The Bridge

The Bridge The AISB Alumni Community Magazine

ISSUE #1 | The Connection Issue | Spring 2019

Let’s make a change, one community at a time...

On becoming Published

When your passion becomes your work

David Freeman

Gwen Javor

Gabriella Csanyi

Your Bridge to the World and Beyond‌

“We appreciate each member of our community as an individual with unique talents and abilities.�

AISB Values

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The Bridge The AISB Alumni Community Magazine | ISSUE 1, MAY 2019

Editor-in-Chief | Reka Sari rsari@aisb.hu Publisher | American International School of Budapest About | Our first issue is all about Connections and how we have been 'Your Bridge to the World'.

Blazer Updates | We really appreciate your continued contributions to future editions. Please email your updates with a photo to rsari@aisb.hu Story Contributions | We would love to hear your story. Please write to rsari@aisb.hu

Publication | The Bridge is an annual alumni magazine, published in Spring.

Digital | Digital copies can be downloaded here: www.aisb.hu/en/the-bridge/ Print Editions | For printed copies, please email us at rsari@aisb.hu. We are happy to ship additional copies to you at no charge.

Advertising | We do not currently accept paid advertising. We are glad, however, to promote relevant items if they are mentioned within articles.

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In This Issue...

Welcome 5 From our Director and Editor-in-Chief ↘ Our Story 8 In years, buildings and Directors..

↗ On the Spot 10 Interview with ex-AISB Math guru Dr. Miklos Jalics on life after AISB Look who’s still here...14 See the dedicated teachers and staff who have been with us for over 10 years and counting…

↘ Let’s make a change, one community at a time...16 Service learning continues. An experience recounted by David Freeman (‘12), who has been helping to build a healthy, thriving community model in Kenya.

↗ The places you used to go...20 Remembering the venues you used to frequent in Budapest. Do they look the same as in your memories?

The Big Q 22 Wise words from Mr Doug Rudnicki Blazers Back at AISB 26 Alumni working at their alma mater - welcome to the other side!

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Meet Zeeger 30 Zeeger Scholten (‘10) shares with us lessons he’s learned as co-founder of a start-up company.

You've Got This 44 How future-proofed are your work skills, really?

↘ When your passion becomes your work 34 Interview with Gabriella Csanyi (‘12) Gabriella talks about her life at AISB and beyond, her family and her newly released travel app - 'Like Locals'

↘ On Becoming Published 46 Interview with Gwen Javor (‘09), who uses a theme of inclusion and respect to publish a series of children’s books promoting love and acceptance.

↗ We asked, You answered...38 Check out the different answers to the same question from our alumni.

↗ Reunions 48 See where you’ve been meeting up, New York, London, Boston, Nagykovacsi…

Living in China 40 Insights from Connor Dorrell Shepherd (‘15), who changed his life by moving to China, where he currently teaches English in Shanghai.

Blazer Updates 50 Aka Class notes In Memoriam 54 Counsellor’s Corner 58 Finding Your Life’s Work, from our HS college counsellor

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Welcome From Our Director: Dear Alumni, It is with great pleasure that I invite you to enjoy our first Alumni publication. It is the result of talking to many of you over the last few years and realizing you still have an interest in the school, and in each other.

We hope our magazine will provide you with a sense of pride and inspire connections to old friends, favourite teachers and of course the school. I also hope you will share the stories with others who may not be on our mailing lists, and look for opportunities where we may connect in person. We have started to hold alumni events in different locations in the world. These have been very well received, and we hope to continue next year with events in Holland, UK and Hungary.

Please connect with us, and send us your stories, thoughts and hopes, so we can continue this magazine as an annual publication.

Best wishes, Paul Slocombe, Director, AISB

From Our Editor: Welcome to the first edition of our alumni magazine, The Bridge! This magazine is for you, and we hope that each issue will ignite the spirit of AISB within you.

I am Réka Sári, the Marketing and Design Officer at AISB. I have been working at the school since 2015, and I now have the honor to be the Editor of our very first alumni magazine. Our alumni community is growing, and reactions to alumni reunions have been enthusiastic. This has inspired us to create a publication that provides an opportunity for you to remember, see where AISB is now and share stories from your classmates. This issue is all about the first Connection!

Réka Sári, Editor-in-Chief

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1978-1984 (6 years) 1984-1986 (2 years) 1986-2001 (15 years) 2001-2006 (5 years) 2006-2013 (7 years) 2013-2014 (1 year) 2014- 2020 (6 years)

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1990's

AISB Directors

Mr. Paul J. Stachow (Principal) Mr. John Lents Mr. John Johnson Mr. Rick Detweiler Mr. Ray Holliday-Bersegeay Ms. Jan Wood (Interim Director) Mr. Paul Slocombe

1993

Upper Elementary, MS, HS moves to purpose-built Nagykovacsi Campus, Building B

1986-87

Csilleberc Gym (Blazer Dome) burns down. First Sparky was created as a sign of resilience.

School expanded to the Csilleberci Pioneer Camp

1973

Buda Campus built in District XII. Kakukk st.

Founded in 1973 by the US Embassy, for the staff's children. Started in a 1 bedroom apartment on Szechenyi Rakpart in Pest.

Timeline →

1999- 00

1997

2010

640

1999

The Bridge Debut Issue

40th anniversary

2009-10

Fall ES+KG moves in to Building A from Kakkuk St.

Building A built

Sports fields completed

2007 2013-14 2019

Student Numbers

370 682 820 909

2002

2008

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2019

On the Spot Interview with Dr. Miklos Jalics

D

r. Jalics was a math teacher in the high school between 2000 and 2015.

Coming from a Hungarian background, though born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Jalics always holds strong to his Hungarian roots. He was a vibrant and much loved part of the AISB community, as was his wife Marian and their three lovely children. Dr. Jalics currently teaches math and is the department head at a school in Morristown, New Jersey.

He and his family make frequent return trips back to Budapest, where they still have a piece of their heart.

What kind of kid were you at school?

I was a good student who put a great deal of energy into playing soccer. My friends were either my Hungarian scouting friends or players I played soccer with.

We know that you are very connected to your Hungarian background. What kind of a role does it play in your life?

Being Hungarian is a big a part of who I am and how I identify myself. I was raised in the Hungarian culture and traditions which I am passing down to my children. I take pride in my heritage and enjoy how it influences my life.

My family is actively involved in the Hungarian community in New Brunswick, New Jersey. I always enjoy visiting Hungary and reconnecting with the many friends and family members I have there.

When did you know that math was your thing?

Math was always in my family since my mother was a high school math teacher and my dad was a PhD research chemist. But the moment came from when I had a very influential math professor in college at the University of Akron.

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He had the ability to present examples in calculus that provided great insight into the material.

And when did you know you wanted to be a teacher?

Surprisingly, this came rather late. I always enjoyed coaching but never thought to pursue anything in education. When I started graduate school at Ohio State, I was immediately asked to be a teaching assistant, which required me to teach recitation sections each semester. This is when I realized I really enjoyed teaching.

What or who inspired you to become a teacher?

I always admired my mother, who was a high school math teacher. That combined with my experience in graduate school teaching recitations and then eventually getting asked to teach entire courses inspired me to become a teacher.

We know you're a big family man. Tell us something about that.

I am very proud of having a terrific wife, Marian, and three wonderful children Lea (11), Benedek (8) and Klari (5). Our children were born in Budapest and are being raised with the same Hungarian culture both Marian and I grew up with. Our extended family is also very important to us. I spend a couple of weekends a year together with my three brothers and their families. One is a wilderness canoe trip in Algonquin Park, Canada and the other is a cross country ski trip, also in Algonquin Park. My parents have been going to this park in Canada since the late 60’s. We also spend a great deal of time with my wife’s parents and with her sister’s family.

"Being Hungarian is a big a part of who I am and how I identify myself."

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How do you feel about AISB now that you've been away?

I have very fond memories of AISB and all that I got from the community and friends while I worked there. It was a special time in my life that will always bring a smile to my face. I owe a great deal to AISB. My high school teaching career started there and I grew a tremendous amount as a teacher during my time. I was mentored and influenced by excellent administrators and teachers. AISB’s academic program and facilities are truly exceptional and it is a wonderful environment to work in. AISB was so much more than just a school I worked at. It was a wonderful community of students, faculty and staff that felt like family.

What are some of your best memories from AISB? • • • • •

Watching students in my IB classes gain confidence and achieve high scores.

Coaching soccer and competing in some amazing tournaments at home and internationally.

Chaperoning service trips to Casa Speranta.

Being a part of the fall action trips to Slovenia.

Dancing in multiple high school musicals.

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• • • •

Having an espresso with colleagues during morning break on the terrace.

Riding my bicycle with a bunch of colleagues to Nick’s spot after school.

The special relationships I developed with the office staff and math department.

The absolutely unbelievable sendoff I received after 15 years of working at AISB. The director’s kind words, the skits, the memory book, the bike ride where 100 bikes joined my ride to school and so much more.

I felt so appreciated and I will never forget it.

What's happened since you left AISB? I have continued my career as a teacher, department head and soccer coach at an independent school in New Jersey. I continue to be a bicycle commuter, riding 20 miles daily. I spend a lot of time with my extended family in both New Jersey and Ohio. I have also been back to Budapest with my family for two summers, which was very special. My life revolves around my wife and kids and all the adventures we have together.

"I am driven by trying to help students reach their full potential."

What are you driven by and how does that connect with the values of AISB?

Q&A

I am driven by trying to help students reach their full potential. I also try to influence students to become the best global citizens they can be. It’s all about forging relationships with students and helping them gain confidence so they can be successful in their endeavors.

