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Isaac Forsland reflects on the 2016 TGS Symposium

Being the first symposium scholar is quite surreal – it’s not easy to describe, but thank god for metaphors. Getting back to THINK Global School is like falling into a whirlpool. You are surrounded by branches, which represent a moment. You want to grab every single one, because, in the moments you catch, you remember why TGS is home. What you grasp is the love, respect, and integrity; you grasp stories, memories, and auras. Nevertheless, with only four days to spare, you can’t make it to every stem, stick or stub. To all of you whom I wasn’t able to meet and connect with…

Hi, I’m Isaac. Sorry about earlier, I had been stuck in a chaotic whirlpool, but let me tell you about the branches I caught.

There was a moment of recollection at the wine tasting. It was an event organized for the staff, alumni, and honored guests to TGS, where I, alongside other alumni students, had the chance to connect with both familiar and new faces. Here I remembered that it takes more than just the individual student to succeed. It takes the offsite staff – the true backbone of the school – to organize trips, to fix bugs on SPOT, to host a city, and so on. It takes onsite staff to mentor, to inspire, and to learn. It takes the alumni to share valuable wisdom only they can tell. Finally, it takes the student body to motivate.

THINK Global School works synergistically, and the final days of the school year are a visual manifestation of its successes.

There was a moment of endurance as I fought my fatigue at the symposium. It takes such endurance to be a member of the school. Holding the advice from my first TGS advisor, Irene Krugman, in high regard: give one hundred percent of whatever percent you’re at. At it’s core, the symposium it is all about sharing ideas and conducting epiphanies. Eureka! We must engage ourselves in topics that build on our understanding of the status quo. Eureka! We must come to terms with not knowing the answer, but must also challenge ourselves to unfold it together. Eureka! From this we can dive into unexpected territory. THINK Global School really does the symposium justice. Each presentation opened unique doors for discussion and reflection. I feel incredibly blessed for having the opportunity to give the speech to the TGS community, and am glad that it has sparked various conversations. To my own surprise, it seems that aura has now become Paul’s favorite word. We are currently traveling through Germany, and, in conversations through the streets of Berlin, I hear him constantly integrating the word. What a glorious day it is when you realize you’ve taught something to Paul.

And, of course, the graduation. Here there was a moment of euphoria in seeing the growth of these incredible young individuals. Another generation of TGS conquerors, who rose to the challenge of the IB, who questioned almost everything in sight, and who are going out into the world as I had done a year ago from now. Congratulations to the THINK Global School class of 2016. You have earned your spot as an alumni, and it is an incredibly valuable place to be. Do not lose sight of this, as it will come in handy time and time again. You will take risks, jump in whirlpools, and tackle your own barriers head on. If you are applying for the scholarship next year, be sure to own your integrity. In the short days you share with the people of the world’s first nomadic high school, you will learn so much from the young and brilliant students.

Ready to embark on the educational journey of a lifetime?

A passion for travel. A strong academic record. And the desire to improve the world as you experience it. If this sounds like you, you just might be our ideal candidate! Start your application with a five-minute inquiry form - you never know where you might end up.

It all starts here.

Ready to embark on the educational journey of a lifetime?

A passion for travel. A strong academic record. And the desire to improve the world as you experience it. If this sounds like you, you just might be our ideal candidate! Start your application with a five-minute inquiry form - you never know where you might end up.

It all starts here.

Apply now

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