Namibia Trip

January 2021 - May 2021

After graduating from my high school, Markham College, in November of 2020, I was extremely excited to embark on a short "gap year"-style trip before going off to Dartmouth College. 

I went back to Namibia, where I had lived for most of my childhood. More specifically, I went back to Swakopmund. Whilst living on my own for these four months I learnt a lot of responsibility, problem solving skills and a lot about myself.

I kept myself busy by going to dance lessons nearly every day: ballet, jazz and contemporary. I also took piano lessons and spent a lot of time at the beach and with my friends. I also volunteered to walk dogs a few times a week at my local animal shelter.

One of the most memorable experiences of the trip was that I took a part time job at the school I previously attended (Privat Schule Swakopmund) in which I helped set up their Moodle site and administered it as well as gave lessons to the teachers on how to use it. I also tutored several students during the week from grades 2 all the way up to high school and IGCSE in math, physics, biology, and many more subjects. It was a new experience to me since I had never had a real job before but I enjoyed preparing the materials for the classes and I was very fortunate to be able to substitute teach a few of the lessons at the school. I learnt how to interact with the students in a way that was interesting and helpful for them to understand but it also pushed me out of my comfort zone. Firstly it taught me to be able to explain things in a way which might not particularly have been how I would understand it best but instead the way the students would best understand it because everyone learns differently. Secondly it taught me how to be firm when necessary to keep order in the classroom or ensure staff met deadlines for the Moodle site, which is something I had struggled with in the past. 

Here is an excerpt from the school newspaper:

All in all it was an amazing experience and I am extremely fortunate and grateful that I had it.