Long term plan?

This is a hard one for me. I tend to live in the moment and try to enjoy everything in my surroundings. I know that traveling will continue to be a part of my future and my connection to Hungary will always be strong.

Buda or Pest?

Buda for cycling, Pest for going out!

Day person/night person?

Day person Favorite place to go in Budapest?

Rudas Furdo

Favorite adult book?

Unbroken Movie?

Valami Amerika Favorite vacation?

Wilderness camping in Algonquin Park, Canada

Favorite childhood book?

Winnetou

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Look Who's Still Here...

AISB teachers and staff who have been at the school for 10 years or more:

Lajos Araszhegyi

András Bán

Róbert Bilák

Réka Borsody

Emilia Beregszászi

Tibor Budavári

Michael Campbell

Tamela Canale

Conway Chewning

Kathy Cromartie

István Csamári

Katalin Czibolya

Péter Deák

Nóra Dencs

Gabi Drommer

Delinka Fabiny

Balázs Farkas

Kevin Fayarchuk

Marita Fietje

Matthew Fleming

Nora Fleming

Viki Filip

Ildikó Gangl

Karl Gray

Mariann Gurovits

Sándor Hajdó

József Havas (Joe)

Julika Hideg

Tibor Hideg

Béla Horváth

Paul Corfield

Rita Illyés

András Karsai

Anna Kenesey

Barbara Kézsmárki

Krisztina Kézsmárki

Imre Kocsis

András Kosztoványi

Tamás Krieg

Vlad Krpan

Judit Kunkli

Emese Laki

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Marc Lavoie

Lisa Lebiecki

Aladár Lelovics

Marika Lenkovics

Sheila MacDonald

Annette Malten

Zsófi Männer

John Matlock

Tímea Mészáros

Piroska Nagy

Erika Nemes

Judit Németh

Ben O’Brien

Antal Ollári

Gabi Pitz

Jose Ramos

Theresa Rekawek

László Richer

Doug Rudnicki

Geri Salat

Ágnes Stéger

Dusan Savic

László Svajda

Andrea Szabó

István Szabó

Zsuzsanna Szilva

Zoli Szőke

Rita Szundi

Chilla Tamas

Mónika Tamási

Magdi Tarnóczi

Anna-Karin Ternsjö

Gabi Thomas

Geoffrey Thomas

Ákos Tóth

István Tóth

Violetta Unyi

Andras Valezy

István Varga

Hajni Vass

Tamás Vukovich

Tina Wojtysiak

Erika Lotharidesz Zöldné

Pintér Ibolya and Horváth Szilvia

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"AISB taught me to overcome my fears and deepen my enjoyment of the great outdoors" Page #16

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Making a Change, One Community at a Time The Kilimanjaro Project, by David Freeman ('12)

A

lmost 10 years ago, in the summer of 2009, I stepped off a plane from Warsaw, and onto the dusty tarmac at Ferihegy Airport. At only 15, Hungary represented the 8th addition to my "Hey, look at which countries I've lived in – wait, why are you not impressed?" list.

To me, Budapest was the resting place of my Primary/Secondary education. It embodied the culmination of what I consider to be the prequel of my life. While it seemed to last forever at the time, in just three short years I would be tossed reluctantly back outside the bubble and into normality. I came to Budapest excited but fearful. It was my last hurrah. I began to understand that the life of an expat kid, while unique, is fickle.

The older I become, the greater the satisfaction and stronger the gratitude I feel from that chapter of my life. AISB taught me to overcome my fears and deepen my enjoyment of the great outdoors, from Mr. Spencer encouraging me to jump off multiple cliffs into frigid water in Slovenia (and joining me on one of them), to Mr. Hoffman empathizing with my reluctance to climb a fragile tree and then fling myself off it--yet refusing to accept my reluctance.

I’ll never repay the academic and life encouragement from Aayush, who still hasn’t reached peak annoyance of my antics in NYC. The reckless bike rides to Szentendre with Harris and Kiiahno – who kept me from succumbing to the couch (I can also thank Mr. Mahon and Mr. Ludo for that.) The “I-could-have-gonepro” volleyball with Florian and Kacper. Library “Study-Block” sessions with Doyun, Jozsi, Rob, and Ahmed (and also LOL). And without Wen Qi, waiting for the bus would have been uninteresting.

I thank Mr. Lewis for my strange appreciation of Moodle; Mrs. Woj’s and Mr. O’Brien’s direction at STUCO; Nick, Andre, and James, who keep me believing in tangible creativity; Mr. Smith, who is the reason I still keep A People’s History of the United States near my bed; Marco’s “Good, Better, Best.” And to those who I’ve reconnected with more recently: Evelyn - don’t forget me when you make it to the big stage. Linn someone needs to save the world from itself, and Eric – without you and your freakishly accurate memory of song lyrics, none of us would have made it to the top of Kilimanjaro. To everyone from AISB, I can say for sure I wouldn’t be where I am without you.

While the memories remain close to me, life has moved on. Leaving AISB in 2012, I arrived in Boston to attend Endicott College, where I studied Environment Science and Finance.

Not comprehending what an internship was, I applied to a swarth of them, months before matriculation. Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, you name it. I was unsurprisingly (but surprisingly for me at the time) rejected mercilessly by an army of incoming “Thank you for your application” emails. Hidden in that mess was an email from a tiny start-up called Gecko Health Innovations that was attempting to improve medication adherence for children with respiratory illnesses. They took a chance on me. I worked there until our acquisition in 2015.

Since then, I’ve fallen further into tech, both on the operations side at a start-up, as well as on the financial side at a venture debt firm. Now I am involved with both sides at a venture bank (in formation) start-up in NYC called Grasshopper.

Entrepreneurs, ventures, whatever you call it, exist in many forms. Coming full circle, I arrived in Kenya in the late summer of 2015 to begin an internship at Ernst & Young in Nairobi. I aided Page #17

"Growing up abroad, I developed an incorrect sense of ownership about world-poverty."

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in facilitating Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into East Africa and studied the effects of FDI on smallmedium size businesses, the true growth of any economy, but especially a developing one. I also arrived with another false purpose. Growing up abroad, I developed an incorrect sense of ownership about world-poverty. I wanted to come to Kenya to start a non-profit, but for all the wrong reasons.

While visiting Kisharu, a small Maasai community near Nairobi, I befriended Daniel Sempui, a local leader and pastor. He told me about a non-profit that constructed a local medical clinic against the better judgement of the locals. It was left empty, devoid of staff or supplies, due to an ill-assumed reliance on the resource-thin government to step up. Only recently, four years later, has it been filled and staffed, yet it remains without standard, yet critical, equipment, medicine and vaccines.

Throughout my time in Kenya, and working with local organizations since then, I saw that stories like these were common. The more days I spent in Kisharu, the more impressed I was with how the locals independently tackled defining issues of their time. Their fight to curtail female genital mutilation and childhood marriage by turning their efforts towards education and small business inspired me.

In effect, they were empowering young children to

reach their full potential and make a personal dent in the world around them.

Much of East Africa is like this - plagued by a wellintended but poorly delivered execution of “aid.”

This misguided aid is directed by paternal forces operating under the purpose of their internally derived impact measurements. It is thus that Daniel, Rachel, the community leaders, and I founded Crater Creations to re-purpose the notion of 'aid'.

We decided to keep things local. We work to build water condensers to harness geothermal steam the way the locals have always done. We fund students to go to secondary school and university, and the community has pitched in to support them. With direction from our locally elected board, water and education are presently our top priorities.

Last year we ran our first annual action trip. It was a smashing success and involved a two-week excursion consisting of time in Nairobi and the Kisharu community, as well as an unforgettable summit through a rare blizzard on Mount Kilimanjaro. Ten of us raised over $15,000 to continue our mission, and you can read more about our climb at www.cratercreations.org/newsletter. If you’d like to join us for the next trip in December, we’d love to have you. My best wishes to everyone in the AISB community. Don’t slow down out there, wherever you are.

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The Places You Used to Go Marxim Unique Soviet era themed restaurant behind Mammut. The red star over the old entrance of Marxim has been shining bright on Kis Rókus Street for more than 20 years.

"Social life as we knew it then did not happen without Marxim's" – Balázs Juszt ’01 "The whole school was there from Thursday until Friday" – Klára Csizinszky ‘07

Jégkert Open air wedding tent set up to hold 1,000 people, with ping pong tables, pool tables, a fussball table, a central bar covered in faux fur and paper mache lights. You get the vibe.

Funky local beer garden 10 minute walk down off the north end of Buda hill.

"Jégkert was a classic" – Christofer Pehrsson ‘11 "The go-to spot" – István Bárdi ‘14

Mammut Mall One of Buda’s largest shopping malls by Széll Kálmán square (formerly Moscow Square).

‘The shopping was great and you'd always run into friends’ – Alison Sandor ‘05 ‘So many different things to do’ – Christina Catt ‘05

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Buda Castle The Castle district with its historical palace is one of the most iconic places in Budapest. The imposing Halászbástya overlooks the city from its elevated position atop the Castle Hill.

"Buda castle was also a nice place to go to, to have a nice walk and meal" – Kariem Badawi ‘12 "Buda castle, it has the best view of the city and is very quiet at night" – Eyal Yeruham ‘10

Downtown District V, VI and VII are the heart of Budapest and the commercial and nightlife hub with an energetic, vibrant tempo.

"Szimpla, Instant, Raktár, Ludwig Museum, Jónás Kézműves Sörház, A Bálna: All these places were amazing nightlife settings where we created memories and connections that last to this day." – Dorian Thomas ‘13 "Gozsdu" – Tamás Bartha ‘14

Normafa Normafa is known for its panoramic scenery and fresh air in the Buda Hills. It is also the highest point in Budapest.

