Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

Hello, my name is Trinh Gia Hung, I am 16 years old and a high school student from Hanoi, Vietnam. At Rabun Gap Nacoochee, I have seen myself mature every day, from every time I talked and hung out with friends to long study hours and essays and math problems that had to be revised repeatedly. I feel that my communication skills, independent living skills, and self-confidence have far surpassed what they were when I first set foot in the land of the Stars and Stripes. My American dream begins here, at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee school.

Rabun Gap, founded in 1903, is located in Northern Georgia. It boasts a huge 1400-acre campus surrounded by lush forests and green spaces, offering a beautiful environment. It's a 2-hour drive from Atlanta. The school has three divisions for grades PK-12 (accepting international student applications for grades 7-12). Rabun Gap is an international school, with hundreds of international students from over 50 countries worldwide studying here. Children from China can actively and happily integrate into the Rabun Gap family.

In the summer of 2018, our child entered 8th grade. Before going, we had various worries: about the child's daily life, independence, self-reliance... Upon arriving at the school, we discovered its environment was so beautiful; the entire campus was a vibrant, unique school that immediately captivated us. Initially, we were concerned that our child was young and wouldn't manage screen time well, but the school collected electronic devices uniformly in the middle school section every night, which reassured us as parents. The school offered many activities; students could participate in various clubs, events, and competitions. Prior to his time at Ranben, my child's spare time was almost entirely consumed by exam preparation. During three years at Ranben, he joined school clubs like long-distance running, tennis, and photography, and became more confident and outgoing! The enhancement of his learning interest led him to set higher academic standards for himself and achieve excellent academic results. The school's teachers are highly responsible, promptly answering students' questions or replying via email. Outside of class, teachers organized various parties for international students, allowing those far from home to experience the warmth of a large family. The school also specifically established an Asian Family Liaison Officer for Chinese students and parents, ensuring that students and parents could resolve any questions or needs there. In a blink of an eye, three years of studying at Ranben have transformed my child into a new self, not only in academics, interests, and art but also in independence, self-reliance, and critical thinking. I am very grateful for my child's acquaintance with, encounter with, and integration into Ranben. I share my genuine experience to review Ranben, hoping more prospective students can learn about it!

In the summer of 2018, our family went for my child to attend 8th grade. Before going, we had various worries: the child's daily life (food, drink, accommodation, travel), independence, self-reliance, etc. After arriving at the school, we found the environment to be so beautiful. The entire campus was a vibrant, unique school that immediately captivated us. We initially worried about our child being too young to manage phone usage time, but the school collected electronic devices uniformly in the junior high section at night, which reassured us as parents. The school offers many activities; students can participate in various clubs, events, and competitions. Before studying abroad, my child's free time was almost entirely occupied by endless practice questions. During three years at Ranben, he joined school clubs like long-distance running, tennis, and photography, and became more confident and outgoing! The enhanced interest in learning further motivated the child to raise his academic standards and achieve excellent results. The school teachers are highly responsible, promptly answering student questions or replying via email. During after-school hours, teachers organized various parties for international students, allowing those far from home to experience the warmth of a big family. The school also specifically established an Asian Family Liaison Officer for Chinese students and parents, where students and parents can resolve any questions or needs. In the blink of an eye, three years of studying abroad at Ranben have given my child a completely new self, not only in academics, interests, and art, but also in independence, self-reliance, and critical thinking. I am very grateful for my child's acquaintance, encounter, and integration with Ranben. I share my genuine experience to review Ranben, hoping that more prospective international students can learn about it!