The Class of 2021 Reflect on Their TGS Experience

Another school year is coming to a close at THINK Global School, which means graduation is right around the corner for the Class of 2021. And while their academic experience was different than previous classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our graduates continually demonstrated the characteristics we value so much as a community: perseverance, continual improvement, a thirst for knowledge, and the practicing of environmentalism, to name a few.

We asked the Class of 2021 to reflect on their THINK Global School experiences, which you can find below. We’re incredibly proud of all our graduates, and we’re excited to see where their journey takes them next.

Che Hortop

Nationality: New Zealand 🇳🇿

Student Quote: “Prior to TGS, I dedicated most of my time to sports and disregarded any interest I had in creative topics. TGS has given me the opportunity to chase ideas and passions that I didn’t even know I had.

Joining TGS gave me the time to pursue the things I really care about. This didn’t necessarily mean I stopped playing sports, but it opened up a whole new world, where the creative passions I have, such as video editing or music, were academically validated and valuable.”

Advice for Prospective Students: Get all the maths LTs done your first year.

Gigi Engalla

Nationality: Philippine 🇵🇭

Processed with RNI Films. Preset 'Technicolor 2'

“Before TGS, I went to a Catholic private school. I did what I was told and followed the instructions. I excelled academically, but it was difficult to think for myself. At TGS, I get to explore my interests and passions. Every day, I get closer to discovering who I truly am and who I want to be.”

Advice for Prospective Students: Make a project out of everything and anything you’ve ever wanted to do.

Hanna Westphal 

Nationality: American 🇺🇸

“Although there is no way to have been prepared for what is happening in our world right now, including a global pandemic and severe injustice, THINK Global School has taught me to be resilient with my studies, to be compassionate with all individuals, and to empathize with the many struggles that surround us.

I strongly believe that the way to create change in our world is to learn about different cultures, and going to school with people from all over the world certainly gives me a head start.”

Advice for Prospective Students: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” -Ferris Bueller

Isabela Moro Luna

Nationality: Mexican 🇲🇽

“I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to embark on a journey of growth with such a diverse and amazing community. My learning circuits were redefined, and I found a passion for activism and innovation. I became a much more conscious being, driven to unravel the world’s complexities.”

Advice for Prospective Students: Enjoy every small moment, don’t take any experience for granted, try to find what to learn from each experience. Enjoy showering in the wild in Botswana.

Josh Wyld

Nationality: Australian 🇦🇺

“I might be stating the obvious here, but not many teenagers get to say they lived with and traveled around the world with thirty of their closest friends. Being a TGS student has taught me more than I ever could have imagined as a naive 15-year-old when I first applied.

While we were all academically challenged and pushed to our limits, I feel the most growth I experienced was outside of the classroom. There is no other high school experience that prepares its students’ for real-life development and “soft skills” like TGS does.”

Advice for Prospective Students: My advice would be to not come to TGS expecting that everything will go perfectly. There will be so many new lessons and experiences, and they might not all be sunshine and rainbows. The positive to this is that you’ll definitely grow as a person over your time here.

Madhumitha Somu Dinakaran 

Nationality: Indian 🇮🇳

“I was searching for a place where I could show my talent, share my views, and actually build what I dream. TGS came into my life unexpectedly, but it has left a lasting impact. It became my home. My educators challenged me to raise my bar. My friends became my pillars of support. My roommate taught me to pierce through difficulties, and my experiences carved me into a better self.

This journey was just for three years, but it taught me valuable lessons: confidence, perseverance, creativity, love, friendship, happiness, fearlessness, kindness, and finally, to be a Changemaker.”

Advice for Prospective Students: TGS is a place filled with opportunities that challenge you, let you explore, and teach you to become a global citizen. PURSUE IT, TAKE RISKS AND ENJOY!

Malak Boudraa

Nationality: Moroccan 🇲🇦

“What I love the most about TGS is how diverse it is. Everybody comes from a different background, with a different culture, and a different story to tell. It feels like you could spend days talking to someone, and there’d still be so much about them to you don’t know.

Personally, this diversity broadened my perspective, challenged a lot of my opinions and ideas, and developed in me a curiosity for learning more about other people.

It’s also pretty cool to have friends from all over the world.”