‘I loved cycling up to Normafa and seeing the view at the top’ – Erik Ternsjö ‘13 ‘Normafa in winter’ – Emre Tuncbilek ‘99

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The Big Q Interview with Mr. Rudnicki

M

r Rudnicki has been teaching English and Language Arts in middle and now high school at AISB since 2000.

Originally from Canada, he lives locally with his wife and children and is a vibrant, beloved member of our school community. His passion for bringing out the very best in each and every student is well known and revered.

That passion is infectious, as is his laugh and competitive sportsmanship as a coach.

You've been teaching at AISB since 2000...

You left and returned (we hope you never leave again). What inspires you to continually be such a dedicated teacher?

If you're in this profession, you have to be motivated and inspired by each and every student that you meet. And I mean each and every student. Interestingly, whether a student is engaged in the class or not, whether a student is finding success in the class or not, each student's approach to school-life is fascinating, energizing, and motivating. AISB has a nuance that few schools have. There is a magnetism here that is created through the confluence of the beautiful Nagykovacsi forest; the school's focus on global mindedness and excellence; world-class faculty; and students who aim to embrace all that AISB stands for.

So you said all students inspire you. This makes me ask whether have you ever given up on student?

No, never. The adage "it takes a village to raise a child" is a truism in education. Even the most disengaged, abrasive, confrontational student offers a wonderful occasion to reevaluate the village itself: perhaps the village needs to close holes, fill gaps, build bridges to strengthen the foundation for that particular student. Literature itself praises the individuals that often stand in contrast with expectations, a teacher's or

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otherwise. Scout, Caulfield, Mercutio, for example, remind us of the damage done to the metaphoric village if one person is under-appreciated.

Is teaching a skill that can be taught?

Yes. Just like living life well is an ongoing learning experience. Like in life, to teach well, one has to read a lot. Reflect a lot. Learn from great individuals. Ask big questions. Listen a lot.

And repeat this. Forever. Beckett's thinking fits well with teaching "... Try again, Fail again, Fail better." Keep in mind that teaching is a multifaceted skill. Teaching a particular student any skill or concept cannot be viewed through a single lens of teacher to student: of course, a teacher's particular expertise in content matters.

But context matters. Social, behavioral and developmental psychology matter. Language choice matters. Non-verbal cues matter.

Learning environment matters.... These are just a few of the dispositions that teachers need to have, or account for, in order to inspire student learning.

How has the education you received changed your life?

AISB prides itself on academic excellence. It partly does so because the teachers here have all come from the richest of academic/pedagogical backgrounds. Coming to work, every day, is professional development. Truly. Working with my colleagues on a daily basis is attending a world-class education conference. And the education that I receive from students, too, has reoriented so much of how I view the world. We don't hear a 'single story' here at AISB. We have stories from so many different cultures, nations, experiences - stories of student resilience and student sacrifice. Stories of individual successes and community togetherness.

"...read a lot. Reflect a lot. Learn from great individuals.

Ask big questions."

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"I live for Stories"

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If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be?

This is a great question. I can't zoom into on one person. Ideally, I would be overjoyed to hear any story from any student in my past that I taught. Any student. I would love to sit and listen to their story: the doctors, lawyers, CEOs, mothers, fathers, anyone who is engaged in their life's passion or those who aim to still discover it. Just sit down and hear their story. Time moves fast in education. And one missed opportunity that I had to capture this 'history in a moment' occasion was a few years ago when a former student and her husband came to my classroom. It must have been 16 years since I last saw her. They knocked at my classroom door in the middle of a lesson. In our one-minute conversation, after the abridged introductions, location and occupation answers to my questions, I needed to return to class. The look on her face when she mentioned that she was a new mother left me with twenty-five unanswered questions, and a narrative that I will most likely never hear finished. So, yes, I would love to hear any of my former students’ life stories.

What was your path to teaching?

I began my teaching career with a class of fourth-year students at Western University in Canada. I was then fortunate to work at an awardwinning school in Toronto, Canada, teaching literacy to 4th graders.

And from then I worked my way up teaching English in middle school and high school. So, this path of teaching the spectrum of academic, emotional, and social levels gives me perhaps a unique view on the concept of teaching and learning. In some respects, a 23 year old is quite different from a 7 year old. In other respects, they are very similar.

All kids remember you. Do you have a memory for every student you taught?

That's the hardest question for sure. I would like to think I do. I am a narrative guy. I live for stories, so usually when gifted with the opportunity to speak with a former student, after a while, academic or athletic or some co-curricular story comes to the surface.

Do you have an idea who is the first student from your early years who you remember?

Yes, I do. Many students in fact. One of them who emailed me recently is a principal of a high school back in Canada!

What are the most enduring qualities of AISB that make you stay?

There is a striving for excellence in every aspect of this school, to make sure that every student does their best in every situation that they approach. Every student matters!

What do you like to do to relax?

I spend time with my family. Take my children to the theatre, sporting events, try to run with them, wrestle with them, read books with them.

You won't see Rudnicki at Otkert.

"We have stories from so many different cultures, nations, experiences - stories of student resilience" Page #25

Blazers Back at AISB Let’s hear it for Alums who could not stay away and joined the AISB staff...

Lilla Varga

Admissions and Marketing Assistant Since 2017 My name is Lilla, and I attended AISB for six years. After AISB, I went to university in London, where I studied Psychology. I knew that eventually I’d like to complete a master’s degree in counseling, but I wanted to work for a few years before doing so.

When I finished university, I moved back to Budapest and applied for a position at AISB. I was hired to become an Admissions and Marketing Assistant.

Working in Admissions, I get to meet families from all over the world and help them with their transition to Budapest. I really enjoy hearing their story and showing them the school which helped me become who I am today, and which has given me so many fond memories.

I also love that I get a chance to regularly see my high school mentors: Señor Ramos, Ms. Canale, Mrs. Hughes, and many other teachers who are now my colleagues.

(I think this was the most difficult part of coming back - to learn to use the first names of my former teachers.)

Otherwise, it is a great experience. I get to be involved with various creative tasks, build the school’s Alumni program, be surrounded by inspiring people, enjoy the incredible facilities and see a whole new side of AISB. For six years I was part of the show, and now I finally get to work backstage and give back to this lovely community!

Ida Karászy

Substitute Teacher Since 2018 My name is Ida and I attended AISB for 14 years, starting in pre-kindergarten and graduating in 2014. AISB is where I grew up, where I found lifelong friends; it was

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my home. It was only three years after graduation that I realized what career I wanted to pursue.

This fall I plan to begin a BA in early childhood education. I wish to become an elementary teacher, and that is why I am back at AISB five years after graduation, substituting in elementary school. This time around I was not a student but was working with the students. I truly felt as if I were giving back to the community that has given me so much, and has raised and taught me. It was such a heart-warming feeling when I was substituting in a multiage class and realized one of the students reading a Dr. Seuss book had MY kindergarten teacher’s name written inside it! It was exciting to come back and speak with the teachers and staff that I still knew. AISB still feels like home, because I am always greeted with smiles that I’ve known since I was 3 years old.

Adnan Fathy

Admissions Receptionist 2017 Summer I graduated from AISB with the class of 2016. I have come back several times to catch up with faculty and old friends and have had the pleasure of working there for several months too.

I'm in my final year at the University College Roosevelt in Middelburg in the Netherlands studying psychology, law and philosophy.

As much as I love studying these subjects, especially psychology, I feel like I have always wanted to pursue a career that takes me outside, keeps me healthy and possibly most importantly, can be done in warm weather. So I am currently

getting my driver’s license, then my diving license and hopefully at some point can become an instructor in Egypt, where I am from. I am happy to say that AISB was major factor in my interest in psychology, and now I have more than one road I can choose to go down later in life.

I owe a lot to AISB and the amazing people who have helped me grow into someone I can be proud of. I am on a course that satisfies all my needs, and I think this path began early in elementary and middle school in AISB. Working at AISB was a true pleasure! Every day I went to work I was looking forward to doing so with my coworkers. I think that was the biggest thing that made my time so great: the staff. Everyone made every day a true joy. I never felt like I couldn't ask for help, and always felt useful and necessary when responsibilities piled up.

Working in a place I knew also made the job much more relaxing, as if I were working from home almost. Truly it’s been my best time working at any job so far, and it's due to the amazing staff at AISB.

Claudia Nérey Intern Since 2018

Working at AISB as an Alumni made me feel a Blazer again. It was strange at the beginning to come here every week not as a student but as an intern.

Working with Shawn (the elementary school counselor) allowed me to see the structure and the “background” of the school, so now I can see why students love going to AISB. This semester I got the opportunity to watch and observe the role of the counselor at an international school. My future goal is to become a child psychologist, and I think this is a great start to learn different techniques I can use in my future career. Currently, I am studying psychology at McDaniel College Budapest

Campus. Besides that, I teach English to young children, combining my psychology techniques and also the knowledge gained from my AISB internship.

Gabriella Zimányi

Summer Camp Teacher, Dance Teacher I graduated from AISB with the Class of 2013 but I have been teaching dance at the school ever since.

Currently I am in my final year at the Hungarian Dance Academy, where I am enrolled in the commercial dancer and rehearsal coach BA program. Since I was little, it was my dream to study dance at a professional level so I am very grateful for my present education.

Besides my studies, I always find some time to teach dance to elementary, middle and high school students through workshops, the annual musicals and the school’s summer camp. AISB has a wonderful community and I consider myself lucky for all the opportunities this school provides me with as a teacher. Being a dancer can be challenging, but every time I am back to Nagykovácsi the students I work with remind me of why I started this profession.

