boarding school blues

[ameliazacharia]

so i started a new (boarding) school at the start of term three this year. i absolutely hate it and my parents have given me the choice to go back to my old school in term four or at the start of next year. i am seriously considering going back—I have no friends and i cry on the phone almost every single night while talking to my mum and my siblings. i don’t want people to think im pathetic. at least if i go to a school at home, i’m only at school six hours a day, right? help.

[Croix]

Dear Aameliazacharia~

Good on you for trying for an outside opinion, it was a wise move. If I've got it right you've been at that new school for a couple of months or so. I went to a fair number of schools and they were a pretty mixed bunch, some half way reasonable, others not. Basically for me it was the other kids that made the difference either good or bad.

Can I ask what is the worst thing that is upsetting you ? I remember missing home and friends, unpleasant kids, the change in schoolwork, thing like that.

I'd also like to ask if there is anything at this new school you do enjoy and would miss if you left?

Not everyone is a good fit for boarding school, and it is no big deal, if it makes you unhappy all the time with no real prospects of it getting better then why suffer? It can't be helping your studies to be so unhappy and all that follows from that.

One thing I will say, you are lucky to have parents who love you enough to pull you out if you need it.

You are welcome to talk it over here as much as you'd like

Croix

[baet123]

Hey Amelia,

Welcome to the forums. Thanks for sharing your situation with us. It takes a lot of courage to open up to others and share your feelings so props to you! Extremely brave of you and you should be proud!

Croix has said some fabulous points above. It does seem like your family really cares for you and that is an amazing thing we shouldn't take for granted.

Also, you do have friends, we are your friends. It is interesting that when you grow up and you are in your mid twenties and experience the world, you realise many things you used to think were super important actually aren't really important. I think you should keep being you and be true to yourself and although this may seem difficult but no one thinks your pathetic as your concerns are genuine and deserve to be listened to and heard.

Maybe you can try talking to your parents and your school and assessing the situation and deciding what is best for your future going forward in terms of your education, your mental health and well-being and for you personally to grow and enjoy your teenage years. Ultimately, we are generally the best versions of ourselves when we are happy. I know I am.

Please keep us posted.

Hope this helped.

All the best,

Your new friend Nick!