Boarding school is an interesting place with interesting people. Some parts of the unique experience of boarding school are truly amazing, yet other elements of boarding school are miserable. I find myself in college sometimes longing for the dynamics of that small town boarding school I was tucked away in for three years. Here are a few things a past boarding school student may miss while in college:
1. The Dorms
Yeah, sometimes being confined in a dorm with faculty members watching over you sucks, but some of the aspects the average boarding school dorm are missed. You become close with a relatively small group of people, getting to know each person better than you know almost anyone. I almost miss having to sneak around dorm parents with my buddies.
2. The School Spirit
Even if you hated being sent off to boarding school, you want to have your school be the best. There is nothing better than supporting your fellow classmates in a game with all your heart. I have painted my face before a field hockey game--why would an 18 year old guy do that? Well, now I miss doing things purely in the name of school spirit. I even dyed my hair blonde for my high school sports team...twice.
3. Unique Events to Your School
Every school has different traditions that have been happening for years. My school every year had a massive bonfire at the end of the fall sports season. Below freezing in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, paint your whole body, and mess around by the bonfire with your friends. Every boarding school will have a weird event like this, but everyone loves it.
4. Knowing Everyone
Do not say hello to everyone you walk by in college. Everyone you walked by on a boarding school campus you probably knew and would say hello to. If you did not know the person it was considered rude to not say hello. Something as little as knowing everyone, where you are, creates a very friendly environment you may miss in a big college setting.
5. The Mischief
Not college “extracurriculars” by any means, but you came to love the petty shenanigans that were hilarious at boarding school. The potential danger of a dorm parent or teacher catching you was actually fun in a way--it is thrilling to break the sometimes absurd rules of a boarding school.
6. Your Friends
A group of friends, in general, is very tight knit. In boarding school, however, your group of friends was almost like a family. Your group of friends is interesting and diverse as well. People are from all over the world. You would thoroughly consider trading in the average college night for the average boarding school night because you miss your group of friends.
Boarding school is a weird place that has largely overbearing rules with steep consequences. This environment, filled with teenagers finally gaining a sense of independence, creates scenarios you would love to relive. And no, we did not go to boarding school because our parents hate us.
