On most weekdays, Elise Nguyen arrives at York House School by 7:30 a.m. Her day unfolds in a blur of classes, meetings, practices, tutoring, and evening programs that stretch well beyond dinner.
On Mondays, she heads to the school’s yearbook club until 4:30 p.m., then teaches and tutors from 6 to 7. Tuesdays repeat the same schedule, with the addition of a philosophy class followed by competition math that finishes at 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays after school are reserved for debate meetings and public speaking classes. Thursdays and Fridays are long days packed with more classes and tutoring sessions.
On weekends, Elise often participates in debate tournaments—up to nine hours at a time—with writing class and debate practice scheduled late into the evenings.
“I think many kids at my school do a lot more than I do,” she says casually.
Elise is in Grade 10 and her schedule would be daunting for most adults. But for her it feels normal—and expected.
