My Experience Away from Home - Essay Example

Two years seems to be a long time to be home away from home, but I am managing just fine. When I first stepped foot on the premises of Le Rosey, a boarding school in Switzerland, with luggage in tow, I was filled with a sense of helplessness. Having had the continued guidance of my parents, I wondered how I would be able to cope being miles away from them, alone. Immediately, I was briefed and given a copy of Le Rosey’s very strict codes of conduct that are expected of us, as well as the teachers, which were never set upon me by my parents. Well, not all of it. It was a terrifying moment. I remember crying myself to sleep the first night as the lights went off.

In the few weeks that followed, I found myself adapting rather smoothly to the rules and regulations set by the school. I also met and made many friends from different parts of the world. I was able to feel at home once again as we started helping each other get around. Although there were several students from my home country of Sao Paulo, Brazil, I also enjoyed the company of other foreigners immensely. This interaction with foreign friends exposed me to the diversity of cultures and religions, which I only got to know little about on televisions and movies. This not only helped deepen my understanding but also made me more accepting of other races.

The boarding school has set timelines for different activities that I initially loathed. I used to be able to do things as and when I wanted to. Some of these blocked times include meals, study, and extra-curricular activities. On top of these, we were also given free time each day for personal activities. As mundane as it sounds, these planned timelines have positively influenced and disciplined me as I became more consistent with my work; I learned to prioritize and plan my time well in order to accomplish as much workload as possible and to not procrastinate as I used to do.
I returned home to Sao Paulo during my term break. My mother expressed her joy when she noticed the change in me. I felt really proud. I am grateful to be able to learn and grow at Le Rosey. Its environment, albeit strict, has certainly made me a better, more independent person.