I thought I wasn’t going to make it...
Transitioning schools is never easy especially in an international standpoint, switching from public school in Canada to a private school in Europe is a big step up in educational standards and difficulty level but it has its benefits and downsides depending on what kind of student you are. I have lived in Canada, Estonia and Belgium and I have converted from public to private many times, so I know how it feels to change to a private school for the first time and it is not an easy task at first. But do not worry, after a few weeks/months, you will get the hang of it and thrive.
One of the biggest differences you will realize in private school compared to public is your courses, private schools mostly have a wide variety of classes that you can enroll in to fit what future you want to pursue from robotics to theatre tech it really has something for everyone. Also, you will notice an increase in workload, so you will have homework practically every night and it is recommended that you work about 2-3 hours a night. But do not be intimidated by this, if you start and get through the rough patch and start a routine it will feel like nothing. But if you do not put in the effort, you will have an extremely hard and stressful time near the end of the school year near exam week.
From my personal experience, I came to Belgium from a public school in Ottawa with B’s and A’s and after the first semester at ISB I had struggled with most of my classes not knowing what the other students knew. I thought I would completely fail the grade and have to repeat the year but luckily, I did not, but I came terrifyingly close. Although this is a scary experience, it is also a wakeup call, and it helps you in the future and improves your work ethic.
Private schools have high standards for grading but also have some of the best teachers you’ll probably ever have and will go out of their way to make sure you pass their class. However, that’s not an excuse for you to not study or do homework. These schools can be very challenging but when you graduate your options will be extremely open and can give you some unbelievable opportunities for high-ranking universities and colleges.
Another aspect of private schools in Europe is the multicultural atmosphere, you will meet a lot of people from diverse cultural backgrounds and are very inclusive of set backgrounds. Coming from a school where there was not much cultural diversity, it was amazing meeting people from, and learning about other cultures. That being said, sometimes, things you may say or find “politically correct” people from other cultures won’t, and it is something you will have to be careful of. For example, some expressions you may use can be offensive/sensitive to people from different cultures. But do not worry, this can be a good thing, because you will get to learn about other people's customs and traditions.
In conclusion, transitioning from public school to private school is a challenging process but can be extremely beneficial in the future with opening opportunities. It is a wonderful way to meet people from all around the world and overall, it can make you into a more successful and resourceful person and make your future brighter. For me, it was a great experience because of how much I learnt, the people I met, and the education and teachers I was exposed to. I will always remember these schools and experiences because they leave an impression on you that you cannot forget.