Advice for Prospective Students: In the words of Adam, if you’re not doing something epic, stop doing it and go do something epic.

Njeri Njoroge

Nationality: Kenyan  🇰🇪

“At TGS, I’ve learned that to think globally is not only to dare to dream, but to dare to actualize those dreams. To think globally is to strive to see the larger problem and recognize that change occurs in the tiny details.

I’ve also learned that the synergistic combination of autonomy and support in my education is the key to realizing all my goals and ambitions — the value of thinking has more weight than the value of knowing at THINK Global School.

So now, as a person who strives to continue seeing the bigger picture while working on the smaller details, I’m infinitely grateful that TGS taught me how to think globally.”

Advice for Prospective Students: If you don’t know what you want, be open to finding it.

Sarah Rose 

Nationality: American 🇺🇸

“My transition to TGS was a bit challenging at first, but the open and welcoming community has helped me flourish ever since. I’ve grown so much, not only in terms of my learning but also further developed my passions and identity.

TGS has given me the opportunity to explore my interests and share them with a global community. I’ve learned so much about myself and the world throughout the process. Despite being stuck at home right now, I know I have such a wonderful community to fall back on and motivating projects to keep me engaged in learning.”

Advice for Prospective Students: Don’t waste time doing things that don’t make you happy.

Teddy Farmer

Nationality: Icelandic 🇮🇸

“Some of the things that I appreciate the most in life are freedom of thought and freedom of learning; TGS offers both of those. I am especially grateful for getting to design my own language-learning methods and for the stellar people I’ve met here, and I hope that more people get those same opportunities in the future.”

Advice for Prospective Students: When you get to the fork in the road, take it.

Theo Aldrighi 

Nationality: Brazilian 🇧🇷

“The diverse cultural environment at TGS, in addition to the constant interaction with and exposure to socio-economic differences, has helped me understand myself in a holistic way. I have no doubt that I am a more capable human being ready to tackle personal and academic challenges in the future.”

Advice for Prospective Students: Enjoy your peers and good food.

Vansh Chugh

Nationality: Indian 🇮🇳

“All my life growing up, my culture always rewarded over-working.

You shouldn’t be taking breaks. You need to work 10-12 hours every day aside from school to go where you want to in life.

I think that has been the most significant belief that I’ve changed at TGS. Probably the only school in the world where the principal might tell you, “Stop working. Go out and take a break.”

Everyone speaks highly of the curriculum and the lessons of traveling, but TGS has helped me a lot with self-awareness, especially the educators. When I’m having a conversation with a faculty member, I can tell that they don’t just want you to get As or hit the rank of Specialist in your learning targets. They want you to grow: not as a student, but as an individual.

I never thought my best memories would include Educator Adam Sturman randomly pushing us and doing stability checks, texting Educator Sam Adiboye about how nervous I am before my mastery proposal, or breaking down in front of Educator Vega Gonzales while she talks to me through my feelings and assures me that I’ll be fine.

I feel like one might find people their age that they’ll get along with and maybe even a curriculum like TGS in different schools, but I can’t imagine feeling this vulnerable, comfortable, and open with every student and staff member in any community other than TGS.”

Advice for Prospective Students: If you get accepted, ask yourself every day, “What would I do today if this was my last term?”

Xavier Jones

Nationality: New Zealand 🇳🇿

“I can’t imagine any other school that would teach high school kids such great lessons about independence. The ability to get work done of your own volition is a brilliant asset, and I think it is the most valuable thing I have gained from TGS. We have had to be adaptable in the last few terms, but I think we have all learned a great deal about ourselves and the way we work when we are given the freedom to do things our own way.”

Advice for Prospective Students: Use the personal project budget.

Zheka Chyzhykova

Nationality: Ukrainian 🇺🇦

“Before coming to TGS, my only goal was to achieve perfection. I wanted to be a perfect human being, with perfect grades and a perfect personality. TGS taught me the importance of accepting myself and my flaws and using them to my advantage.

It gave me a safe environment to try and fail, to make mistakes and to explore my interests without being scared of judgment. I met the most supportive and encouraging community I could have ever asked for, and it constantly pushes me to be more accepting of myself and others.”

Advice for Prospective Students: Push yourself but don’t be too hard on yourself. You are your biggest supporter.