In September, I, Nienke, had the unique opportunity to travel to the United States in my role as International Student Athlete Coordinator and mentor for boarding school athletes. From September 9th to 17th, we were invited by GESP to visit several boarding schools and subsequently attend an educational conference, where schools from across the country and agents from around the world came together.
The trip began on Sept. 9 when I flew to Richmond, Virginia. From there we spent the next few days driving to Washington DC via Staunton, finally ending up near Philadelphia. Our first stop was The Christchurch School, beautifully located on the Virginia waterfront. Known for one of the best sailing programs in the country, this school made an immediate impression: a place where sports, nature and education come together seamlessly. What makes Christchurch, like all the other schools, very special is that over 70% of the staff live on campus. This means that there is always a point of contact for students, which makes for a close and safe community.
On Sept. 11, we continued our journey to Stuart Hall in Staunton. This school is located in the middle of a pleasant village, which many students find pleasant. In addition to sports, there is a lot of emphasis here on art and theater, allowing students to develop in multiple areas. An average day at Stuart Hall looks like this:
A typical day at Stuart Hall and all other schools has a distinct rhythm. The morning begins around 7:30 a.m. with a communal breakfast in the Dining Hall, after which students attend their first classes of the day. Around noon, lunch is ready, again in the Dining Hall.
After lunch, classes continue. In the mornings the focus is usually on the compulsory subjects, such as math and English, while the afternoons allow for electives. These include creative subjects such as drawing and photography, as well as practical directions such as woodworking and music lessons.
From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., sports take center stage. Students are then given the time and space to fully focus on their sport. Often this includes training on the field or court as well as strength and mental training.
Training sessions are followed by a mandatory one-hour study hall, designed to complete homework and finish the day academically. Then there is time to relax or catch up with friends, but by 10:30 all students must be back in their rooms. Around eleven o’clock the lights go out and the day comes to an end.
That same day we also visited the Blue Ridge School, an all-boys school where sports are the center of daily life. Boys from all over the world gather here with the goal of developing to the best of their ability and advancing to college with a good scholarship. We were given a tour by two Japanese boys from the baseball team and saw the impressive facilities. What was also special was that all the boys go to school in suits every day, which creates a formal and ambitious atmosphere. Blue Ridge is truly a place for athletes who are willing to give their all and work hard to achieve their goals.
On Friday we visited Springdale, a school that conjures up exactly the image you have of a typical American high school. It is a relatively small school with about 130 students, which ensures that there is a lot of personal attention. The newly renovated dorms add to the appeal. Springdale’s soccer team is still relatively new, but clearly under construction. What struck me most was the close bond between the boys and their coach – a factor of great value when you are an international student far from home. Later that afternoon, we visited the smallest school of the trip: West Nottingham Academy. With only 50 students, this almost feels like a family. Yet the school has a special asset, because everything there revolves around basketball. They even have a national basketball team, which provides a unique opportunity for young talents in that sport.
The next day was devoted to the Mainline Jamboree, a big soccer tournament at the Westtown School. Here some of the best boarding school teams in the country competed and many college coaches were on hand to scout talent. In the afternoon, I was given a tour of the Westtown campus. Like many other schools, sports play an important role here, especially soccer, but in addition there is also room for academic and technological development. For example, Westtown has a very successful robotics team that has become U.S. champions several times.
After all these school visits, it was time for the conference itself. About 50 schools were in attendance and in a sort of speed dating format we were able to meet representatives, discuss profiles of athletes and learn more about the opportunities these schools offer. It was fun to talk to schools where athletes of ours are already attending, but also inspiring to get to know new schools. Among other things, we got in touch with a school with an excellent ballet program and even one with its own ski academy.
Looking back, it was an intensive but incredibly valuable trip. It was special to see so many different schools, from small and intimate academies to larger institutions with impressive facilities. For our boarding school athletes, this means that we can advise and guide them even better in finding the right place in the US an environment where they can get the best out of themselves not only in their sport, but also as a person.