Loyola International Residential School

If you drive down the Chennai Bangalore National Highway toward Nazarethpettai, you’ll see the Dmi Campus where Loyola International Residential School is located. It’s a bit of a trek from the main city, but being out here gives us a lot more space. The highway is always humming with the sound of trucks and cars going toward Bangalore. Because it’s a residential school, there’s always someone here, day or night. It’s a big responsibility looking after kids who live on-site. The mornings start very early with the sun coming up over the campus buildings. We spend a lot of time checking on the dorms and making sure the kitchen is ready. The air out here is a little different than the middle of Chennai, though the humidity is still the same. The campus is spread out, so we do a lot of walking back and forth between the gates and the classrooms. It’s a practical place, built to house a lot of people. There’s always something that needs fixing, like a leaky tap or a squeaky door in the hostel. We don't have fancy lobbies or anything; it’s just functional. The staff stays busy with the daily schedule, from breakfast until the lights go out. It’s a full-time job being out here on the highway, but we are used to the rhythm of it by now.