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Hola! Bonjour! Konnichiwa! I'm Jaclyn Pata Smith, the Student Support Advisor at Boundless Life, and I have the privilege of working with extraordinary young learners from all over the world.

Many of the children we have the pleasure of teaching are Third Culture Kids (TCKs). But what does that really mean, and how does it relate to learning and development?

Third culture kid is a term that refers to the children who grow up moving across countries and cultures. They live within the blurred lines of their parents' culture or multiple cultures. And in a Boundless Life setting, third culture kids are also interacting within their host communities, consequently adding more layers to their identity.

In my work, I care deeply about helping every child feel a sense of belonging and providing the space for them to reach their full potential. That commitment is especially important for the third culture kids in our Boundless Education Centers.

Over the years, I've witnessed how the unique challenges these children face can also set them up for a unique kind of success. I’m here to explain how Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) can support third culture kids in this environment, ultimately guiding them toward becoming successful and compassionate global citizens.

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The Benefits of Growing up as a Third Culture Kid

• Adaptability and Cultural Sensitivity – TCKs tend to develop heightened cultural awareness and can adapt quickly to new environments.
• Global Perspective – Many speak multiple languages and see the world through multiple lenses, which helps them build bridges between people and cultures.
• Openness and Resilience – Many display remarkable resilience and open-mindedness to change and new experiences.

The Challenges of Being a Third Culture Kid

• Identity and Belonging – The question "Where is home?" can feel complicated. Many TCKs feel like they belong everywhere and nowhere all at once.
• Frequent Goodbyes – TCKs often become experts at making new friends, but moving also means leaving behind friends, teachers, and familiar communities.
• Adjusting to New Cultures – Each move comes with a fresh set of customs, school systems, and social norms to re-learn and navigate.

Every challenge faced by a third culture kid can become a stepping stone to greater resilience, empathy, and self-awareness – with the right guidance. At Boundless Life our Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) approach empowers them to turn life’s transitions into opportunities, helping them grow into confident, compassionate global citizens.

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Social & Emotional Learning with Boundless Life

Social & Emotional Learning is about helping children reflect inwardly, developing the vital skills and emotional intelligence needed in adulthood. For third culture kids who move between countries and cultures SEL becomes the bridge that connects their many worlds.

At Boundless Life, we weave SEL into daily life and every aspect of our program, with the aim to turn the above mentioned challenges into learning moments and strengths. At the center of this framework are the core competencies and soft skills such as empathy, resilience, communication, and responsible decision-making.

Cultivating Empathy & Cultural Awareness

Empathy is at the heart of global citizenship. In our classrooms, we create opportunities for students to walk in each other’s shoes.

Children in each cohort often come from many different countries, so we hold culture-sharing activities where students introduce their classmates to their home traditions, languages, or favorite foods.

We also immerse students in the local culture of each Boundless Life location – whether it’s learning to cook a regional dish or participating in a village festival. These experiences nurture cultural fluency and teach children tolerance.

They learn that while people have diverse customs and perspectives, we all share common ground as human beings. Building this empathy and awareness helps TCKs connect more deeply with new peers and communities wherever they go.

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Building Resilience Through Transitions

Change is a common thread in a life of travel, so we teach children healthy ways to cope with these regular transitions.

For example, we hold reflective circles and journaling time where students can express their feelings about arriving in a new place. We practice mindfulness exercises each morning during “Connection Time” to help children center themselves and reflect on their feelings.

By normalizing conversations about emotions and giving young learners the tools to handle the stress of change, we see them grow more confident in their ability to manage their emotions.

Fostering Friendships & Communication

Because TCKs often have to make new friends quickly, strong social skills are essential. And so collaboration focused activities are built into daily learning at Boundless Life.

From team projects during Quest Time to group discussions where the class creates shared Community Agreements about how to treat one another. These experiences teach TCKs how to listen, communicate clearly, and resolve conflicts kindly.

The result is that our students become not just classmates, but close-knit friends who know how to include others and work as a team, no matter how temporary their time together may be.

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Encouraging Leadership & Responsibility

We believe every child has a voice. Through SEL, we empower TCKs to take on leadership roles and to make responsible decisions. Providing children with these opportunities instills a sense of ownership. Ultimately, they’re learning that their actions, whether it’s mediating a conflict or helping someone in need, have a positive impact on their surroundings.

All these SEL practices create a supportive space where third culture kids can really flourish. In our classrooms, SEL weaves together cultural awareness, collaborative problem-solving, and reflection every day. It’s the glue as well as the bridge connecting our students’ past, present, and future worlds.

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What This Means as a Global Citizen

One of the most rewarding outcomes of a Boundless Education is seeing how the children grow as global citizens. It’s quite literally, a value they live and practice… everyday.

Most importantly, through these everyday experiences, each learner begins to feel a sense of belonging to every community they join. They build meaningful connections with the local community and they also learn that being a good citizen isn’t limited to one country or culture. It’s about being kind, curious, and respectful wherever you are.

Simply put, they’ve honed the empathy to understand others’ perspectives and the resilience to handle change. But most importantly, they carry with them a mindset that sees the whole world as a place to learn from and contribute to.

Every day, I’m inspired by the growth I see in the Boundless Life learners. Their journeys as third culture kids become invaluable journeys toward global citizenship, and I'm honored to be part of that process.

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