We asked boarding school students from Grand Cayman and beyond about their experience abroad. Now you can find out what life is really like from the boarders themselves!
Carmella
Trinity College School (TCS), CanadaCarmella joined from St Ignatius Catholic School in Grade 9 and graduated in 2023.
What was the best thing about being at boarding school?
The people you meet and the friends you make. Going to boarding school is an incredibly unique experience where you get to live with friends from all over the world. Your boarding house becomes a second family, and it's where I met some of my best friends.
What advice would you give a new Boarding school student?
Get involved in as many aspects of school life as you can! Playing a new sport or signing up for as many clubs as possible is a great way to make friends and enjoy your boarding school experience. TCS is filled with a variety of opportunities and is a place where I found so many of my new interests.
Did you experience homesickness? How did you overcome it?
For me, it didn’t really hit until a couple of weeks before the winter break. I found that the first few weeks were so full of activities, getting to know new people, and getting into a routine, that I was distracted from what was happening at home, in Cayman. If I was ever homesick, I would talk to my roommate. She was always so supportive and made me feel at home. I think that keeping myself busy with sports and clubs, as well as hanging out with my new friends really helped.
How did you find the social side of Boarding School when you first started?
In my first week at TCS, I remember going to so many exciting events, where I got to meet all the students in my house, my classes and students in other grades. The older students would often help out the newer and younger students and would bring them to sit with them at meals, show them to their classes, and introduce them to other students.
What surprised you the most about being a boarding student at TCS?
How close you become with your classmates, teachers and house team. The connections you make are really unlike any other, and being able to live with your friends allows the TCS community to feel like a family. You develop a different kind of relationship with people at Boarding school, and I’m so glad to have been a part of a school like TCS.
Georgie
Sherborne Girls, UKGeorgie joined from Cayman Prep and is currently in Year 8.
What is the best thing about being at boarding school?
Always being surrounded by your friends and loving house parents. Whether it's sharing a dorm with your friends, or weekend adventures across Dorset, doing daring and fun activities and challenges, you are always busy!
What advice would you give a new Boarding school student?
My advice is to be yourself, bring hundreds of teddies, blankets, posters and other decorations, as you are welcomed into the loving and nurturing arms of all house members. Although the beginning can be rocky and tough, it always eases out and you feel at home and find that you do fit in amongst the many other students.
Were there any subjects you didn’t feel adequately prepared for? If so, which ones? And how did you overcome this?
Before joining Sherborne Girls, I was tutored regularly in the subjects of English and maths. When I joined my school, I felt prepared for what I was being taught. Most subjects followed similar topics, however, English was extremely different as they introduced analysis paragraphs and inferring pieces of poetry or text, which I had never done before in my old school. Luckily, I had been tutored on how to do this before I joined.
What are your favourite extracurricular activities?
At SG (Sherborne Girls) I have joined many extracurriculars, including the running club where training takes place on a Monday and Friday in and out of school on the Yeovil track. On Thursdays cross-country races take place. I also do tennis and piano lessons. Extras are fluid and joinable throughout the year with lots on offer, around sports, arts, academics and more.
How does the workload compare to your previous school in Cayman?
The gap has been massive in regard to workload. At primary school I only had maths and English homework; now I have every subject. However, work is always manageable, as 'prep time' takes place after dinner for an hour every day and some weeks you get more than others. You also always get a week to do the work, so you don't stress about it.
