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Television host Morayo Brown has cautioned parents against sending teenagers who are not emotionally prepared to cope with unfamiliar environments abroad for secondary education.
Brown gave the advice while reacting to reports that a 15-year-old Ghanaian boy was killed in the United States following an alleged bullying incident. She used the development to draw attention to the difficulties some African teenagers may encounter when they move abroad for their education.
Speaking about her experience, the TV host recalled being bullied when she attended high school in the United States at the age of 15. She said her experience exposed her to the challenges young international students could face while trying to adjust to a different culture and social environment.
Brown explained that some of her classmates singled her out because she was African. According to her, the students engaged in different acts intended to make her uncomfortable and leave her feeling unwelcome.
She recalled that some of them put dirty items inside her locker, while others pushed her during morning sports activities.
The presenter said she endured the treatment without reporting it to the school authorities because she was new and wanted to be accepted by her classmates.
She explained that her desire to fit in made it difficult for her to speak up about what was happening, even when the behaviour of other students repeatedly made her feel that she did not belong.
Her account highlights the emotional difficulties children may experience when they are placed in unfamiliar surroundings without adequate preparation or a reliable support system.
Bullying affected her high school experience
Brown also recalled that the situation became worse as she prepared to attend her school prom.
The experience, she suggested, was part of the wider challenges she faced as a young African student trying to find her place in an American high school.
For teenagers moving abroad, the transition can involve adapting to a new education system, making friends, understanding different social expectations and dealing with separation from familiar family members.
While some children may adjust quickly, others may struggle with loneliness, discrimination, peer pressure or bullying. Such experiences can become particularly difficult when they do not have the confidence or emotional maturity to seek help.
Brown’s recollection also draws attention to the fact that parents may not always be aware of what their children are experiencing outside the home. A teenager may appear comfortable during phone conversations while privately dealing with difficult situations at school.
Parents urged to provide emotional support
Against this background, Brown advised parents to consider their children’s emotional readiness before making decisions about sending them abroad for secondary education.
She argued that while studying overseas can provide educational opportunities, high school students may face challenges that require a level of maturity and resilience they have not yet developed.
The presenter distinguished between secondary and university education, noting that younger students may need more supervision and guidance when living away from their families.
“University abroad is fine, but high school can be treacherous,” she said.
Brown’s warning was also directed at parents who may focus primarily on the academic benefits of sending their children overseas without giving sufficient attention to their emotional wellbeing.
She urged parents to maintain regular communication with their children, ask questions about their daily experiences and create an environment where they can freely discuss any difficulties they encounter.
She stressed the importance of understanding what happens in their children’s schools and social circles rather than assuming that everything is going well because they are studying abroad.
Parents, she advised, should also ensure that their children know they can seek help whenever they feel threatened, isolated or uncomfortable.
Her comments have brought renewed attention to the responsibilities involved in sending teenagers to foreign countries for secondary education, particularly the need to prepare them for challenges beyond the classroom.
The reported death of the Ghanaian teenager has also raised concerns about bullying and the safety of young students in schools abroad. While the circumstances surrounding the incident remain subject to reports, Brown’s personal account underscores the importance of taking children’s emotional experiences seriously.
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