Besides that it is always great to see familiar faces through the hallways or catch up with my previous teachers. AISB will always have a special place in my heart and I cannot thank the school enough for all it has given me.

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What Better Than Social Connection?

Steeped in our AISB ethos is an enduring sense of Community and Connection.

 

We are an inclusive and involved community of students, teachers and parents We appreciate each member of our community as an individual with unique talents and abilities

It is in this spirit that we have heralded the reboot of the AISB Alumni program.

It begins, middle and ends with you!

Our AISB Values start with Community...

We believe in the importance of community as a meaningful social connection tool to keep the positive spirit of AISB alive and thriving past graduation.

Social Connection is more than just a group of connecting apps; it defines a fundamental psychological need of humans in the wellness tapestry of our lives. We are purposefully hard-wired for connection and our digital world makes this an (at times overwhelming) breeze.

Healthy Communities form the backbone of a healthy society and the cornerstone of our evolution as ultra-social beings. We believe that a pillar of everyone’s happiness and fulfilment is a connection to a healthy community. We are helping to build that for you and keep the community alive here at AISB. We need your help to drive this growth with us... however you can!

Here are some ways you can be part of our AISB Alumni Community growth: • • • • •

Volunteer to be your class rep Organise an event near you Come to our annual reunion at AISB in May Help connect us with other alums Tell us what you would like from your Alumni Program

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Check out www.aisb.hu in the Fall

AISB APP AREL WEBSHO P COMING SOON!

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Here’s Zeeger Scholten The 3 lessons learned from running a purpose-driven startup

Z

eeger Scholten is a 25-year old Dutch/Hungarian. He was raised in the Netherlands and at 10-years old moved to Hungary, where he attended AISB until he was 18.

He believes in pursuing personal growth through meditation, travel, and deep philosophical discussions.

Random fact: “I must eat one bar of pure chocolate a day to stay alive.”

Career Steps: Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft in the Netherlands, Minor in Entrepreneurship (Started first business)

Gap Year (Traveled the world and received Pilot License)

Master in Technology Entrepreneurship at UCL in London (Started second business) Worked at a startup called Beamery (HR Tech) Part-time: Assistant teacher for Marketing and Analytics at UCL

Quit job - started third business, The Nomad Academy, organizing three-month trips around the world, during which young professionals go through intense personal growth experiences and learn in-demand professional skills to create meaningful careers.

Role AISB played in his life: “I think AISB formed the bedrock of why I am where I am. It is the reason I get to do so much awesome stuff. I am forever grateful for the values and principles instilled in me while attending AISB.”

Three lessons learned from running a purpose-driven startup LESSON ONE: START YOUR COMPANY WITH A WHY

Define your WHY, your reason to exist, on Day One. This might seem silly when there are only two or three of you starting a company. I remember the three of us sitting on a park bench - when we had just decided we were going to commit to this company, talking about our purpose and values. Of course I felt like a fraud! Who are you to be saying you have purpose and values when you don’t even have employees? It’s like giving Page #30

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Three values I’d highlight: Open-mindedness The international community at AISB gave me access to cultures from around the world. I saw the world from different angles, which helped me discover what is most important to me. This has led to more fulfillment in my everyday life.

Uniqueness Rather than being a typical Dutch guy in the Netherlands, I was 'The Dutch guy' at AISB. Because we were all so different, we could be more ourselves.

I could be proud of who I was, how different I was. This gave me selfconfidence and inspired me to surround myself with people from all over the world, which in turn inspired me to start The Nomad Academy.

Anything-is-possible This might be an American thing, but it is definitely an AISB thing. The teachers, the facilities, the mindset--everything breathes that anything is possible, if you put your mind to it. This gave me confidence to dream big, to start companies around silly ideas, to chase after real love.

“I think AISB formed the bedrock of why I am where I am today.

It is the underlying reason why I get to do so much awesome stuff currently."

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yourself advice, or writing a list of things you already know. That’s exactly the point. You need to write down everything that you already know. Because once someone joins the company, they are not going to know - at least not exactly - the way you think, your priorities, or your values. This is a golden opportunity to make this as clear as possible, before it gets lost over time.

There is so much freedom when you define your WHY first. If you do, your product and your offerings can always change. You give yourself the opportunity to pivot your product depending on how it will serve your WHY, your reason for existence. Determining that WHY is still a pretty hard task. So, here are two guiding questions that helped us, and here are our answers.

What do you care about in the world? We care about personal growth education. We care about people going through personal transformations, confronting themselves, asking hard questions, becoming resilient so they can do the hard work to build a meaningful career.

What are you fighting against? We are fighting against the current lack of personal growth in school and universities, against people losing their love of life by following traditional and too often meaningless careers.

LESSON TWO: DEFINE YOUR VALUES (AND HAVE ONLY A FEW, SO YOU CAN DO THEM JUSTICE) Values may not define who you are, but they should define how you act--and how anyone representing your

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company should act. Do this in the beginning: it will help you find people who match your values. Have as few values as possible so you can live by them and make them central to your organisation. At the Nomad Academy, we have tried to keep our values to a minimum. Our entire team agreed upon three.

•

Radical Transparency Open and honest communication with each person in the team. SAY IT (in a friendly way).

•

Self-Responsibility Own your tasks and actions. Do not be afraid of failure... own your mistakes and learn from them. Look within before you look out and we’ll all grow as people and professionals faster – and the company will grow faster too. “Be productive, not busy.”

•

Lifelong Growth Just as our participants are on a journey of accelerated personal and professional growth, so are we. Keep an open mind, look to learn, move into your stretch zone.

All the decisions we make and the ways in which we act are supported by these three values. And these values make it easier to find amazing employees. Because we defined our values so early, every person who has joined us so far believes in what we believe. Employees sign a company culture agreement before they sign their contract: what we stand for is more important to agree upon than an employee’s salary and job description.

LESSON NUMBER THREE: YOU’RE NOT THE HERO OF THIS JOURNEY

This one is a real mindblow. Whenever you're starting a company, it’s easy to think OMG, we are so cool, we are doing all this stuff, look at us (like me writing this article now). But that’s a self-centered way of approaching things.

But your customer is the hero of this story, not you. You just exist to unlock a greater power within your customer.

You exist to help guide someone in making a better world. You are not at the center of the hero’s journey. You mostly occupy a tiny part guiding people on their own journeys. This is flipping the script. And once you start seeing your customer as the hero of the story, you can start finding ways to serve them best.

SO .... WHAT ARE THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS? In a nutshell, we’ve realized that by defining our WHY, we were able to better create and stick to a small handful of specific values, values that attracted an audience who appreciate these values. We also learned to champion and guide these customers so that they can help us to fulfill our why of creating positive, fulfilling lives for people.

More than anything, we hope you can gain something from the lessons we’ve learned. We’re a company that believes in unlocking the potential in everyone through growth and shared knowledge.

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"AISB is great for teaching the practical things you will need later in life"

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When your Passion Becomes your Work...

Gabriella Csanyi ('12)

G

abriella is the CEO of Like Locals, a company she co-founded in 2017.

She and her co-founder and friend shared a passion for exploring cities, married with a strong dislike of traditional guided tours. They came up with a gamified mobile app, curated by locals to discover the hidden gems of a city. Below is her story and how her passion became her work.

When did you start at AISB? I started in 2003 in Grade 4.

What is your best memory from AISB? I really liked the competitions when we travelled with the swim team. I had a good group of friends here, so every single break was a good memory, I guess.

What was your favorite subject in high school?

I was really into art.

I had great teachers with whom I still keep in touch with, like Ms Tia Gregorak. She even came to my wedding (Gabriella got married in summer of 2018 Ed.) I really enjoyed history class as well.

Where did you continue your education after graduation?

After graduation, I went to Corvinus University

to study Business and Management and then I took a year off and worked for a management consulting firm. Then I went to the London School of Economics to study Decision Analysis – Management Science. I graduated in 2017.

How has the education you received at AISB affected your life?

I think you only realize how much has it affected your life and how AISB is different from other schools when you start university. I felt when I started Corvinus, the things we did at AISB really helped me to become an effective learner. For example, I didn't struggle to understand how to do referencing or how to sit down and study for an exam or even how it felt to take an exam, do project work or deliver presentations.

All these "sub-skills", "non-knowledge" based skills that we learnt, were important because those are the skills you use in life and in your professional life when you have to give a presentation and such. These take a lot of practice and we got that at AISB. All of these skills were very useful later on. I also like AISB for the fact that learning is very practical. For example, I had to write the Extended Essay in my last year of high school, which is basically a small version of a university thesis. This helped me a lot when I was writing my thesis for my bachelor’s and master’s

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degree. AISB is great for teaching the practical things you will need later in life and ignoring other things that you won't. Life skills, like knowing how to give a presentation, are a lot more important.

You have started your own business. Tell me about it.

I started my own company, as a co-founder with my friend.

We came up with the idea when we were studying at LSE. It is mostly a company for millennial travelers. It is a new generation city exploration app, helping travelers and locals to ‘discover the undiscovered’ as we say, the hidden gems and secret spots around the city. We create local itineraries that people from my local community put together. These are mini-guided routes that will show you 5-10 spots around an area and share with you what is special about these places.

I have read it on your website that the idea of this app came with some kind of a game.

Yes, it started as a game because we traveled together and we had this issue we kept talking about, how we don't want to do this and that and how both of us are very very competitive (you don't want to play a game with us). So we decided to put together our own maps in a scavenger hunt style, so you had to solve a clue and then move on. And then we took that idea further: maybe we could start a business out of it. So initially it started out as a scavenger hunt/city discovery game and moved towards becoming an exploration guide.

