Senior Departure Seminar - Preparing for the journey ahead

Life after high school is full of unknowns. University decisions, choosing a major, adjusting to life in a new country—these are just the beginning. But it’s not just academics or logistics that make the transition complex. For students with international and cross-cultural backgrounds, stepping into adulthood means learning how to carry all the parts of their story forward with them.

That’s why each spring, Grade 12 students from across LifePlus schools gather for Senior Departure Seminar (SDS)—a weekend designed to help them reflect, prepare and launch into their next chapter. This year’s SDS was filled with meaningful conversations, new friendships, practical tools and memorable moments.

In breakout sessions, seniors explored essential life skills they’ll need for the road ahead—time management, budgeting, living with roommates, and even self-defense. Alumni joined in by Zoom to share what life looks like just a year or two beyond graduation. In large-group discussions, students reflected on the complexity of having a third-culture background, practiced sharing their stories and learned how to say goodbye well using the RAFT tool—Reconcile, Affirm, Farewell, Think Destination.

But SDS wasn’t all workshops and reflection. There was time to laugh, play and make final memories together as a LifePlus senior class. From an afternoon at the sports park, to a banquet evening, to a dance party where our students brought their best moves, the weekend celebrated both where students have been and where they’re going.

We’re deeply thankful for this time to celebrate our seniors and help them close this chapter well. Special thanks to Mel McCutchan and Lauren Richards from the LifePlus Odyssey team for their thoughtful planning and leadership. To the Class of 2025—we’re so proud of you. As you prepare to leave, know you’re taking with you not just knowledge, but a shared story, lasting friendships and the confidence to face what comes next.