From Jamaica to Webb
Posted August 18, 2011
Written by Jonathan, a 10th grader from St. Ann, Jamaica
The biggest thing that struck me since I have been at Webb is how pleasant the people are, students and teachers alike. Even when I was applying for schools, Mrs. Harris, who is Head of Admissions, was the kindest school representative I met. That was a big reason why I chose Webb as my school. When I arrived at school, I was very homesick and missing my family in Jamaica. However the students were so welcoming and friendly that I quickly overcame my homesickness. Whenever I need some help, I can stop anybody passing by, and they gladly direct me to where I should be and never shrug me off no matter how simple or senseless the question may have been.
Webb also helped me overcome my homesickness by the planning of activities. They make sure that you are always busy doing different activities, which prevents you from focusing on things such as home. It is also a great way of meeting friends, which I believe is the most important part of surviving boarding school especially for international students. During my first weekend as a Webb student, the dorm leaders organized soccer games and bonding time among the students of the Chambliss dorm where I live. We also went to dinner as a group and it was during that time when I really began to speak to other boarders and started making friends.
Finally, when I lived in Jamaica, I was pampered by my parents. They would do the shopping for the house and make sure my life ran smoothly. I barely had to do much except ask for whatever I needed. However at Webb , I have a lot of responsibilities such as, making sure I never run out of supplies for school, keeping my room clean, doing my laundry and basically keeping my life organized. Coming from my background, this seems like an enormous challenge. However at Webb they are so efficient and organized that they help guide me. They do room checks to make sure I am keeping it tidy, they have study hours where you do your homework and they check on you to make sure you are doing what you are supposed to do and not slacking off. So although I am taking on a lot of new responsibilities, there is always somebody around to put me back on track when I get off and make sure that I get where I am supposed to go.