Your two older brothers work in the family business. Did you feel any pressure from your parents to work in the family business as well? Have you ever considered working with them?

I thought about it but there was no pressure at all. My parents always say that we should do whatever we want as long as it is meaningful and we enjoy it. So I did think about it and I won’t say that I will never do it, but I don't think it is time for me to go into the family business. And even if I do, I will need to go on a huge learning adventure before I step into any sort of role. After LSE, I was going to go into maybe consulting first, but now that this opportunity came, with my co-founder, we decided it is now or never. We will see how it goes, and I hope we will be successful.

I am not thinking about the future yet. I am focusing on the now.

Even though I am not in the family business, I am in the foundation (Csanyi Foundation - Ed.), so I do sort of work with my parents.

Do you take any advice from your parents regarding your own business?

I did sit down with them before I officially decided to start a company, to see what they thought about the idea, whether they thought it was something I could pursue. You are just out of university and a lot of companies get started out from university, with basically no experience at all. And that is very hard, so I think you need to be humble enough to ask for help, because you don’t know. You think you know, trust me, you think you know -- but you don’t. My parents were very supportive, and even though they didn't really understand the whole idea, they said I should give it a try, keep an open mind and recognize when it is not working and when it is time to let it go. I am trying to keep an open mind.

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Like Locals is available in Budapest, London and in Barcelona?

Yes, and we will possibly be expanding to Amsterdam and Berlin by the end of 2019.

What are the next steps to grow your company?

First, we are going to release the product and we are still in the learning phase. We will be marketing it quite heavily but obviously, from feedback, we will see whether we will need to go back to development and improve it further and whether there will be any changes. We are focusing on the B2B side of the business of onboarding local businesses to be part of the platform. We are trying to find regal capital investment because we are reaching the stage now when we will need to bring in some more equity if we want to scale up.

What is the most significant thing you've learnt about yourself while setting up your own business?

A lot, actually. I’ve always been a bit of a control freak and I don't like letting things get out of my hands until I feel like they are 100%. And while this might be a good quality in some aspects of your life, it is not good when you are an entrepreneur

because you have to move fast and you have to be flexible. I learnt how to deal with that, which is great. I also learnt I can work very well under stress and that it is great to work in a team. It is not always the best to find the most skilled people to bring in your team; it matters more if they are passionate and ambitious.

How do you define success?

I think that success is an ongoing thing. It is achieved over and over again. For me, I always set goals for what I think would be good to achieve and if I can achieve those goals while being healthy and happy in my personal life as well, then I would say I am successful.

So now I can also say that I feel successful because I have all of that but of course professional success is a bit different.

When would you feel successful, professionally?

Right now, I’d say I’ll feel successful if we achieve a good user base. Once we achieve that, I’ll set the next goal.

Where do you see yourself heading in the future?

I wish I knew. I would like to grow Like Locals to be a company that has a long lifetime but of course, I would like to try other things. I am really interested in making my own investments. I see myself in the entrepreneur world, but whether that is on the start-up side or the investor side is a big question. Both maybe.

What is something everyone should do once in their life?

I would say travel somewhere solo, that’s amazing. But I don't think that's for everyone. When you travel alone, you immediately move out of your comfort zone. You can do a lot of self-discovery when you spend a few days alone. You are much more open to interactions with people around you, and that’s the best way to explore the world and yourself.

Where would you like to settle down when you will have your own family?

Definitely in Hungary and I would like to have my kids at AISB. To discover Like Locals visit: likelocals.co.uk

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We Asked...

How did AISB help you with your current career / life situation?

Luca Erős ‘14

Flóris Kibédi Varga ‘16

István Bárdi ‘14

The teachers at AISB helped me most with my current life situation. Starting from a very early age, I've always been supported and encouraged to reach just a little beyond what I thought I could do, which allowed me to develop my skills and my confidence.

Their constant encouragement boosted me substantially. The myriad of service projects and opportunities for involvement also shaped my passion for community service and social work. Programs like Mr. Lavoie's Prizma Days gave me a platform to explore what it's like to work with differently-abled people and motivated me to pursue psychology and psychopathology in my studies.

I have AISB to thank for much of my current success in university. I learned how to communicate effectively in speech and writing. My academic confidence is a direct result of my time at AISB.

At AISB I got to meet the best people I know today. I learned how skills are more important than pure academic knowledge. AISB provided me with the strong foundation that I needed to get to where I am today.

Alison Sandor ‘05 AISB helped shape me into the person I am today. It was there I gained my confidence, learning to speak publicly and passionately for causes I believe in.

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Kristof Wang ‘14 My teachers and friends at AISB have shaped who I am. I attended AISB for 13 years and I wouldn't be the person I am today without AISB. The IB curriculum has immeasurably helped me with transitioning into university. I was well prepared and was able to keep up with university level expectations and rigor.

Nathalie Nagy ‘94 It taught me to be flexible and adapt to every kind of situation.

It taught me to be understanding, tolerant and appreciative, and opened my eyes to the world.

Christofer Pehrsson ‘11 It gave me my dearest friends.

Also a great deal of international perspective and knowledge. Solid foundations for life.

Balázs Juszt ‘01 Even though I went to study economics after graduating from high school, my middle school influences with Mr. Anderson letting me do my video projects for science and then also doing projects for history class helped me catch film fever.

Writing with Ms. McGhee also contributed dearly to me becoming a showrunner.

...You Answered What is your favorite memory from AISB? Becky Palhus ‘10

Nóra Füzesi ‘14

I will never forget when I stepped inside the building on the first day of school. I can even remember how it smelled inside. I’ve probably never been that nervous before. I was just a 13-year-old little girl from Sweden who was about to enter one of the most influential years in my life.

I spent 13 years at AISB and I can honestly say that leaving for college was one of the scariest things I've ever had to do. I not only had to leave a place I called home, but also leave behind people I called family. AISB was a place of many wonderful experiences for me. I gained friends for life, fell in love and gained the necessary skills to face any challenge that may come my way. What I miss most about AISB is the simplicity of teenage years and the feeling of safety that fell over me every time I walked in through the front doors.

Luca Erős ‘14 CEESA tournaments (soccer and softball in particular) were always my fondest memories. I loved having the opportunity to travel around Europe with my best friends, make so many lasting memories, and play and bond together as a team.

Kariem Badawi ‘12

Danli Gu ‘11 Winning the SCIS basketball tournament (being part of the double championship team).

Jacob Thomsen ‘14 My favourite memory from AISB is performing at the talent show with my brother. Playing music in front of a large crowd was definitely outside of our comfort zones, but AISB created an inclusive environment that made it possible.

My favorite memories during my time at AISB were being a part of the sports teams, visiting many cities and countries, winning many trophies (especially basketball) and having great classmates who made every day fun.

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"Children of AISB are, after all, nomads and travellers by nature, are we not?"

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Living in China Connor Dorell Shepherd ('15)

A

t the age of 10 months, Connor moved to Hungary in 1996 with his parents, Alenka Dorrell and David Shepherd, who were both teachers at the school for 14 years. He was a student at AISB from 20002010 and would have graduated in 2015. He graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2017 with a major in Political Science and is currently an English teacher in Shanghai, teaching children aged 3-18. He plans to pursue a career in journalism and political communication.

I once read somewhere that after spending a week in China a person could write a book. After a month they could write an essay, after six an article, after a year a paragraph and after many, a sentence or less. The longer one spends here, the harder it becomes to articulate the magnitude of character this country has. Having only been here six months myself, I will do my best to live true to the aforementioned mantra and give you an article.

In late September 2017 I decided, along with my partner, to make a change. We promised ourselves we would give ourselves a year to quit our jobs, save some money and move to Asia. I had completed university a few months earlier and was working in lower middle-management for a restaurant group. I had worked for the company for three years and, up to that point, I had enjoyed the work. The clear route of progression working for an established company brings a recent graduate a feeling of confidence that, whilst job markets fall around you, you will be all right. However, it takes a deeper confidence to recognise that you bore yourself when asked what you do in social situations.

This is not to say that the work was by any means boring, but that it had become just that, to me.

University had been a joy on so many levels. The things I learnt about myself, as well as my chosen subject (political science-please don’t judge me), are too extensive for me to mention. What I will say is that I loved every moment of it. Even the Page #41

"You are reminded, in tandem, of the might of human achievement and the insignificance of your individual physical size."

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parts I hated. I was lucky enough to be a part of a great department in a city I loved. Having said this, I had now been living in the UK for seven years and the proverbial “ants in my pants” were beginning to sting. Children of AISB are, after all, nomads and travellers by nature, are we not?

We chose China because, despite promising ourselves that we would save enough money to spend a year wandering around Southeast Asia, we didn’t. Reluctant on giving up on the dream altogether, we looked at alternative options and were quickly snapped up by an ESL firm in Shanghai. We flew out on the 11th of September 2018, almost a year to the day after we cooked up the scheme to make it to Asia.

My first impression of Shanghai? How enormous it was. The sprawling metropolis extends for what feels an eternity. The tumult of smells (admittedly not all pleasant), people (mostly lovely) and buildings (large) are enough to dwarf even the largest of egos. You are reminded, in tandem, of the might of human achievement and the insignificance of your individual physical size.

You might have heard of, or experienced, the briskness of the Shanghainese. To many it can come across as rude, but the longer I am here the more I realise that it is the only way not to get left behind. I have to say that it is a perspectivegaining moment when you are first shoulder barged by what appears to be an eighty-five year old grandmother. But judging by the strength of the push, she is clearly “the rock” in a frock.

