lIt’s been 3 years since the Haut-Lac Boarding House opened its doors, and in that time, a strong bond has developed between our international boarders and their experienced house parents, creating a true home away from home. However, living in such a communal setting is much more than just an enjoyable teenage experience. It offers a unique opportunity for students to develop vital skills that will serve them well in the future.
An International Perspective
Living with peers from around the world provides the perfect foundation for cultivating an international mindset. Interacting with students from Asia, North America, the Middle East, and Europe, to name a few, helps prepare Haut-Lac boarders for future travel and encounters with people from diverse backgrounds. By understanding various customs and traditions, students learn to engage with respect and consideration, an essential quality for young travelers in today’s interconnected world.
Enhanced Social Skills
Constant interaction with others, whether during shared meals or weekend outings, equips boarders with a wide range of social skills. They learn to communicate and navigate various situations with different individuals. They also discover the importance of balancing alone time with socializing, understanding both their personal needs and those of their friends. These interactions help students quickly pick up on social cues, enhancing their ability to adapt to different social contexts. The social confidence gained in these settings will be invaluable as they face future challenges, from university life to their professional careers.
Adaptability and Resilience
In today’s world, many young people find it difficult to adjust to change. However, the boarding experience encourages resilience, as our students are often required to relocate and leave their families behind. At Haut-Lac, we recognize that resilience is an essential skill for our students to develop.
Given the unpredictable nature of world events and the rapid pace of technological change, adaptability is increasingly important. Boarding students, who have already navigated the challenges of living far from home in a global context, are uniquely positioned to handle such uncertainty. They learn to cope with changes in teachers, friends, and school systems, developing personal strategies that will stay with them throughout their lives.
The Swiss Boarding Experience
Boarding is not just about being away from home, it’s a truly enriching international experience. Understanding how enjoyable and valuable it is only deepens its impact. Far from being just a fun adventure, it offers countless life lessons.
