Over to Our Students: Academic Growth, Leadership and Independence at Collège du Léman

In Part 1 of our “Over to Our Students” series, our students shared what Boarding at Collège du Léman feels like day to day: arriving in a new country, making friends, getting out of the comfort zone, and finding a sense of belonging.

But Boarding is also a place for academic and personal development.

Living away from home gives students more responsibility for their learning, their routines, new passions and the role they play in the community.

For some, that means improving their study routines. For others, it means taking on a new academic challenge, discovering a new interest or stepping into a leadership role.

At CDL, students from more than 120 nationalities live and learn together. What each student brings with them, and the opportunities they embrace here, become part of the life they build together in Boarding.

In Part 2, our students share their experiences around academic ambition, responsibility, leadership and personal growth.

Taking Responsibility for Your Own Learning

Being in boarding can mean moving from having parents closely involved in everyday routines to taking greater ownership of your own time.

That can be organising homework, preparing for assessments, managing sleep and study, and recognising when a different approach is needed.

For Mohammad, changing his study habits became an important part of his journey at CDL.

Mohammad, Grade 12, Iran

I joined CDL in Grade 8, and at that time, I did not have very strong grades and was not very confident speaking English. Throughout the year, with the support of my House Parents and especially my House Tutors, I slowly became more confident and started improving academically.

In Grade 9, one of my biggest difficulties was that I did not have an organised study plan. My study habits were not very effective, and I was not achieving the academic results I wanted. However, I still achieved Honours, which motivated me to aim even higher.

After that, I decided to change the way I studied. I created a better study routine, improved my sleeping habits, became more organised and started taking more responsibility for my own learning. The support and advice I received from my House Tutors also helped me stay focused and motivated.

By the end of Grade 10, I could clearly see how much I had developed, both as a person and as a student. All the hard work since joining CDL had finally paid off. I achieved High Honours in both semesters, which made me extremely proud. My GPA improved from around 2.5 when I first joined CDL to 4.24.

This journey has shown me that, with discipline, support and motivation, I can continue improving and achieve the goals I set for myself.

Finding Academic Inspiration in the Boarding Community

The people around you can inspire what you become interested in and what you decide to take on.

At an international boarding school, students live alongside peers with different interests, strengths and ambitions.

For Seojin, seeing what others were studying encouraged her to explore new academic challenges of her own.

Seojin, Grade 12, South Korea

Boarding has significantly impacted my life in multifaceted ways.

For one, I have been able to improve my academics beyond merely the school syllabus. The school has been a wonderful opportunity to delve into complex fields of Advanced Programme (AP) subjects alongside my International Baccalaureate (IB) course.

Being around such a diverse community has given me a different view on various subjects. I have been inspired to take AP Calculus BC, AP Psychology, and AP Physics 1 after viewing my old roommate reviewing them positively.

Although it was difficult to balance both subjects, the community was supportive and helped guide me through my hardships. In the end, I was able to receive all fives across all three subjects with a perfect predicted score in IB.

All of these go to show how the Boarding community establishes a positive atmosphere for academics in terms of both planning and encouragement.

Finding Your Voice Through Leadership

Leadership does not necessarily begin with a formal position.

It can start with speaking up in a House meeting, helping a new student settle in, listening to a friend or taking responsibility for a shared activity.

At CDL, students can take on responsibilities within their Houses and the wider Boarding community.

For Giulia, becoming a Prefect gave her a new understanding of what leadership means.

Giulia, Grade 12, Brazil

When I first arrived at Collège du Léman, I was new not only to the school but also to boarding life. I had moved to a different country, was living with people from many different cultures, and had to learn how to find my place within a community that becomes part of your everyday life. At first, I was more focused on adapting and finding my own voice than on becoming a leader.

Over time, I became more involved in Boarding and more confident in expressing my ideas and listening to those of others. At the end of my first year, I was selected as one of twelve Prefects in the Boarding community. With that role came the responsibility of representing other boarders, participating in weekly meetings with Boarding leadership, speaking at assemblies, welcoming students, and being someone students can approach.

One of the challenges I have encountered is understanding that representing a community does not mean only expressing my own perspective. Boarding brings together students with very different personalities, cultures, and experiences, so I have had to learn to listen carefully and consider perspectives that may be completely different from mine.

This experience has changed my understanding of leadership. I used to associate being a leader with being the person who speaks up or takes charge. Through Boarding, I have learned that leadership is equally about listening, communicating and making others feel represented.

I am still developing as a Prefect, but I have become more confident in using my voice while also creating space for others to use theirs.

Growing with the Community

For students who stay at CDL for several years, Boarding changes with them. Students live in different Boarding Houses according to their age, with routines, expectations and independence evolving along the way.

As they move through school, they may also take on more responsibility within their House and the wider Boarding community.

For Bisher, who joined CDL in Grade 7, that has meant living in several Houses and taking on different leadership roles over the years.

Bisher, Grade 12, Syria

I joined CDL in Grade 7, and while it was difficult at the very start, I adapted pretty well in my boarding house “Concha”. In Grade 8, I was the House Captain, so I already had to take on responsibilities.

Then I joined “Léman”, and in Grade 11, I went to “Saint Loup 9”, where I was the House Representative. That was very interesting because I had the privilege of taking on these responsibilities in a new house.

In Grade 12, I am back in “Léman”, and I am now Head Boy, which is an immense privilege and comes with a lot of responsibilities in Boarding.

I think all the roles I have been through played a massive role in developing me, not only as a person but also as a leader. They taught me a lot, including public speaking, listening, patience and more.

What the Students' Stories Have in Common

The students in these stories have all grown in different ways.

For Mohammad, it meant changing the way he studied and taking more responsibility for his progress. Seojin found new academic challenges through the people around her, while Giulia and Bisher discovered different ways to lead and support others.

At CDL, growth is not about becoming someone else. It is about staying grounded in who you are. It is about feeling encouraged to build on your strengths, having the space to follow your passions, or sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone and surprising yourself, and your parents.

There is no single path through Boarding. But it can be a place where students discover what matters to them, what they are capable of, and feel ready for whatever comes next.

Keep Reading

Part 1: What Is Boarding Life Really Like at Collège du Léman?

Discover what everyday Boarding life feels like through our students’ stories of friendship, settling in, life away from home, confidence and independence.

Discover Boarding at Collège du Léman

If you are considering an international boarding school in Switzerland, our Admissions team can help you understand the Boarding experience, academic pathways, student life and admissions process.

Explore Boarding
Discover more about Boarding at Collège du Léman.

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Drop us a line at admissions@cdl.ch or call +41 22 775 56 56.