My next revelation was the food. Chinese, in my opinion, is one of the most internationally misrepresented cuisines. The food has a range and complexity that rivals the European cuisine, and, as a gastronomical geek, I was astounded if not totally surprised by the difference between the European perception of Chinese food and the reality. It should come as no shock that in a country with the world’s fourth largest landmass, the food changes drastically depending on where in China you are. Whilst it is not for

everyone, I have loved almost everything I have tried. Ok, so the BBQ water beetle and pickled duck trachea weren’t for me but hey, you can’t win ‘em all.

As a ‘laowai’, the informal mandarin term for foreigner, I rely on the kindness of the Chinese locals to help me through the myriad of blunders I undoubtedly make on a daily basis. Luckily for me, this kindness is seemingly limitless. I have been afforded nothing but patience and encouragement as I have set about learning Mandarin, taking trips to different cities and neighbouring countries and learning how to teach Chinese children English (a task which I must confess I totally underestimated). I have another six months to go before I return to university in the UK for my masters, but already I know my priorities and goals have changed as a result of being here.

It feels like yesterday that I left Budapest in 2010 after spending the first 14 years of my life there.

The friends, the family and the language that I gained from those years are with me always, a constant reminder of the debt I owe my parents for giving me the childhood I had. As is so often the case, it was not until I moved away from Hungary and AISB that I realised just how special that school, that community and that upbringing was. My parents, as some of you may remember, were teachers at AISB and therefore I was privy to the life of both a student and child of international school teachers whilst living in Hungary.

It is easy to forget how interesting, fulfilling and inspiring the expat bubble can be and it is only now I am embarking upon my own, albeit brief, journey into that lifestyle that I am reminded of the immense advantage my early years gave me.

In essence, this experience has shown me that promises are made to be kept, especially to one’s self, and that if you’re boring yourself at a dinner party, it’s probably time for a change.

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You've Got This!

The ‘Future Work Skills’ here and now, and how equipped we are, really.

H

ow often have you heard mention of a job market which needs to adapt to 'Future Skills'? How much have you checked-in to these lists of skills to evaluate your chances of success? Judging from the high visibility of these conversations in the H.R., recruitment and training scene, it is likely you are aware and already deploying these skills in your paths to success.

At AISB, we have a responsibility to our learners to keep looking forward at how future forces will impact and inspire our students in their adult life. This is what we need to prepare for. The changes in desired skills needed in a 2015 workplace vs. 2020 tell us a lot about what success can look like for ‘Generation Z’, who are now starting to enter the workplace.

As we explore Educational and Social innovation, we frequently refer to the skills listed in "The Future of Jobs Report 2018" by the World Economic Forum. What seems to be gaining importance are the transdisciplinary, cross-cultural and creative thinking/information interpreting mindsets. These can all help resilient risktaking and social-minded individuals like you break through the technological dominance which defines this age of work. Our responsibility towards tech advances is The Jobs Landscape in 2022

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to meet them and develop alongside them with an open and courageous attitude.

The skill sets around critical thinking, creativity, people management and emotional intelligence seem to have increased in prestige whilst service orientation, quality control and negotiation are surprisingly taking a nosedive. These skills can be affected by specific forces which disrupt and reshape the workforce landscape.

As explained in "Future Work Skills 2020" by The Institute For the Future, these forces (or ‘drivers’) are our increasing longevity, the rise of smart machines and systems, computational world, super-structured organizations, a more globally-connected world and new media ecology.

A discussion paper by the McKinsey Global Institute in 2018 "Skill Shift; Automation and the Future of the workforce" also looks towards the skills needed in 2030, and the skills that rise to the top in their study are Higher Cognitive skills (e.g., Project Management and complex information processing).

A thriving company will need to work smart to keep up with the demands of the workforce and adapt to the Rate of Automation Division of labour as a share of hours spent (%)

changes in skill availabilities. The benefits which an evolved workplace can bring to an employee will be more agile working structures with a greater fluidity of roles. There should be high demand for the cognitive and technological skills as they evolve, demanding a flatter workforce composition. Companies will also need to embrace a life-long learning approach to sustain and challenge the workforce of the future.

Much wisdom can be drawn from healthy retrospection, as well as reflecting on the life journeys of others. In this spirit, LinkedIn has started the #HowIGotHere series to inspire us with a variety of paths. One thing which the contributors all seem to have in common in reaching their successful career place is an honest self-reflective approach. There is also a common drive for improvement with a growth mindset and a solution-focused aura of resilience.

Looking at these studies from the lens of an AISB learner and alum, it seems we have been vigilant about keeping the areas of growth needed by the future workplaces covered. We love hearing back on the career and life paths which our Blazers have taken, and we are excited by the patterns which are developing. We hope to continue sharing these with you through “The Bridge� for years to come.

From the feedback we are starting to receive on your life paths, these are qualities which are abundant in our Blazer community worldwide!

We think you've got these future skills nailed.

Please let us know what you think. We always love hearing from our Blazers!

Magdalen Gray Advancement Director

Magda is British/ Czech and has been a part of the AISB community since 2001. Her first role was as wife to Mr Karl Gray (EAL, Tech Integration, Photography, Graphic Design, Yearbook and Varsity Boys/ Girls Soccer Coach.) She has been HS Counsellor for Grade 9 & 10 and now heads the Advancement Office, which looks after Admissions, Marketing, Community & Alumni. Their three girls attend Elementary and Middle School at AISB and the whole family are passionate Blazers.

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On Becoming Published Gwen Javor ('09)

G

wendolyn Javor was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary. After attending university and law school in New York City, she realized that practicing law was not her life's purpose. Instead, she began working on projects focused on promoting love and acceptance of individuality.

The idea of helping others cherish their uniqueness became a passion that soon developed into a mission. Inspired by paintings she made in high school, she saw an opportunity to share her message with children; and so, the Absurdimals were born. Gwendolyn believes in the goodness of children, and in their power to make a better tomorrow. It is her hope that with the help of the Absurdimals, we can teach children to appreciate and respect one another, regardless of differences, while learning to love themselves, absurdities and all.

What kind of student were you at school?

I was a conscientious but fairly relaxed student. I cared about maintaining my grades, but I never placed so much emphasis on them that I couldn't enjoy just being a kid.

How did you get into writing?

I think I've always had some natural affinity to writing. The process of putting thoughts onto paper is both cathartic and creatively stimulating for me. That being said, if I'm not feeling inspired to write it can feel more like a chore. It's not uncommon for me to go weeks to months without writing, and then suddenly write for 12 hours straight when inspiration finally hits.

What were some of your literary inspirations?

"I realized that if I wanted to my vision to come to life I would have to fully believe in it, and in myself."

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I'm not sure that I had many growing up. The truth is, I actually wasn't an especially voracious reader. I do remember, though, that the first book I learned to read was Go Dog Go, by Dr. Seuss.

Considering the nature of my own characters (hybrid animals), I wouldn't be surprised if the whimsical characters in his books left some impression on me.

What were some of the biggest challenges for you and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenges were the ones having to do with my own fears and doubts concerning my ability to succeed - whatever that even means. It's always a little scary to put yourself and your work out into the world, especially with relatively little experience and not having the ability to hide behind someone else's name. That,

in conjunction with a precarious career change, made negative self-talk something I struggled to overcome almost daily. Eventually, though, I realized that if I wanted my vision to come to life, I would have to fully believe in it, and in myself. The moment I made that switch in my outlook, things began to fall into place.

What is your plan forward as a writer and as Gwen?

My main focus for now is on expanding my children's series, Absurdimals. I just published the second book in the series, and my goal for this year is to move into other areas like animation and merchandise. I'd like to use the series as a platform to bring attention to issues that are important to me, and hopefully bring a little more joy to lives of anyone the series touches.

How do you feel about AISB now that you've been away?

I feel extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to study in such a warm, exciting, and multicultural environment. You don't realize how incredible the AISB experience is until you hear from your adult peers what their elementary/high school was like!

What are some of your best memories from AISB? Friends, sports teams, teachers, and the classroom doodles that became the inspiration for my work!

How did AISB influence you as a person and build your character?

I think AISB helped lay a foundation in me for ultimately becoming a more open-minded and loving person. I give a lot of credit to the teachers who were always ready to listen, help, and encourage us.

What are you driven by and how does that connect with the values of AISB? I'm personally driven by a deep-rooted belief that every person should be able to live authentically, in free expression of who they are. I think AISB demonstrates those values in its dedication to helping children of all types succeed in the manner best suited to who each and every one of them are.

Gwen is currently living in New York City and working on developing and expanding her children's book series Absurdimals. Gwen is the winner of the 2018 Independent Author Network Best Books. You can find her books at www.absurdimalsseries.com

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Reunion Snippets Page #48

London The Alumni reunion in London happened on the 24th of January, at Brown’s Covent Garden. Alums from various year groups attended, so it was a lovely opportunity for alums still at university to connect with others working in London, and to ask for advice for the future.

Boston The Alumni reunion in Boston happened on the 26th of January, at the Hungarian Honorary Consulate at Foley & Lardner Law Firm. We would like to especially thank Vera Molnar (Class of ‘09) for her efforts and dedication to helping us coordinate this wonderful community event.

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Budapest The Alumni Reunion in Budapest took place on 25-26 May, 2018. The Alumni were welcomed at the current school campus in Nagykovacsi. They took part in an official school tour followed by a social with current HS students who were able to ask questions from them. The evening at AISB concluded with a reception at the HS Library with meaningful words from Mr. Paul Slocombe, our current school director.

On the 26th, there was an option of an organized tour to the old AISB campus in Csilleberc, followed by a boat tour of the Danube.

