1. Hi Clara, tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from, and what were you doing before joining THINK Global School?
I was born and raised near Barcelona, Spain, until I was 18 and moved to the United Kingdom to pursue my undergraduate studies in International Relations, German, and French. Afterward, I relocated to Switzerland for four years, where I first worked at an international boarding school and later at a fundraising platform for charities. After my experience in the Swiss Alps, I decided to spend a winter in Japan, where I worked in a mountain lodge while undertaking my master’s in digital marketing. After returning from my travels, I moved back to Spain and currently work in the Admissions Department at THINK Global School.
2. If you could make one major change to global education, what would it be?
I am very passionate about making education accessible for everyone, especially displaced and vulnerable youth. I believe that it’s our collective responsibility to work towards providing better education opportunities for everyone.
3. What aspects of THINK Global School’s educational model do you find most appealing?
The aspect I find most appealing about THINK Global School’s educational model is that 60% of learning is student-led rather than teacher-led. This encourages students to be more autonomous, creative, and independent when compared to the mainstream educational model and, therefore, better suited for the world once they have finished school.
4. Which of our core values do you feel you most embody, and why?
I believe the two core values that resonate most with me are Kaizen and Ubuntu. Kaizen, emphasizing continuous improvement, aligns with my commitment to self-awareness, responsibility, and discipline. This dedication to personal growth allows me to contribute effectively to Ubuntu by sharing what I have learned with the broader community, recognizing our interconnectedness as a global society.
5. Do you have any hobbies that you are passionate about?
One of my greatest passions is the outdoors, especially in a mountain environment. Whether hiking, trail running, mountaineering, or climbing, I always love spending time surrounded by mountains. I also really enjoy learning and teaching languages!
6. What is your most memorable travel experience thus far?
My most memorable travel experience was spending last winter in Hokkaido, the northernmost island in Japan. Immersing myself in the Japanese culture and eating Japanese food every day was pretty awesome!
7. What is your favorite book, and why?
Two of the books that I remember most fondly are:
- The Invention of Nature, by Andrea Wulf, is the biography of Alexander von Humboldt, a geographer and explorer whose ideas changed the way we understand the natural world and its climates. He was also very critical of colonialism and defended the rights of the Indigenous peoples. My inner explorer felt captivated by his life experiences!
- The Bookseller of Kabul, by Åsne Seierstad, is a non-fiction description of the life of an Aghan family who braved persecution to bring books to the people of Kabul over the course of three decades and successive repressive regimes. The author, a journalist, wrote it after living with this family for three months, and I enjoyed learning about day-to-day life in Kabul from the perspective of an outsider.