Merrick Preparatory School - Review #9

Being an international student at Merrick Preparatory College, I was surrounded by a supportive environment that has helped me grow academically and socially. The ecosystem is constructed in a way that facilitates and encourages learning and networking. The daily school routine was optimized in a way that maximizes learning, health, as well as physical, mental and emotional fitness. This was done by ensuring all students have access to at least 3 healthy meals a day, intensive classes, breaks to walk around the village as well as numerous extra-curricular activities.

When I joined Merrick Prep, I was very young, shy and my English was not as good. I would look up to so many students who performed better than me, and it made me feel inferior. However, as days passed, the culture, environment, and role models I have interacted with in the school helped me improve myself exponentially. The teachers built a connection with me that acted as a catalyst for me to improve in all dimensions, whether socially, academically, or professionally. The headmaster was a leader by example, and this had a huge positive effect on my personality growing up. When I graduated, I was at the top of the class, the recipient of the Headmaster's Award for Integrity and Leadership, and a Validcotrian.

If I went back in time, I would have made more friends in the school's village. I have built a few relationships there, but to this day, those people still interact with me and help me with many things! I would advise young kids to consider the effect the environment has on personal development. Not only the environment is well suited for success in school, but the environment outside of school is also one of a kind. I have always enjoyed the luxury of walking and biking in the wilderness, enjoying vintage shopping, and meditating by the Rideau River. Being an international student, I felt welcomed and treated with kindness and respect in and outside the school. (Note: Merrickville is granted World Heritage Site status by UNESCO)

I have mostly enjoyed being friends with students and staff from different countries. This has enabled me to immersively learn and appreciate other cultures, and even learn some new languages.

I would recommend the students to immediately visit the ice-cream shop right next to the school, even before you enter the school!

MPS provided me with multidisciplinary courses and helped guide me in taking the courses that are most relevant to my degree of choice. The daily classes were constructed in a way that blends a theoretical understanding of content, with practical applications in class. Classes were long enough to accommodate students in need for extra support. Teachers and staff were very committed to ensuring students' success to the point there would provide supplementary classes and support after school hours and on weekends. Moreover, some of the Residence Coordinators provided extra support after hours, as many of them were certified teachers. Thanks to MPS teachers, I was ahead of most of my peers in university, as I have learned the fundamental knowledge for all my first-year courses.

The athletics program was diverse, which enabled students to pick their first choice of sports. However, so that students learn new sports, rotations were made every month. This way I was able to learn about others sports activities that I was not familiar with. Occasionally, athletic clubs would compete for internal and external competitions, which motivated me to improve my performance. What I liked most about the athletics program is that it is integrated into our daily life, which helped me stay consistently active physically.

One of the most exciting clubs was the Drama club. We were asked to act and shoot a scary movie for Halloween. Since Merrickville is full of hiking trails, we were able to find a fitting spot in the wilderness. The staff in charge of the activity was talented in music and film, and she helped guide us in the entire process. Another school event was MPS Talent Show. Students were able to show all their talents in music, acting, dancing, painting, and others. What I liked most is the performance aspect of these events, as all the school staff and students - it gave me a sense of being with a family.

The extra-curricular were diversed, student had the choice to ingage in atheltic, cultural, intellectual, arisitc and social activies, in and out side the school campus. I liked the diversity, and being able to try multiple experiences.

The dorm life is very well managed, with 24 hours support from staff. Quality control measures were ensured to make sure that rules are not broken and to also make sure everyone is healthy, comfortable and productive.

I liked that the cooking staff was considerate of the student's cultural and dietary diets. The food was not only healthy, but as an international student, the cooking staff always made sure to incorporate meals from different countries, including my own.

The school's town is super friendly, quiet and peaceful. The ecosystem around the school is rich with culture, history, and natural landscapes.

The social life at school is very easygoing, and everyone is interested in being friends with others. It is very easy to form authentic friendships with the students, as we are all in the same boat.