Many Alumni returned to Budapest for the event. Several HS students were able to connect with the alumni and are keeping in touch.

New York The first official AISB Stateside Alumni reunion took place in New York, in a venue called Rise New York on 12 May, 2018. (Rise New York is a global community of startups and corporates creating the future of commerce and fintech by helping startups and entrepreneurs connect, co-create, and scale innovation.) The event was a great success and was made possible with the help of three Alumni: David Freeman, Aayus Gupta and Stefan Dicker.

Here are a few words from them:

“22 people came out. It was really nice having Mr. Slocombe and Dr. Jalics there. Both shared lovely messages about the past, present and future of AISB. A personal highlight for me was meeting a class of 1995 alum, who was a radiant persona with so many beautiful stories and memories to share. The majority of the group stuck together for the rest of the night after the event - a testament to the efficacy of our gathering starting to reconnect and rebuild our AISB community abroad.�

We hope the momentum of reunions keeps going. Seattle, Amsterdam, L.A, Seoul...Where next? You tell us.

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Blazer Updates (Aka. the “Where You are Now” piece) Nathalie Nagy Class of ‘94 Since 2006 I have been married and we have a beautiful 8 year old daughter. My best friend Yana (also from AISB) and I own our own travel company, arranging customized private travel for guests visiting Hungary and Central Europe.

In 2012 my family and I moved back to Budapest again.

Sverre Rakkenes Class of ‘96 Managed to finally move back home to my native Norway, I have a wife and two beautiful kids. My hobby is search and rescue.

Balázs Juszt Class of ‘01 I am a writer/director with multiple shows on television in several countries. In Hungary, I'm involved with numerous shows in different capacities (writer, director, showrunner) at a company called Content Lab and Factory, while I also work abroad with SAGA Film, SKY Vision and The Ink Factory, where we produce shows for a variety of networks, including Netflix and AMC. Alison Sandor Class of ‘05 Following a seven-year career as a radio journalist, I am now the Public Information Officer for the City of Ottawa's Bylaw & Regulatory Services. I regularly liaise with reporters about municipal enforcement issues in Canada's capital.

Christina Catt Class of ‘05 After AISB, I went to the College of William and Mary and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies. I joined the US State Department in 2012 and serve as a Diplomatic Security Special Agent at various US Embassies around the world. My husband Jason has joined me on most of these assignments, and one day I hope to show him AISB! Becky Palhus Class of ‘10 Today I live back home in Stockholm and work in marketing. I am a project manager at a Nordic creative agency (Marvelous) within the global media agency network IPG Mediabrands.

One day is not like the other and I fill my workdays with different projects within influencer marketing, social media strategies, brand strategy, advertising, film production and lots of other creative stuff.

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Colin Koehler Class of ‘10 I currently live in Vienna, where I work as a management consultant in the automotive industry.

Eyal Yeruham Class of ‘10 I'm currently working as a UX Designer at Studyportals in the Netherlands.

Li Wang Class of ‘10 I went to Hofstra University in New York and studied accounting. I worked at Ernst & Young as an accountant, earned my Certified Public Accountant certifications, went to UCLA School of Law, obtained my bar license in New York and California and am now a healthcare attorney at McDermott Will & Emery LLP, an international law firm, in their Los Angeles office.

Christofer Pehrsson Class of ‘11 Did my uni years in London, then moved back to Budapest. Been working with commercial real estate for the past couple of years, which has been rewarding.

Reka Farago Class of ‘11 I am currently working at Eaton an American manufacturing company. I am dealing with service orders and maintenance contracts for the French market. I graduated from Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic in Business and Management. Ágnes Bornemissza Class of ‘12 Working in Film production, mostly foreign feature films.

Győző Lantos Class of ‘12 Graduated from LSE and INSEAD. Been working in private equity ever since, first focused on Central and Eastern Europe, now on education.

Kariem Badawi Class of ‘12 Currently I am still living in Budapest and work at Sony as a customer sales officer. I hope to gain more knowledge here regarding the sales field and to keep improving myself.

Dániel Erős Class of ‘13 I am currently working as an event organizer, organizing events for international people from all over the world.

Dorian Thomas Class of ‘13 I am a freelance production coordinator/ production manager for commercials and music videos.

Erik Ternsjö Class of ‘13 Since AISB, I have gotten a degree in Economics and Finance from St. John's University in Minnesota, USA. I also studied abroad for half a year in Kolkata, India. After graduating, I accepted a rotational finance job in Amsterdam (1 year) and London (1 year) which I’m very much enjoying. In my free-time, I enjoy hiking and cycling. In 2018, I cycled over 10,000 km., including a personal record of cycling more than 300 km. in one day. I recently trekked to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest, and at the start of 2019 I hiked up to Mt. Kilimanjaro with another AISB alumni, David Freeman. If you're interested in seeing some of my photos, you can visit my website: www. ternsjo.com & www.ternsjo.com/adventures Alex Lantos Class of ‘14 Civil Service István Bárdi Class of ‘14 I recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Babson College, where I earned my degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems Management. I also Page #51

completed a lifelong dream by earning my FAA Private Pilot License. After my time in the States, I moved back to Hungary to join the family business, where I have worked for a little over a year now. Alongside my career, I am pursuing a pilot license conversion, so that I can start flying on this side of the pond as well.

Jacob Thomsen Class of ‘14 I am currently finishing up my undergraduate degree in economics at the University of Aberdeen, and I will study the MSc in Economics & Management at The London School of Economics starting in August this year.

Kristof Wang Class of ‘14 I am about to graduate from UC Davis this spring with a Viticulture and Enology (Wine making) degree.

After graduation my plan is to pursue medicine.

Luca Eros Class of ‘14 I graduated cum laude from Yale University with distinction in my major, and I wrote my thesis about the effects of motivation and frustration on spatial working memory performance. I worked in three undergraduate research labs, one that studied schizophrenia, one that studied human-animal interactions, and one that studied treatment techniques of borderline personality disorder. One of my studies was published in "Anthrozoos", which is a multidisciplinary journal of the interactions between humans and animals.

Nóra Füzesi Class of ‘14 I am currently living in Hungary and working for Bright Side, an online social media network/ magazine. Also studying Behavior Analysis and Investigative Interviewing (Msc).

TEACHERS Bret and Tobey Anderson - Teachers at AISB 1991-2011 It is very hard to come up with just a few of our fondest memories since there were so many! I remember that one time the entire middle school tried to dress up and look like me, including suspenders, Swiss Army knife and wrinkled shirt. Another great time was the 'Twilight' Middle School dance. All the students looked so grown up. Mrs. Malten put on some really fantastic teacher productions that Mrs. Anderson and I played in. She remembers the basketball team and traveling to win the championship. Also, I remember the time that she got butterfly eggs for a science project: when we came back from a short vacation there were caterpillars all over her classroom. The 8th-grade trips to Pecs were a lot of fun. Then there were the Nagykovacsi pub crawls for the teachers. Those 20 years at AISB were some of the best years of my life!

Since we retired to Olympia, Washington, we have been keeping busy. There are a number of AISB teacher alumni who live nearby and we get together from time to time. Mrs. Anderson is very active. She has won several First Places as a runner and Wall Climber in the Senior Division. Also, she has become a popular storyteller and is frequently invited to tell stories around the Pacific Northwest. Tobey has become an expert flyfisher and has published in the Pacific Northwest Sportsman. She received an award from the governor for her volunteer work in the public schools. I am a volunteer tutor at the Community Youth Services and work with new teachers at Western Governors University.

Peter Rushton – Teacher at AISB 2002–2014 I am now retired and living in Olympia, WA, USA, with my wife

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Claudia Nérey Class of ‘16 Currently I am studying psychology and besides that I teach English for young children. In the future I would like to become a child psychologist. I am very lucky that I got the opportunity to do my internship at AISB where I can learn and expand my knowledge by observing and working with the elementary school counselor, Shawn. It’s my first professional experience.

Panna Veres Class of ‘18 I am currently completing an Undergraduate Degree in French, Italian and Theatre Studies at the University of Glasgow.

Flóris Kibédi Varga Class of ‘16 I am currently finishing my Bachelor degree in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics at the University of Amsterdam. I am planning on obtaining an MSc in Political Science next year in London.

Linda, who was an Elementary Music Teacher at AISB. We spend time looking after our grandchildren and indulging our hobbies. Linda performs with a local community choir and I act in plays with the Olympia Family Theater. I also run marathons. I often think of AISB when I am participating in my hobbies. I have fond memories of participating in plays, musicals and the famous “Cabaret” at AISB. Many colleagues, especially Annette Malten, Tina Wojtysiak and Ben O’Brien, encouraged me to get up on that stage; and who could forget those incredible teacher dances in the High School musicals? When I am running, I think of David Spencer, Nora Fleming and Jason Booker, my running mentors, and all the AISB people who ran in relay teams with me in Budapest.

One of the great things about living here in Olympia is that we live within walking distance of Bret and Tobey Anderson. So, all of you AISB alumni who were at the school during our era – be warned, when we get together with the Andersons we talk about ALL OF YOU! Ottilia Hollanda - Teacher at AISB between 1997-2010 My fondest memories about AISB are watching the fireworks with colleagues from the Buda campus terrace.

I loved the “camping” feeling in Csilleberc. I still miss the wonderful sports facilities in Nagykovacsi and the friendly colleagues I used to work with. I didn’t go too far and am still teaching at AIS Vienna. I taught elementary school for a few years, but now I’m back teaching HS. I often meet coaches and teams from AISB during the sports competitions. It took me quite a few years to get used to saying Go Knights after 13 years of Go Blazers.

