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An International Student at Brentwood

6 September 2016
Daniel M, Ellis´18; Photo by Joe Krysl, Whittall '16
It was a sunny morning and a nervous one for me as well as many other new students coming from all over the world to gather in one place, Mill Bay, Brentwood College. I was coming from Germany and after months of thinking about what this would be like, today was the day.  It was the first of September, 2014 and I was one of the many kids coming from all over the world. I was riding in the car with my parents who had come with me to start this new experience. I arrived through the Brentwood gates where I was escorted to my new home away from home, Ellis House. From there all of the nervousness and fears disappeared as I was welcomed by the cheers of Raihan M, Ellis ‘16 and many of the other Orientation Assistants. I was then greeted by the houseparents and some of the other Ellis House boys.  After a morning of unpacking and meeting and greeting, it was time for the goodbyes and the start of a new adventure at Brentwood. All of the things I had worried about the night before were gone and now I was thinking about what was going to happen next. I have been at Brentwood for two years now and during that time the school has helped me do some amazing things. I have been given many opportunities to improve my academics. I was struggling with my academics back in Germany, but at Brentwood I was given so many options for doing extra help and the teachers didn't give up on me. They kept pushing me to do my very best and my grades went up because of it.  This was also the same for my sports at Brentwood. I was doing okay before I came here; now I'm doing extremely well and playing on the Junior Tennis and Soccer teams - which won ISA and Island Championships last year. My art skills have also come up. I have done things here that I didn't think I could do. It turns out that I can draw really well. I have also developed strong bonds with people, whether that is in the house, the grade, or around the school.  Everyone is here for the same thing: they want to do well and at Brentwood it is cool to do well. It is the same for everyone. One of my friends in the house, Valentin E, Ellis ´18 told me, “I didn't even row in Germany but I discovered I am actually really good at it. I wouldn't have been able to do that if it wasn't for Brentwood.”  That is what Brentwood can do. Brentwood has around 20% of its students come from all over the globe - 40 countries this year. I have made friends here from America, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Hong Kong, Australia, and many more. There is about 20 Germans in this school and, like many International students, most stay for one year. I am one of those Germans who will stay all the way up to Graduation in Grade 12. The students who only stay one year always message me back saying they wish they could have stayed all the way through. Even though living without our parents can be hard, we always phone to or text them.  One of the best things about Brentwood is that though you only have four years here, it lasts a lifetime. Daniel M, Ellis´18

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