Senior Departure Seminar

Each year, Senior Departure Seminar (SDS) prepares all seniors in our China-based LifePlus schools for transition from lower education to the plans each student has following, whether attending university, taking a gap year, or beginning work. The basis of the seminar is to ensure our students have the tools to be successful in tackling life after high school and to celebrate their successes.

Last week, from March 20-22, seniors traveled to our partner school in Wuhan to participate in SDS classes, reflections, transition activities, and a formal banquet. Classes were organized into four workshops – A, B, C, and D – which were set over the three days. On the first day, Workshop A gave students the selection of one of three classes to choose from: Universities in Korea, Personal Finance, and Adulting. On the second day, Workshop B offered students four classes to choose from: The International Student Experience, Care for the Whole Self, Beyond the Mirror, and How to Write and Deliver a Good Speech. Workshop C, on the same day, offered three more important topics: How to Survive Actually Enjoy Living with Roommates, How to Stay Healthy When You’re Surrounded by Sickos, and Navigating Relationships Post High School. The final workshop, offered on the third day, invited students to learn from one of four classes: Returning to Korea, Time Management, Safety and Self-Defense Abroad, and When You Do Get Depressed.

Classes invited LifePlus teachers, guidance counselors, staff, and alumni, as well as university representatives to share with students and answer their many questions. Senior student Lilly K. says two of the classes she chose were How to Survive Actually Enjoy Living with Roommates and Safety and Self-Defense Abroad. In learning to live with roommates, Lilly says the presenter, Mel McCutchan, gave a list of basic but key and considerate questions to ask, such as how the dorm should be divided, the temperature of the room, cleaning habits, and more. Taking the self-defense course, she learned ways to keep herself safe through awareness of questionable presences and putting distance if there are unsafe interactions.

“We also had time to share our life stories, what are the good things that happened in our life and the bad things, how we overcame it, from the beginning of your life, and then, right now and the future plans you have,” says Lilly. To process their stories, students wrote down the most impactful changes in their lives. Lilly says she wrote about moving to and living in Romania from the ages of three to eight years old, returning to her home country of Korea, and moving to China.

Along with considering their stories, students were led through the RAFT process, which encourages students to consider who they need to Reconcile with, what Affirmations they wish to say to those they are leaving, who they would like to say Farewell to, and Thinking about their future and destination. “Generally reflecting my whole life, it was good,” says Lilly.

Thank you to our teachers, guidance counselors, staff, and alumni and to the university representatives who made this event possible. Thank you for leading our students and preparing them for the next era of their lives. Students, we can’t wait to see what you will accomplish and contribute to the world.

Click here for pictures of SDS.