The Bridge at Small Boarding Schools Association

The Director of The Bridge Costa Rica, Dr. Danny Recio, recently returned from the Small Boarding Schools Association annual conference at Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, California.

Joining an expert panel moderated by Jenney Wilder of allkindsoftherapy.com, Danny offered research-supported insight on the reasons why small boarding schools are uniquely positioned to offer alternatives to traditional college options - such as Supportive Gap Year experiences like The Bridge - because of the strong, trusting relationships these schools have with students and their families. 

Supportive Gap Year experiences, Danny shared, can help students be better positioned to not only avoid mental illness in the future, but also flourish on their way to adulthood.

"In a time where mental health issues are on the rise and guided opportunities to build mental fitness are scarce, gap years emerge as the rites of passage for our time, to go from languishing to flourishing, from mental suffering to mental fitness, and to prepare for the challenges that adulthood inherently brings."

Danny was joined on the panel by Matt Woodhall, head of The Woodhall School, and Jake Weld, Chief Strategy Officer for Mansfield Hall. 

Learn more about Danny's research and writing on Supportive Gap Year experiences here.