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People
often wonder how I have been able to stay at Trinity for so long, especially
as a boarder. But after the initial feeling of panic that I no longer
had the influence of my parents, but a team of four teachers, I began
to enjoy my "time" here.
My
most enjoyable time at Trinity has been the past two years, the events
that have been put on - quizzes, games shows and even a trek across Dartmoor
have been really memorable. The best things about boarding are that I
have made close friendships and that I have been able to live in such
a multi-cultural society.
Boarding,
I believe, has also prepared me for university by allowing me to take
on roles of responsibility as a prefect, and even get up and act! Boarding
has also made me realise that I can cope with most things - from sleeping
on a camp bed on Dartmoor to the strange cabbage smell in certain Year
8 rooms in the winter! I will definitely miss my time at Trinity, but
I am excited about the future.
My
experience in Trinity School's Boarding
by James Hambly
In
the autumn half term of October I moved into the boarding community. The
first night was nerve-racking to say the least. Trying to get to sleep
and waking up in a different room, and also the fact that I was going
to be living under the same roof as 140 other people, but I soon realised
it was not going to be a problem. After one week I had settled in and
I was beginning to see how different it was to how I had expected. I had
anticipated that relationships would not to be as close between the teachers
and the pupils, but I soon realised that the boarding staff were very
caring and treated
you individually, helping you when you needed it the most. Every person
in boarding knows everyone else, which is what makes it such a close community,
and the staff make it feel like home by the way they relate to you and
each other!
After Christmas things started to become routine and boarding started
to feel like home, even though I'd only been there three weeks. The months
after this became even more enjoyable as I began to see the teachers as
not just adults, who stood up in front of us and started to cram information
into our brains, but also as actually human and who do normal things,
well to a certain extent!
During my time in boarding there were many activities that kept me and
all the other boarders entertained. I have seen nearly every new film
that has been out in the last year within the School. But the best trip
though, that will stay in my memory for the rest of my life, was the Dartmoor
Challenge Weekend on 6th and 7th July. It was an amazing two days of my
life. We spent the night in a derelict cottage in the middle of nowhere,
twenty-nine of us all huddled around a fire in woolly hats and gloves.
It was brilliant to have come back after the weekend and to be proud of
yourself for lasting and, above all, accomplishing all the weekend's challenges,
which included a seven mile hike in one hour to one hour and a half. The
teachers' input to this trip is also something that I will never forget.
Now that I am leaving the School and the boarding community, I am very
upset about it as it is and has been an amazing experience for myself
and (I believe and know) for other people that have been to this School.
Things I will not miss though are being woken up by Mr. Leech banging
a bell around and trying to sing! This in no way compares to the good
points and I would, and will, recommend this School to anyone who is considering
going here.
My experience and time at this School has been such an enjoyable time.
The many good times were only made possible by my close friends and boarding
staff, who I would like to thank personally. Mr. Larkman and Mrs Angus
for their time and effort, which has helped me through my last year at
Trinity. Also I would like to thank Mr Ashby and Mr Leech, and say goodbye
to the staff - it has been a pleasure being at this School and I will
be back to visit.
Other
comments made by Boarders:
"I
have been boarding now for two years and I have definitely enjoyed it
(boarding) above all. My life has led me in a direction to explore, share,
love, create and most of all enjoy." - Maggie Ren from Mainland
China
"Boarding
for me means freedom, independence and accepting the School as my home,
and other pupils as my family. It has been enriching, helping me develop
skills for living in a community. I can recommend being a boarder at least
once in a lifetime." - Mael Hocombe from France
"......however
I went to Trinity and today I can definitely say that I do not regret
this step. What I have found is not only a School (located in an easily
accessible and pleasant location) but a community where teacher-pupil
relationships are good. The many organised social events play a big role
during the school year and help develop the sense of a community. Boarding
life must by necessity be associated with rules, but without rules we
would not have this organisation. Abiding by rules in this way will help
us to adapt to our future working lives." - Christopher Christ
from Germany |