Starting at a new school can be daunting for anybody, but leaving your home for boarding school somewhere far away is a whole other level. At MGGS, our boarders from Years 7 and 12 come from across Australia and around the world. At the beginning of the school year many boarders feel homesick and can take time to adjust to their new environment. We understand that boarding is a different experience for each member of the house.
Over the summer holidays, Year 11 boarder Annabelle Williamson spoke with the Destination Boarding Podcast about what it is like to be a new boarder. Annabelle began boarding at MGGS in Year 9, moving to Melbourne from a farm in Quambatook, a small town in northern Victoria.
The Destination Boarding Podcasts shares interviews with current boarders and families to help new boarders feel more confident and comfortable before they begin their boarding school journey. Students share advice on settling in, how to get through the first few weeks of term and dealing with homesickness. Who better to hear from than the boarders themselves?
As Annabelle points out, everyone experiences homesickness differently, some really miss home at the start while others adapt to boarding life easily. For Annabelle, even though her mum is an Old Grammarian, it took a bit of time before she settled into the Boarding House at MGGS. One of the first challenges Annabelle overcame was having to do her own washing! Not only do you have to learn how to use the machines and care for your items properly, but there is also a laundry etiquette that is important when using the shared laundry spaces. Another thing that surprised her was the relaxed and familial feeling she experienced in the ‘Boardo’ as opposed to the day school. The feeling of sisterhood and having a real ‘home away from home’ was something she didn’t quite expect.
When asked about her top three tips for new boarders, Annabelle said that prioritising time with your family is important. Annabelle regularly makes time to call and FaceTime her family during the week and pre-plans seeing them on weekends and doing something special, like going out for lunch. She also suggested making time for yourself, to give yourself space to do the things that you do at home, like having a lazy Sunday afternoon watching a movie or something else that feels familiar. With lots of new things being thrown at you, it is important to look after yourself and do things that will recharge your batteries and give you a sense of normalcy. Her last tip is to not be afraid to say yes to opportunities that come up – whether it is activities in the boarding house or co-curriculars at school, like sport or drama, getting involved will help you make the most of boarding school life. When Annabelle started boarding at MGGS in Year 9, she joined Saturday Netball, which not only gave her a structure for physical activity outside of school, but it also allowed her to make friends in the day school and de-stress by having fun at training twice a week.
The residential staff at MGGS are supportive and kind, and the boarders are well looked after by Heads of Boarding, Amanda Haggie and Kerry Bacon, Annabelle says. They have an open-door policy, so Annabelle likes to drop in on her way ‘home’ from school to chat about her day. The MGGS Boarding House is home to around 80 students, which Annabelle says is great, because it’s not too big nor too small, “everyone knows everyone.” At Year 9, there is a big intake of boarders, so everyone is trying to make new friends and learning how to be away from home together. She encourages new boarders to be friendly and open-minded because everyone else is in the same boat as you.
After two years in the Boarding House at MGGS, Annabelle is thankful for the life skills that she has built, her independence and resilience, that she thinks will put her in good stead for her future adventures like starting university and travelling overseas. Her favourite thing about boarding is that she has met so many different people that she would not have otherwise gotten to know. The Boarding House is home to girls from different parts of the world with different passions, talents, backgrounds and life experiences.
The boarders are looking forward to joining their parents at the inaugural Boarders v Parents Lawn Bowls afternoon on Sunday 24 March!
If you’d like to listen to the Annabelle’s feature on the Destination Boarding Podcast, click the link below.