Serious question.. should I go to boarding school?

Prep School Admissions
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<p>This has been asked an uncountable number of times, but some variables are changed...
If any of you guys have read my previous thread (one and only ^^), I posted all my stats and stuff there, and I was really excited. But now a few months has passed and I'm not sure if I should go or not.
Not because of money problems, or because I'm worried about grades. </p>

<p>This might seem like a LONG and PAINFUL story, so please bear with me.
In my life I have moved soo many times, I was born in Korea and lived there for all of my kindergarten life, and in the second semester of my last kindergarten year, we had to move to Guatemala. So by the time I was 6 I was living in Guatemala, and I started my FIRST grade there, so pretty much I skipped half a grade so I was always the youngest :P I attended an international school in Guatemala, and there were some helpful Korean kids that looked after me too :) </p>

<p>After Guatemala, where I picked up some basic English and Spanish skills, when I was going to start the 3rd grade, we had to move to Peru. I also went to an international school here, and I lived in Peru for 3 years (until I finished 5th grade and was ready to start middle school. So far, so good. </p>

<p>But please know this (and anyone who is Korean will know what I'm talking about); My first system of education was practically taught in English. I was growing up in an environment full of different ethnicities (as I went to an INTERnational school), and we were all tolerant of each other, there was no bullying and teasing, and it was a very nice place. </p>

<p>But Korea is a different place. I thought I was ready for Korea when my dad told us we would be moving there. I thought, "Oh, same as Peru and Guatemala, I'll make hundreds of friends!" but no. In Korea, there are small groups and smaller groups within. People stick to each other and you can barely call them friendly. I was such an INNOCENT, un-spoiled, ready-to-make-friends, not even aware of what being "popular" meant, or "why we singled people out" person. </p>

<p>So I started my 6th grade in Korea, but because I didn't know any subjects in Korean, like korean history or Korean math, I had to go to another international school in Korea. But there were only Koreans here, the only difference pretty much was that they taught us in English and the kids there were just super spoiled.
Although my 6th year was a bit hard, I still made many friends and had fun. So did I in 7th grade.</p>

<p>Although at first I had hated Korea, I began to love my country and be proud of it. I slowly began to understand the informal 'rules' of Korea, such as respecting even people one year older than you, when and where to do specific things, etc. </p>

<p>But of course, my life can never be straightened out. We had to move again after 7th grade, to Spain, where I would start 8th grade. This time I was ready for it. I cried a lot, I fought with my parents, and with tearful good-byes we came to Spain this June 2009. </p>

<p>School started, and I began to enjoy it a bit with my new Korean friends. They provided me with the one small link to my favorite place in the world, Korea. It was also about in July 2009 that I decided I wanted to go to a boarding school, to stop moving so much and stay solid in one place, because I knew we would probably move from Spain to another country again right when I got used to the place. </p>

<p>I worked extra hard at school, and now I'm happy to say I have all As, (and 3 A+!) except a B+ in Spanish 3. I have also done charity, the mini-embassadors program, honor band, math club and also auditioned for the AMIS honor band to play in Germany next year. Soon i am going to also take TOEFLs and SSATs. </p>

<p>But now, here is the question. Should I go to boarding school now? I'm feeling very hesitant about it. I just envy the kids that have a CHOICE in their life. Because of my dad's job, I can't just go back to Korea whenever they feel like it, because my dad and mom are different :(</p>

<p>As I mentioned before, when I found out I would be moving to Spain, I was so shocked. I felt like suicide sometimes (don't ask... bad times) and things felt numb. When I arrived in Spain, I feigned happiness and just went along with things, and it was WHILE I felt that numb happiness that I wanted to go to boarding school. </p>

<p>But it feels like the numbness is gone, and now I realize just HOW much I miss Korea. Like, soo much. Should I go to boarding school, and have barely enough time to see my parents, let alone Korea or should I just stay in Spain, because I know that we might move back to Korea. </p>

<p>Anyone who can provide help, I thank you so much.
Sorry for my HUGELY annoying and PAINFUL story (and for listening to it!).
I bid you good day! :D</p>

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<p>There are many Koreans in American boarding schools, and I am sure there are many on this board too. You should get in touch with them so you know more about life in an American boarding school before making your decision. But boarding school is NOT Korea. If you miss your country so much, you should be able to figure out a way to go back. It shouldn’t be this hard. In the worst case, either you stay where you are, or go to a boarding school, in 3/4 years you will be a grown up and can go to a college in Korea on your own.</p>

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<p>13_hannah, you sound like a wonderfully resilient and insightful person–moving so many times, especially just before the 6th and 7th grade years, when social life gets tricky and cliquey no matter where you are, has to have been very hard and it sounds as if you have weathered it well. I agree with the suggestion of finding some other Korean (or other international students) to communicate with–they can help you sort through your concerns. But if I understand your post correctly, you anticipate that your family will move again–and although it may be back to Korea, which you now love, it seems that moving yet again during high school–when you will perhaps even have started to like Span and not be so thrilled with returning to Korea–is going to be tough. If you find a boarding school that feels like a good fit for you, it can give you a feeling of roots and stability that will give you a good chance to develop what are clearly your many talents. Not that it will substitute for the family and friends you already have, but add to them. So if your parents are willing, I would say by all means pursue boarding school. Good luck!</p>

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<p>My kid goes to a boarding school in canada and I haven’t found any problem so far. I guess the thing is there’s not a single best boarding school for everyone, it’s good when location, price, facilities, staff and academics are OK. </p>

<p>This is my kid’s school’s food and board, <a href=“http://www.cic-totalcare.com/en/TotalLiving.php[/url]”>Accessibility – Columbia International College, and I communicate a lot with their liaison officers so I don’t worry too much, so far so good.</p>

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<p>no eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep</p>

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<p>I am in a similiar situation although i am not Korean, I have moved just as much. I want to go to boarding school for many reasons but the key one is stability. I just dont want to move anymore but I don’t share such an intense love for my home country.</p>

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<p>Remember, there are boarding schools that really promote diversity. If you go to one of those boarding schools, I’m sure you’ll find many Koreans to be around, and students from other backgrounds.</p>

<p>What about a boarding school in Korea? I don’t know about them at all, but maybe that’s something you can look into.</p>

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<p>I do not think so, I think that you are looking for an escape route rather than a new oppurtunity. Since, you are so happy in Spain why move? These schools would simply be yet another transition. If you are already so unstable, why put yourself in an environment without your parents and loved ones? Just saying, dont take it personally, but if in your shoes i would never ever apply to boarding school especially the top ones.</p>