I first heard about Oxford Royale Academy through my secondary school, when we were offered a regional bursary. In order to be awarded the bursary, I had to deliver an essay about the importance of education. After visiting their very informative and appealing website, I became immediately excited by the videos of the experience, the wide range of courses I had never done before, and the beautiful location. This encouraged me to work really hard on that essay!
Alumni Spotlight: Zoei Ollivierre
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Zoei is a bright student who loves the arts and learning about new cultures. When she is not playing the violin, she can often be found taking on creative projects.
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
Once I had been selected, the ORA administrators gave very clear instructions through email of what I was to do leading up to and during my visit. They directed me to the website where I could complete course and location selection. They told me all the things I would need during my visit including weekly allowance. I also received a physical welcome package in the mail. Although I chose to travel to England with my family, there was a very thorough process detailed in the package contents pertaining to traveling alone. Many students I know had a smooth process traveling this way.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Pack shoes meant for plenty of walking! We were not permitted to take public transport, including bike rentals and Uber. Clare College, Cambridge, was a 15-minute walk from the center where the Broadening Horizons students did their classes. Even if we wanted to go to town during our free time, we had to walk.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions about any concerns you may have or anything you might need. The staff members are genuinely helpful, and they really care about the quality of your experience.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
The foundation of a good overseas program is an organized routine. ORA definitely had this on point.
Usually, you wake up pretty early to prepare for registration at 7:30. It is essential to be on time so that the counselors can take record of attendance before breakfast. You take a scenic walk across the bridge to the cafeteria each morning, where there is a breakfast buffet. Some students have classes on campus while others are directed to the Mathematics Centre for their classes. During the break between classes, you may buy lunch. Every other day, you stay until 3:30 PM since there are workshops such as Leadership and Team-building.
Some evenings after class, there are activities that may or may not be compulsory – debate, talent show, quiz night. If you choose not to participate, or have free time otherwise, you may sign out on the registration form and go out in groups (if you are 16-18).
The next registration is at 7 PM, and all students must be within the college by 9 PM. ‘Evening shout’, where students of all age groups gather and are briefed of the activities for the following day, occurs at 10 PM. One hour later, 16-18s have curfew and must return to their quarters.
On Fridays, there is a themed party where you can meet ORA students from other colleges within the location. These are usually very fun, with dancing, music, and games. On the weekend, at Clare College, there is punting, sports day, a visit to London, a zoology activity, and a theatre activity.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I had never been away from my parents for more than three days, and this was a two-week program. Independent living was very daunting to think about. However, as soon as I arrived, my roommate felt like a sister to me, and I made many good friends along the way. Counselors were always around, so not only did I feel safe, but I also felt heard when I had concerns. They made me feel unafraid to take control of my education at ORA, and when I needed assistance with laundry or finding directions, they were very friendly and helpful. By the third day, I felt, in fact, quite liberated to be independent.
Is this program effective in preparing someone for college?
ORA was advertised as a ‘college-prep’ summer program. This especially interested me since I had yet to decide my path for tertiary education.
Although I cannot speak for the other courses in this program, one aspect that makes Broadening Horizons effective is its wide range of subjects, of which three may be chosen. Their website displayed to me many subjects I never had the opportunity to take at my secondary school, such as Philosophy, Psychology, Art History, and Creative Writing.
I learned completely new material from accomplished and enthusiastic professors. This helped me to gather the information I need to make a better choice for my career path. In addition, the independence gave me a taste of what it would really be like to go to college!