So, you’re getting ready to start your first few weeks at boarding school. Your bags are (mostly) packed, you’ve started following your soon-to-be roommate on TikTok, you’re last minute cramming your summer required reading list, and trying to soak up the last bits of summer with your friends from home. The prospect of going away to school is exciting, but a bit nerve wracking. How will you find friends? What kinds of after school activities should you sign up for? Will you have fun?
Here at Leysin American School, we know that those last few weeks before the school year begins can be exhilarating, but we also know that it’s totally normal to be a bit nervous for a big change! We have a few tips and tricks we recommend to students as they begin their next adventure here on campus, and one of our favorites is the “YES” Challenge.
The “YES” Challenge has gone around the internet a few times with varied rules. At LAS, we like to keep it simple: during your first few weeks of school, try to say “yes” to at least two new things each day. If a classmate invites you for an alpine picnic overlooking Lake Geneva, say “yes!” – when your roommate offers you some of their favorite snack from home, but you haven’t ever tried it before, give it a go and say “yes!”.
Boarding school is a tremendous opportunity to get to know other traditions, try new activities, meet new people, eat new foods, test out new skills, and discover more about yourself along the way. The first step in the process? Saying “yes” when a new opportunity is presented to you, and seeing where it takes you, will ensure you make the most out of all that your boarding school experience has to offer.
