleries.

All three meals were offered by Yale at the Pierson and Davenport dining halls. We were organised into shifts to control the number of people in a hall. I was assigned to have all my meals at Pierson dining hall shift 2.

The main takeaway from my whole experience has to be perspective…or rather Understanding perspective as opposed to only acknowledging. Through the various interactions I had and the group assignments I had to work on together with others, I realised that there are many sides to a story. The SGC track focused on systemic thinking. Systemic thinking is a perspective for it helps us see the events and patterns in our lives in a new light, and respond to them in new more effective systemic ways. Every problem is multi-faceted. The question is are you going to choose to look at it from one perspective or will you decide to focus on events, patterns, and the underlying systems to bring about sustainable change? Perspective forms the basis of everything.

 

On the 30th of June, the program sadly came to an end. The goodbyes were painful but the bonds I formed and the lessons I learnt will last a lifetime.

 

Nova Pioneer students from our Tatu City Girls Campus Wangari and Shirleen, recently made an awesome video showcasing their High School experience. We caught up with the two ladies to find out more about their experience making the video.

 

What excited you about doing a video project like this? 

We have always had a passion for film so working with the film equipment and doing a project like this made as feel like “real” directors.

 

What inspired you to do it?

We wanted to make something different, something that’s not just about academics or the world- class facilities of the school. We wanted to showcase the moments we share in school with the other girls. We wanted to show how we enjoy every single second of High School.

 

Were there any challenges you faced when putting it together? If so, how did you overcome them?

Firstly, finding a camera of good quality was the first step. Once we did, we experienced a few glitches in how to use it. Secondly, some of the students involved were camera shy and we had to make them comfortable. It was our first time editing so getting the music transition right was an issue but we managed to get the the hang of it.

One of the greatest advantage was having a partner. This way we motivated each other going by our culture principle of  ‘Greater Together’. We collaborated by dividing the work and tasks, and this made filming faster.

We learnt how to edit from YouTube, although it included a lot of frustration and sleepless nights because we had set a deadline for ourselves. We would do it all over again though.

 

Give us a fun fact or two about yourself.

Fun- ish facts about us:

I (Wangari) always make really good food, the trick is to add honey or soy sauce if it doesn’t taste good. Try it sometime…hahaha.

I (Shirleen) acted in my first play when I was only 8 years old.

 

In The End

Being able to make something that tells a beautiful story and immortalizes a good memory or experience is always fulfilling. Wangari and Shirleen have embodied the spirit of ‘Greater Together,’ and in the process have set High Expectations for themselves and others. We definitely look forward to more stories they will tell from their high school experience and even beyond!

 

 

 

This lockdown period was unexpected, unprecedented and for many, unfortunate. But through this period our parents, each in their own way have allowed for us to learn far and beyond that which we learn on our daily zoom calls. Below are some invaluable lessons my friends and I have learnt from our parents during this period.

 

Valuable lessons 

 

Despite the situation at hand, never use anything as an excuse to do nothing. Use this opportunity to venture into new things and work hard because opportunity knocks once. – Njoki 

I have learnt that my dad could do household chores and that my mum is a really good cook. But most of all, I have learnt that they both don’t enjoy being in the house for long periods of time.- Fiona 

They have taught me that each morning when you feel like lying in bed all day remember what you are trying to achieve at the end of the day. Give yourself a break from time to time. Give your mind a break. Connect with the people around you, your family and friends. And most importantly, take care of yourself: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. – Ann

Optimism! On some of my lowest days they taught me to look for the light. Perseverance! On the days when I wanted to give up they taught me to keep pushing even when the results don’t come immediately. I’ve learnt that somehow things will work out and if I stop pushing, then I’ll never get to see the possibilities that lie in store for me.- Theru

To keep going, no matter the circumstance. I’ve watched both my parents, especially my mum, make it work, albeit tough circumstances. I watch them try, as much as possible, to ensure that both me and my sister have all our needs attended to, which I have seen to motivate them. And this has made me incredibly proud of them. – Chelsy 