Travis Bishop - Teacher at AISB 2010-2016 My name is Travis Bishop. I taught High School Social Studies and IB History at AISB for six years (2010-2016).

My family and I loved our time there. After leaving AISB, we moved to Accra, Ghana, where I teach at another international school (Lincoln Community School). It is hard for me to pinpoint only one or two of my fondest memories at AISB because I had so many good times there. I do, however, have to give a shout out to the classes of 2014 and 2015 for doing the best Senior Pranks that have ever been done to my classroom.

They were tasteful and not over the line, but very well done. I still have some of the propaganda posters from those events gracing my classroom here in Ghana. My students here think that they are funny. Additionally, I loved teaching at AISB on those dark and snowy afternoons in the winter, and the beauty of springtime in Hungary is something I will always remember. In my years at AISB, I taught great students and worked with fabulous colleagues. I had a wonderful experience teaching there. AISB and its host nation, Hungary, will always have a special place in my heart.

We really appreciate your continued contributions for our future editions. Please email your updates with a photo to alumnioffice@aisb.hu We are also keenly seeking Class Reps to help connect with classes as a group. Please let us know if you can help in this role.

Thank you.

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In Memoriam

Nick Bell taught in the English Department from 1998 to 2004. His gentle manner, ready smile and joy in sharing his love of literature were treasured by students, their parents and colleagues throughout his tenure. Indeed, well-worn copies of great (and sometimes not-so-great) works by a wide variety of authors were never too far from his grasp. Nick also loved sports; whether as a fan, participant or coach, he enthusiastically pursued opportunities to be involved. Many AISB students were strongly influenced by his notions of teamwork and good sportsmanship. Tragically, Nick was killed in a bicycle accident while training for a triathlon in 2004. His family was, and still is, in awe of the kind expressions of remembrance and sympathy we have received from AISB community members over the years. In acknowledgement of Nick’s joie-devivre, please remember to slow down and share the road. The Bell/ Rekawek Family Doug Benning was an inspiring teacher and mentor. He ignited curiosity in his students not only for science, but also for knowledge and discovery. Many of his students went on to study technical areas at university and credit Mr. Benning as the source of their inspiration.

He was a great teacher, father, husband and friend who is missed greatly by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Éva Csendes During her early years, Éva was the captain of her handball team and often represented her hometown of Pécs at various competitions. Though she had aspirations to become a lawyer one day, she pursued a career as an X-Ray technician and worked at the local hospital in Tripoli, Libya for a number of years before returning to Hungary. Éva joined AISB in August of 1990 and stayed with the school for 23 years until her retirement at the end of 2012.

Throughout her life, she went out of her way to be strong for others and was an incredible mother, friend, and colleague. She is survived by her daughter, Diana.

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Christina de Groot was our Nurse Chris and friend for many, many years. She worked at AISB for 16 years. She knew everyone and everybody knew her. 'Nurse Chris' was always ready to listen and did what was necessary to help in her no-nonsense way. She spoke English, Dutch, and Hungarian, and this and her personality made people comfortable enough to share their concerns and problems with her. Children used to go to her office with any health issues as well as just to get attention and a few encouraging words or to pull a wobbly tooth, or to get help with translation.

She did what needed to be done: she went to someone's house late at night to help with an illness, and she spotted arising health problems in a co-worker before it got to be serious or she invited people to her house when they needed a friend.

Nurse Chris had a happy disposition, and she was always ready for a good laugh. She had a positive, "we can do this" attitude. Nurse Chris touched many, many people’s lives in our school. She was part of AISB for many years and her contributions are still appreciated.

Alenka Dorrell-Shepherd was a gifted teacher, mentor, mother and friend. She brought her tremendous gifts and wicked laugh to her students and colleagues at AISB, and also baked the best brownies in town. Alenka, her husband David, and boys Conner and Dylan were part of the AISB family until her unexpected death in January, 2009. Despite the chaotic craziness of her life in the theatre, Alenka’s answer was to sit down with a cup of tea poured from a pot in her infamous tea cozy. Alenka never did anything the traditional way, whether it was staging The Three Sisters in her beautiful garden, or Krapp’s Last Tape in the theatre stairwell: the entire world could be her stage. She is missed to this day.

Sara McMickle joined the AISB English Department for two years, from 2005 to 2007. She lifted everyone’s spirits with her ready, sincere smile and husky, teasing voice. Sara inspired her students to embrace her beloved literature. She enjoyed shopping for clothes, sampling Hungarian cuisine, and composing music to strum and accompany on her guitar. Her zest for life was contagious and reached beyond Budapest when AISB’s former History teacher, Paul MacKaill, recruited her to join the ASH faculty in The Hague. But Sara returned repeatedly to Budapest to stow away homemade stuffed cabbage in her suitcase or to whittle away at her two-year stash of Hungarian coins (she refused to use them in daily life) while on the town in Budapest.

Her apologies for paying a bill with stacks of coins were met with equally big smiles from everyone. Sara sadly passed away from illness just this year surrounded by loving friends. Her infectious smile, to this day, tells all of us: love life, laugh often.

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Annamaria Megyeri worked at AISB for over 20 years, first as a receptionist at the Kakukk utca campus, then as Middle/High School Library Assistant at Csillebérc and Nagykovácsi. Her passions were running and animals - she was an enthusiastic marathon runner, coaching Track and Field in the High School, where she inspired a decade of long-distance runners to love the sport. She often ran from Nagykovacsi into town, complete with hefty backpack. She loved animals and followed a strict vegan diet, explaining that animals were her friends, and she couldn't eat her friends. She was popular among the faculty for pet-sitting in the holidays, the only problem being that the cats and dogs loved Annamaria, so were not as welcoming as expected to their returning owners! She loved England, and moved there in 2012. Tragically, she was diagnosed with brain cancer and died in Norwich in 2015, never achieving her ultimate dream of visiting the mountain gorillas in Africa. Now she is free to run - the sky’s the limit.

Catalina Szabó-Thomas taught German and Spanish at AISB from 1994-2010. In that time, she also developed a thriving summer camp program, which continues to flourish using the model she created. She was fluent in five languages and brought her love of languages and song to the classroom. Catalina inspired love and affection in many who met her. People loved to tell her their stories, their joys and sorrows. Catalina passed away in 2013 after living seven years with cancer. She is survived by her husband Geoffrey and her sons Kornel and Dorian.

Alex Paduano. Alex was a loving husband, son, brother and uncle, with countless friends in all corners of the world. A true international school kid, he was born in Australia but grew up in five different countries. Alex attended AISB from Grade 6 to Grade 12 followed by university in England. However, his heart always belonged Down Under and he returned to Sydney soon after graduating. Alex was a man of many diverse talents. In addition to pursuing a career in interior architecture, he started his own company, the Jam Bandits, and his delicious jams and chutneys were much appreciated in the markets of Sydney. He was a creative cook, a skillful carpenter, a talented sportsman and an ace Scrabble player. We miss his quick wit, gentle kindness and beautiful smile.

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Death is nothing at all.

It does not count.

I have only slipped away into the next room.

Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was.

I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.

Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.

Put no difference into your tone.

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was.

There is absolute and unbroken continuity.

What is this death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner.

All is well.

Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.

One brief moment and all will be as it was before.

How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Death Is Nothing At All

By Henry Scott-Holland

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Counsellor's Corner Erin Hawken - Finding your Life's Work

E

rin joined AISB in 2018 as HS counselor. She began counseling in 2004, after receiving her Degree in Psychology and Masters in Educational Counseling from The University of California. She has worked as a Personal Social and College Counselor in Sacramento, California, San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Erin got into HS counseling because she loved helping others, especially teens, and because of her own wonderful high school experience. To Erin, the best part of her job is the opportunity to meet and engage with students, parents, and educators from all walks of life, across a wide array of backgrounds.

You're in the driver's seat, so listen to your instincts and let them steer you where your heart desires. Most of all, look inward and be honest with yourself about your interests, values, dreams, and questions. It's your life and it’s all about taking the time to find yourself and a path that stays true to who you are as a unique individual.

Be sure you take the time to tune in. What makes you, YOU? Start there. It does not matter if you know exactly what you want to do or where you are going in life. You may have no idea! it's about exploring, and taking risks. Do you want to take the safe path?

There may be no joy in that. Is it worth having a safety net? Or do you just want to be out there doing what you LOVE? Everyone's road or path is different. This is your Journey, your vehicle to discover what makes you happy. Don't feel that because you are still seeking, or because you're not really sure, that you've got to know right now what you want to do with the rest of your life. It's quest-and for some of us, it's a lifelong quest.

Enjoy the ride!

Steps: LJLJ LJLJ LJLJ LJLJ LJLJ LJLJ LJLJ LJLJ

Ask yourself what you want and what's important to you.

Visually see yourself achieving your goals.

Listen to your gut. If it does not feel right, don't continue.

Research different career opportunities within your interests.

Seek guidance from those who have already done what you aim to do.

Take risks and try something new.

Write a letter to your future self.

Remember anything is possible with determination, focus and hard work.

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FOLLOW LIKE SHARE Aisb Connect facebook.com/aisb.connect.9 Alumni Group facebook.com/groups/aisbudapest.alumni.group AISBudapest twitter.com/aisbconnect AISBudapest pinterest.com/aisbconnect American International School of Budapest linkedin.com/school/american-international-school-of-budapest

NEXT ISSUE: You can look forward to our BIG GREEN ISSUE in Spring 2020. We will be focusing on the ways in which alums, AISB and our community at large have made a positive environmental impact on our planet.

How have you been change agents to a greater greener good?

We look forward to celebrating and promoting environmental action in our 2020 edition.

Please send contributions and ideas to Reka at rsari@aisb.hu

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