Many of you will have seen the Netflix mini-series The Queen’s Gambit. It’s the fictional story of an orphaned chess prodigy named Beth Harmon who battles personal demons to claw herself to the top of her sport. In one scene, she challenges her opponent, a friend, with a question about the end game: “Do you see it now?” she asks. He admits he doesn’t. She does.
The same question can be posed to parents looking to give their children the best possible chance to succeed in school and life: Do you see the things that can really make a difference? Of course, no two children are exactly alike. A child who is, say, musically or athletically gifted will (understandably) be brought up differently than a child who is not. But for most teens, a great adventure can be a life changer—because impressive accomplishment brings self-esteem, and self-esteem is transformative, in our personal lives AND in the classroom (see the post on St. Benedict’s school in Newark, NJ.) Moreover, a great adventure can help teens see a more imaginative end game for themselves. Suddenly, new possibilities present themselves, possibilities that may not on the radar screens of most of their friends.
Good classroom instruction should never be discounted. But sometimes it’s what kids learn—or don’t learn—outside of the classroom that makes the teachers look good. Or not. Leading Swiss boarding schools are now charging over USD100,000 per year in tuition. What on earth is that paying for? No doubt different parents will give different answers. But surely one of the most common answers would be “experiences.” Switzerland sits a short train or coach ride away from several European cultural capitals. And opportunities for outdoor adventure are everywhere. It’s an “experience bonanza.” We, too, offer an exceptional European adventure and cultural-exposure opportunity—at a much more reasonable price. You have our coordinates.