Why Thoughtful Families Put Support in Place When Studying Abroad 有远见的家庭，为何都会为孩子留学做好全面支持

For many families, sending a child to study abroad is a moment of pride and excitement. It represents independence, opportunity, and a significant step into adulthood. At the same time, it often brings quieter questions: Will they cope? Will they settle? Will they ask for help if they need it?

对许多家庭而言，送孩子出国留学是满心骄傲与喜悦的时刻。这不仅意味着孩子走向独立、迎来全新机遇，更是他们迈向成年的重要一步。但与此同时，家长心底也总会泛起些许牵挂：孩子能适应异乡的生活吗？能顺利安顿下来吗？遇到难处时，又会不会主动开口求助呢？

University life presents new challenges for all students. Academic expectations increase, routines change, and young people are required to manage far more of their daily lives independently. Local students often navigate these changes within familiar surroundings, close to people they know, and within a culture they understand instinctively.

大学生活对所有学子而言，本就是一场全新的挑战。学业要求大幅提升，日常生活节奏改变，孩子们需要独立打理生活琐事。本地学生尚且能在熟悉的环境里、在亲友的陪伴下、在与生俱来的文化语境中，慢慢摸索适应这些变化。

For international students, the transition can be more complex. Alongside the usual challenges of university life, they are adapting to a new country, unfamiliar systems, cultural differences, and a significant distance from family support. Even confident, capable students can find this period disorientating, particularly in the early months.

而对于留学生来说，这份适应的过程往往更难、更复杂。他们不仅要面对大学生活的常规挑战，还要同时适应全新的国度、陌生的社会体系、迥异的文化环境，更要学着面对与家人相隔万里、后盾远在天边的境况。即便是平日里自信独立、能力出众的孩子，也可能在这段适应期感到茫然无措，尤其是刚到海外的最初几个月。

From an educational psychology perspective, this is not surprising. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs reminds us that before individuals can fully engage with higher-level challenges such as academic achievement, their more fundamental needs must be met. Feeling safe, supported, and secure is not a luxury; it is the foundation that allows learning, confidence, and independence to develop effectively.

从教育心理学的角度来看，这样的状态其实并不意外。马斯洛需求层次理论提醒我们，人只有先满足了基础的需求，才能全身心投入学业成就这类更高层次的挑战。身处海外，感受到足够的安全感、被支持感与归属感，从来都不是奢求，而是孩子能高效开展学习、建立自信、真正学会独立的根本前提。

Much of my understanding of this comes from experience. Before establishing BrightScholar Guardian, I spent a number of years as a Head of Year in a Chinese international school in Shenzhen. In that role, I worked closely with Chinese young adults and their families, supporting students through academic pressure, cultural expectations, and the emotional challenges that often accompany high achievement.

我对这份需求的深刻理解，大多源于多年的一线教育经验。在创立启明星学护前，我曾在深圳一所本土国际学校担任年级长，数年间始终与中国学生群体及其家庭紧密相伴，一路陪伴孩子们应对学业的重压、多元文化的适配期待，以及在追求优异成绩的过程中，常会遇到的各类情绪与心理困扰。

I saw repeatedly how strong pastoral support, alongside academic provision, enabled students to overcome significant emotional hurdles and thrive. When students felt understood, supported, and secure, they were far better placed to engage with their studies and wider university life.

在这段经历中，我一次次见证到，优质的人文关怀与学业指导相辅相成，能帮助孩子们跨越重重情绪难关，在成长中绽放光彩。当孩子感受到被理解、被支持，内心拥有足够的安全感时，才能更专注地投入学业，更好地融入大学的多元生活。

The idea for BrightScholar Guardian became personal after speaking with a former student who later came to the UK to study. She described finding the transition far more difficult than she had expected and spoke openly about how isolated she felt at times. She told me she wished there had been someone locally who understood her background, her pressures, and her situation.

在一次和赴英留学的一位往届学生交谈后，创办启明星学护的想法，便在我心中扎下了根。她坦言，这段海外适应的过程远比预想中艰难，也曾屡屡陷入孤独无措的境地。她对我说，多希望在当地能有一个懂她的成长背景、知她的学业压力、理解她处境的人，陪她走过这段路。

She also said that having that kind of support in the UK would have made a real difference. That conversation stayed with me and reinforced the importance of thoughtful, locally based support during major life transitions.

她还说，若在英国能有这样的支持，一切都会大不一样。这番对话始终萦绕在我心头，也让我更加坚信：在人生的重要转折期，这份贴心的本土陪伴与支持，有着至关重要的意义。

BrightScholar Guardian grew from this understanding. It exists to support students during their transition to life in the UK, while offering parents reassurance that their child is not navigating this experience alone. The aim is not to remove independence, but to support it thoughtfully.

启明星学护 正是源于这份初心与感悟。我们致力于为赴英求学的学子保驾护航，陪伴他们顺利适应当地生活；也为远在国内的家长们排忧，让他们知道孩子的海外求学之路不是孤身前行。我们的初衷并非剥夺孩子的独立成长，而是以用心的陪伴与支持，守护他们真正学会独立。

There is no single type of student who benefits from this kind of support. Some students may struggle with wellbeing or confidence. Others may be academically strong but find cultural adjustment or practical independence challenging. Some are used to a high level of structure at home and find juggling multiple responsibilities difficult.

并非只有某类特定学生能从这样的支持中获益。有的学生可能在心理健康或自信心方面需要疏导，有的学生学业表现优异，却在文化适应或实际生活独立能力上感到吃力，还有的学生习惯了家中井井有条的生活安排，面对多重事务的兼顾处理时会觉得难以应对。

In other cases, parents may simply feel unsure how their child will respond to such a significant change and want to put additional reassurance in place. Support can look different for different families, and that is entirely appropriate.

也有不少家长，只是担心孩子难以适应这样大的变化，希望能多添一份安心的保障。不同家庭所需的支持方式各有不同，这一点本就合情合理。

What matters most is recognising that studying abroad is a major life transition. When support and independence are balanced well, students are more likely to settle, grow, and succeed with confidence.

最关键的是要意识到，出国留学是人生中一次重要节点。当陪伴支持与独立成长得以妥善平衡，孩子们才能更顺利地安顿下来，在成长中稳步前行，满怀信心地收获属于自己的成功。

In a future insight article, I will explore Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in more depth and how it applies specifically to international students adjusting to life in the UK. If this perspective resonates, I invite you to keep an eye on this Insights section as it develops.

在后续的深度洞察文章中，我将进一步解析马斯洛需求层次理论，以及这一理论如何具体适用于远赴英国、正在适应当地生活的留学生群体。如果这一视角能引起您的共鸣，不妨持续关注我们的洞察专栏，后续将为大家带来更多相关分享。

Michael Bracewell

Founder, BrightScholar Guardian

启明星学护创始人