Three Paths, and the Choice of 'Continuity' - High School Edition

Around the end of middle school, talk of future paths suddenly became a reality for the children.
“Are you going to continue on to the international high school?”
“Are you going to take the entrance exams for a Japanese high school?”
“What about a boarding school?”

There were broadly three choices for high school.
One was to continue internally to the international high school.
The second was to take the entrance exams for a Japanese high school.
And the third was an overseas boarding school.

No matter which one you choose, there are hurdles for each.
Even with internal advancement, there are differences in class levels and academic achievements between schools, so preparation with an eye on 'what comes next' is essential.

For a Japanese high school, naturally, entrance exam subjects and deviation scores stand in the way.
Between choosing the returnee quota or the general entrance exam, the returnee quota can be a great weapon if you meet the conditions, but for children who have been educated in English, Japanese reading comprehension and kanji writing are high hurdles.
Differences in culture and school rules would also likely be quite a shock to them.
There are some high schools that have international quotas, but the number is limited.
The children did not include Japanese high schools as an option from the beginning.

Another topic that comes up is overseas high schools and boarding schools.
Peers gathered from all over the world, well-equipped facilities, and advantages for further education.
However, in reality, both the costs and the entrance exam hurdles are high.
Above all, the application timing is early, and it is not uncommon to hear stories of 'realizing it too late and the recruitment period had already ended.'
If preparation is delayed, that path closes in the blink of an eye.

As a result, our family chose 'continuity' over 'challenge,' and both of them advanced to the high school division of the international school they were already attending.
There was a sense of security in not changing environments, but at the same time, it meant less comparison with the outside world and less stimulation.

In the midst of this, in the winter of my son's third year and my daughter's second year of high school, the school switched to full-scale remote classes due to COVID-19.
The domestic and international training programs and events they were looking forward to were canceled one after another. It was a year where the highlights of school life seemed to have been completely hollowed out.

Even so, it was not a complete void.

Shortly before switching to remote classes, my son became completely obsessed with the school's physical training class and started training voluntarily at home. Although he was a bit chubby to begin with, exercising became a habit, and he became completely toned and looked like a different person.

On the other hand, my daughter, while even shopping was difficult, started baking bread with me and enjoying elaborate cooking that could be done at home.

School events were gone, but in return, our family time became a little richer.

Looking back, I think the choice to learn calmly in a familiar place rather than jumping into an unknown environment was a decision I don't regret, considering the situation of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The paths we didn't choose surely had their own charms and possibilities.
I can imagine them having advanced to a Japanese high school and deepened their learning of the Japanese language.
Among their classmates, there were those who jumped into a wider world at an early stage at overseas boarding schools.

No matter where you choose, your path is not the end.
The road ahead, how you walk from there, is a much longer journey.
High school advancement is not the goal, just a passing point.
Sometimes you are forced to change your path due to unexpected events.

Even so, I truly feel that the time accumulated on that path will push you toward your next step.