I Go to a Boarding School

The girls in our boarding house come from 10 different countries, in all the different continents of the world. Although they are only 10-11 years old, some of them have been at boarding school for five years already. They do not see their parents often and sometimes they have to spend holidays at school because it is too far to return home.

Our House Mother says that some of them do not have much love from home, which is why it is important to create a stable, loving environment at school. Some of the girls behave badly, but that is often because they feel insecure and frustrated.

I now know that I have to be a good elder sister to these younger girls. Not just to tell them off when they fail to follow rules, but to try to understand why they are misbehaving. I cannot treat them as a nuisance to pack off to bed before I can enjoy my own free time. I have to make sure that they feel secure and valued. Sometimes that means hugging a girl if she is crying. Or tucking her up in bed and kissing her goodnight if that is what she needs to go to sleep.

Because they are only little girls and it is not surprising that some of them are frightened and confused 😟