It’s not worth it to feel good today at the expense of tomorrow, neither is it worth it to cry forever and keep holding on to the hope of a smile in the future. That I should think about my future and not lose focus on my passion. To live in the moment but to think of tomorrow as well. – Jasmine 

The importance of adaptability and balance in one’s life – how adapting to different situations has an effect on your work and your life. Balancing work and family which is essential. I appreciate greatly the untimely opportunity to spend time with my family and learn new things from my family. – Paula 

During this time my mum has been tackling household work, taking care of her children while still working from home, which has shown me the importance of hard work. I acknowledge that many of the things my parents provide for me, they worked hard for, and I am beyond grateful for their effort. Watching my mum gives me the strength I need to work hard so I can provide for my future family and later take care of my parents the way they cared for me. – Esther 

I’ve learned that as much as children are a reflection of our parents, we are in many ways different and as much as we also share certain traits we have evolved into completely different human beings that are products of our environment and our nature. So as much as they are our parents, we will argue and differ which is completely in order. – Shirleen

I have learned how to choose my battles with them. Petty issues that we would normally fight over like who does chores and when, have been deemed irrelevant. As seeing how hard they work from home to provide the basic necessities and luxuries has made me appreciate what they do and want to take up more responsibilities to ease the weight off their shoulders. We have bonded through games and pushed each other to achieve our goals. With motivation being lower than usual during this time and the world being full of uncertainties, my parents have kept me in check as their motivation inspires me. – Mutanu 

Quarantine has been a time to reflect and learn. To learn more about my parents and to learn more about myself. I learnt that our family wouldn’t make the greatest choir but I also learned the importance of hard work and perseverance. I learnt a great deal of compassion as they gave knowing that the well could run dry. My mother said “You give not because you have excess, but because someone else needs your help.” – Imani

I have learned that my parents, my parents are not superheroes. My parents worry, they struggle, they have flaws and they feel. My parents are human. – Shakira 

I have learned the importance of selfishness in selflessness. I have learned that to give you must also draw from the well in which you pour. I have learned that in working towards my dreams and ambitions I must care as well for myself. My mum says I am ‘ intense’ but in a good way, that I am devoted and selfless but often I forget to be selfish and in that moment I lose sight of what I want and get caught up in the when’s and the how’s. So the greatest lesson my parents have taught me during this lock down period is to take care of myself amidst taking care of others. – Wairimu 

13 people, 13 families and a lifetime of lessons. We understand now more than ever that parenting does not come with a manual and each of them strives to do their best with no set guidelines and we will forever be grateful for the guidance they provide to us, even as they drive blind. 

Since the inception of the first Nova Pioneer School, it has been our core mandate to ensure that we are availing the platform that enables each of our students to always lead a life with an inquisitive lens, always seeking for a fresh perspective and willing to ask the pertinent questions while articulating their truth with utmost inclusivity. 

 

Why Nova Pioneer Connect?

It is for this reason that we are excited to introduce  Nova Pioneer Connect Speaker Series. Nova Pioneer Connect will be a bi-weekly zoom webinar featuring a panel of our students across all our schools tackling some of the most pressing topics that speak to their agency as future leaders and responsible citizens who will play a proactive role in safeguarding our future as a country and a continent!

 

Tackling relevant topics

We can all acknowledge that it’s a particularly interesting time in the world to be alive. There’s so much happening at the same time. It goes without saying that all these events, situations will need our energy, attention, empathy, thoughts in equal measure. So we are left with the challenge of deciding what to focus on partially, fully or what to not give our attention to at all. True to the famous Greek philosophy of “Know thyself,” four of our High school students from the Tatu and Eldoret Campuses kicked off our inaugural series on 29th May with openly talking about “Finding our Inner Voice and Trusting it”. 

