Life as a private school kid

I went to private school from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. Without a doubt, it effected my life forever. There were many pros and cons to this education and here they are.

1. A great education

Now, this something you’ve heard a million times. But it’s true! Private schools really do provide the best education. Because of the smaller numbers of students, there is a better student to teacher ratio. Teachers are much more willing to work with students when they are in need of help. They are also much more accommodating. The classes are also much more advanced as most private schools are also labeled “college prep.” My middle and lower school prepared me immensely for high school. With the classes and many resources available at my high school, college is not intimidating in the slightest.

2. The lack in diversity

This is not the case with all schools, but in my case it was. Without a doubt, a majority of the population was Caucasian. Not to say there were not students of other ethnicities because there were. If I were to guess, 1 out of every 8 students was of mixed ethnicity. The exposure to different cultures was there but possibly not as significant as some may desire.

3. Large amount of freedom

At most private schools, students are allowed a lot of freedom. They trust that we know right from wrong and let us roam around and do whatever we please as long as it is not illegal. Teachers encouraged us to be creative and become an individual. This encouragement is prevalent because the staff is aware that uniforms and heavy classes can weigh down a student. Therefore, giving us freedom and treating us like adults is something they value highly.

4. Uniforms

Not all private schools have uniforms. In my case, We were required to wear khakis and some sort of school-affiliated polo or sweatshirts. My school was always cold, so I had a plethora of hoodies. This could be a blessing or a curse. Not having to think about what to wear each morning was sometimes nice. We did have opportunities to wear what we choose at least once every other week. When you’re a senior, you are able to wear your college wear about every Friday starting in April on top of the regular jeans day. However, it also provided me with a lack of school clothes for college.

5. An endless amount of opportunities

At my school, it was encouraged to participate in as many things as possible. Many activities were even required for a grade. As much as I hated going to events I was not interested in, it forced me to open my eyes to new possibilities. Even if I didn’t fully listen to the advice I was given by speakers and clubs, I still learned it somehow. I never knew a single student to not be a part of any club or sport which is very rare for any public school to have. Anything I wanted to do, I always had the staffs full support and help.