Cover Story
Cover Story
Residential life offers plenty of opportunities for students and teachers to interact
It is Matthew Beaman ’ s first year at Keystone Academy . As a grade 9 student , he automatically became part of the residential program . If living away from his family for the first time was not hard enough , his birthday falling in the second month of being at a new school , a new city , and surrounded by new people made him long for home . But Matthew soon realized that he was home . “ My classmates , and dorm mates kept wishing me through the day . Happy birthday Matthew ! Have a great day Matthew ! I was so happy because I hadn ’ t really told anyone ,” he said his face glowing with happy hesitation . He goes on with a smile to say that it was a senior student and dorm resident that informed all of Matthew ’ s classmates and peers that it was his birthday . That day he realized that everything was going to be okay , and he would have a home right here at Keystone .
It ’ s not just a PLACE Home is a weighty concept . Think of “ home ,” and perhaps the first thought that pops to mind is a place , a space , a location , or a house . However , it is a word that means much , much more . Yes , surely it is a place often territorially bound in our present , or habitually resonated in memory of a dwelling from our past . But what really makes a place a home are the people in it . Just as Matthew ’ s classmates , peers and dormmates enabled him to rediscover home , it is the people in our lives that define and redefine our home many times over , if we are fortunate , in the span of our lives .
Keystone ’ s residential program creates the opportunity to make and remake , experience and re-experience home . It allows for the creation of a place with conceptual extensions beyond a habitual residence , involving people who are not your family members but who perhaps become as close as your kith and kin . Most of all , the residential program is a direct manifestation of one of the three keystones of the school – building character and community throughout our residential setting . In this sense , Keystone ’ s residential life , often referred to as a home-away-fromhome , is an extension of each individual student and his or her growth and their collective coexistence .
Keystone ’ s boarders agree that living on campus has helped them grow and realize a deeper potential , a deeper insight into themselves . Leo Sheng , one of our first boarders now in grade 11 , says he has changed a lot in the last three years : “ I was amongst the first 48 boarders to join Keystone . I can confidently say that I have changed a lot in the three years of boarding . As an introvert I found talking to others very hard . But I have learned that communication is key . I also learned the importance of apologizing when you have made a mistake . No matter how good your intentions are , people feel hurt . A sincere apology can make
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