Hundreds of prospective parents joined Nduta (NP Tatu Girls, F4), Raphael (NP Tatu Boys, F4), Lynn (NP Eldoret Girls, F1) and Allan (NP Eldoret Boys, F1) in a hearty conversation walking through their journey finding their inner voices and what challenges they continue to face and overcome as they grow. 

Click on the link above to watch a recording of the session.

Look out for more info on our upcoming Nova Pioneer Connect Session on our social media!

Working with young people has allowed me the space to observe teenagers as they try to find their own bearings with regards to identity, friendships and values. 

I recall when I was a teenager, the journey of discovering myself did not always align with the vision that my parents had for me, and at times I would find myself in a bit of trouble. I was not the exception, this is the reality with many teenagers, especially as they transition to high school. 

Change can cause anxiety 

It’s natural for both students and parents to feel anxious about the transition process. Teachers encounter parents who go through different experiences every term and year as new students report to school. 

Surprisingly, most often than not, parents are more anxious about their child transitioning into High School than the students themselves and this feeling can be subconsciously transferred to the students and could manifest in a student feeling homesick.

Managing transitions well

Whether a student is joining a new school in the middle of the year or joining at the start of a new school year, this has an impact on both the parent and the student.

I believe parents know what is best for their children. Having said that, I would advise parents to also take the time to listen when children communicate their feelings about joining a boarding school. 

Here are some few pointers that could be helpful to assist your child in easing into a boarding school

1. Talk about it: Talk to your teen about how they feel, let them know that it is normal to be nervous, and other students will be feeling the same way. It might help to make a list of things they are looking forward to and the things they are worried about. Talk through any concerns and help your teen identify strategies to deal with them. It helps to also reassure them as they go through this process. 
2. Be Positive: If you are struggling with the idea of your teen going away, which is both normal and expected, try to stay positive and enthusiastic when speaking to them because some of these feelings will rub off on them. Teens are very perceptive when it comes to reading non-verbal cues from adults that is how they pick attitudes and learn. However, they are also very adaptable, and with support and time, most will grow to love the experiences at school.
3. Get organized: Involve them in preparing for school i.e. shopping, packing, picking items that will help in their transition (which are allowed to have in school like favorite blankets, shoes, etc.). You can start by sharing more information about the school they are about to join e.g by visiting the school’s website. This will give them a sense of familiarity to the new school and answer any questions they may have about their new school. Creating memorable experiences with your child as they prepare to leave for school is also important. Encourage them to take photos of these experiences as mementos from home too – they will be more comfortable and ready to learn if they feel at home while at boarding school.
4. Encourage Independence: At boarding school they will be responsible for organizing themselves and their things (perhaps for the first time). That responsibility begins at home – put them in charge of a few tasks, making the list of things they need to do such as, as making sure their clothes are labeled. Give them such responsibilities at home as well to help them get used to the idea of independence and responsibility.
5. Start making plans for keeping in contact: It is normal for teens to feel homesick when they go away for school, but it does not have to affect their learning. Knowing when you will be in contact helps, so make a plan keeping in mind the open channels of communication emails, calls and visits within the school bounds. They may want to make a calendar that you can do together with them. Keep your word, when this is done.
6. Encourage healthy learning habits: talk to your teen about the things they can do at boarding school to support their learning, like eating healthily, being active (participating in after school activities of their choice), balancing the two play and work, getting enough sleep.
7. Prepare for tough times: this is the most ignored of these steps, as mentioned in the beginning. Almost all teenagers will encounter problems, physical changes, feelings lost in subjects/activities. These are harder signs to pick up when you don’t spend time with your teen and get to see them every day. So ‘hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between’ (Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings). 

 

Being a Dorm Father at Nova Pioneer Boys Tatu Campus has been a fulfilling experience. Seeing students join the school in January and watching their transformation and excitement in joining the after school activities. I can already tell that most of our teens are well adjusted and prepared for their journey. 

References:

https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/preparing-your-teen-for-boarding-school

 

Written by Fitch Kuri (Dorm Father, Nova Pioneer Boys’ High School)