Story 18 of 52 /// Left behind without a diploma

This summer, just like last year, there will be families repatriating from an international assignment while leaving one of their children behind. This child is probably around 17 years old. They have switched schools, curricula, and language of instruction at least one time, maybe more. They had to make a complete new set of friends as a teenager, while leaving a set of friends and their reputation behind at a school they were no longer part of. And now their family is leaving them behind in a foreign country.

The reason for doing so? Repatriating while you’re only one year away from graduating is virtually impossible. Diploma programs, including the one that was designed for international schools, span multiple academic years. As a consequence, moving mid-program is really disruptive. Most schools won’t even accept students into the final year of their academic program (even when they offer the same curriculum as the student came from) and will require students to repeat a full academic year.

So, this summer Tom is moving in with the family of his new best friend to complete high school in the United States while his family moves back home. Mohammed is moving into the boarding program of his international school in Germany while his family moves on to their next international assignment destination. Jessica’s mother decided to stay with her in Hong Kong so she can graduate, while traveling back and forth to also support her husband and their two younger children who moved back to Europe.

About this Series

This story is part of our 52 Stories initiative: a collection of real, lived experiences from global families and international children navigating life across borders. Every story in this series is based on true events, highlighting both the beautiful breakthroughs and the complex, often hidden challenges of the relocation journey.

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