" To me, there is no better way to burst your heart and mind open than through travel."
- Joann McPike
We live in a world filled with hidden gems, golden opportunities, and diamonds in the rough, and there is only one way to truly appreciate them: By getting out there and experiencing them firsthand.
To navigate the world, though, one needs a dynamic education. Learning empowers. It preserves cultures. It lays foundations. It makes us a society capable of great heights.
When you combine travel and education, something magical happens. Students discover the world and all its diverse cultures, geographies, histories, and ecosystems. They discover themselves and their unique values, beliefs, strengths, and passions. They define their future and all that it might hold. And over time and with perseverance, they might just impact our world in ways that make us all a little better.
On the following pages, you’ll find reflections from the students of THINK Global School, who’ve amassed a few magical experiences of their own.
We hope you enjoy them.
Applying to THINK Global School was the most spontaneous decision I’ve ever made, but it’s also the best. TGS has helped me learn skills I never knew I would like to learn. I have pursued projects that I felt were not possible in school, and I have gained a community that I am proud to call my family.
TGS has become my home in the past year -- a place I am always eager to return to. There is so much THINK Global School has given me, but what I will cherish the most will be the unique experiences I have had during my time here and the person this school has helped me grow into.
Aarushi Arora Class of2023, India
THINK Global School has supported my dreams and passions in a way I could previously have only dreamed of. As I am very interested in emerging technologies, pursuing an unconventional form of education has been very valuable as it’s given me the freedom and flexibility to learn and design.
I consider TGS the most innovative school in the world, and despite it being a challenging educational program, I always find myself motivated to get work done. Joining TGS was the best decision I ever made.
Bido Hafrag Class of 2023, Egypt
I took this picture in the backyard of the Taj Mahal, where these women were in the garden cutting the grass and tending the yard. I believe that every woman is a sign of empowerment and that we all have strong stories to tell, but most of the time these stories go unheard and their great acts unrealized.
Shamsia Daryabi Class of 2019, Afghanistan
Back at my old school, I never thought I’d talk to my teacher about anything more than homework. I never talked to them about my private life and emotions. The teachers and students are really patient about that here, and people really go out of their way to make you feel better about yourself. I wasn’t afraid to be myself at TGS.
Kien Ngo Class of 2019, Vietnam
My year and a half at THINK Global School was the biggest period of growth in my life, but what I found most valuable was learning to focus on the commonalities rather than differences between myself and the people around me. I realized just how much I share in common with people, no matter where we come from or what our life experiences are.
I had the extreme privilege of spending my last two years of high school connecting with the most incredible people from across the world, all of whom I can now call some of my closest friends, and I could not be more grateful.
Tobin Mayo-Kiely Class of 2022, United States
My time at THINK Global School has been a journey full of great learning experiences and valuable mistakes. It was a significant period of growth in my life. I was given the opportunity to pursue projects I always felt curious to explore: from photography and filmmaking to storytelling and graphic novel creation. Learning from professionals and experts has allowed me to trust the process and create stories worth telling.
At TGS, I was always able to improve on my previous mistakes, and that’s the best learning opportunity I could have asked for.
Chadi Saadoun Class of 2023, Morocco
Before TGS, it never felt like education was in my control. Now, almost at the end of this journey, I’ve not only learned academically but also found that my education has become very personal. I’m eager to learn in whatever way I can, and that learning is something I cherish rather than something that feels like a chore. Students don’t all obtain information in the same way, and TGS doesn’t shy away from that challengeit embraces it.
The places we travel, the bonds we create, these experiences that have become my favorite memories, it’s an extreme privilege that I’ll never forget; I’ll carry it all with me for the rest of my life. I’ve found my second family here, and I’ll always be grateful for this school and everything it has given me to become my best self.”
Olivia Abraham Class of 2023, United States
Before coming to TGS, my only goal was to achieve perfection. I wanted to be a perfect human being with perfect grades and a perfect personality. TGS taught me the importance of accepting myself and my flaws and how to use them to my advantage: It gave me a safe environment to try and fail, make mistakes, and explore my interests without being scared of judgment.
I met the most supportive and encouraging community I could have ever asked for, and it constantly pushed me to be more accepting of myself and others.
Zheka Chyzhykova
Class of 2021, Ukraine
I might be stating the obvious here, but not many teenagers get to say they lived with and traveled around the world with thirty of their closest friends. Being a TGS student taught me more than I ever could have imagined as a naive 15-year-old when I first applied.
While we were all academically challenged and pushed to our limits, I feel the most growth I experienced was outside of the classroom. There is no other high school experience that prepares its students for real-life development and “soft skills” like TGS does.
Joshua Wyld Class of 2021, Australia
I was searching for a place where I could show my talent, share my views, and actually build what I dream. TGS came into my life unexpectedly but it left a lasting impact. It became my home.
My educators challenged me to raise my bar, my friends became my pillars of support, my roommate taught me to pierce through difficulties, and my experiences carved me into a better self.
Madhu Soma Dinakaran Class of 2021, India
Before I came to TGS, most of what I learned in South Korea was what I was told I had to learn. I enjoyed the lessons and the knowledge I gained, but they weren’t necessarily intrinsic. Being able to choose what I learned through project-based learning was a really fresh experience that let me establish my interests and do what I’m good at, not just work based on school reports. I valued that autonomy.
Soeun KimClass of 2020, South Korea
I joined THINK Global School full of questions and not understanding a single thing I was doing (funny enough, I thought that was the best version of myself at the time). This school has a talent for fastforwarding your personal evolution and making you grow as an individual in ways you couldn’t even imagine.
I’ve shaped the person I am today and brought my passions to life -- a lot of the credit goes to this school that encouraged me to do so. Applying to TGS was one of the best decisions of my life; the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met are priceless. I will forever cherish the memories and friendships I’ve made during my time here.
Camille Asturias Marcel Class of 2023, Guatemala
Dhruv, Zendaya, and Olivia at the Gyeongbokgung Palace (Seoul, South Korea)
Aarushi participates in a ritual at the Bahurutshe Cultural Village (Mmankgodi, Botswana)
Bido learns about mythology during an excursion to the Oracle of Delphi (Delphi, Greece)
Photos from Shamsia’s final product for the Zero to Infinity module (Agra, India)
Sipho learns how to stoke a fire during the Malaysian Rite of Passage (Sabah, Malaysia)
Joann McPike and Kien review photos (Okavango Delta, Botswana)
Kien and his CM1 classmates explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (Kyoto, Japan)
David and Zhaniya collaborate during the Drone to Busan module (Seoul, South Korea)
Dhruv, Sigurd, and Abner snap a selfie in front of the Gateway of India (Mumbai, India)
Tobin’s graduation photo (Oaxaca, Mexico)
Chadi snaps a photo during his Rite of Passage (Sabah, Malaysia)
Olivia makes a new friend (Botswana)
Zheka and Joshua prepare to sail during The Shipyard module (Muscat, Oman)
CM2 students show their silly side (Delphi, Greece)
Madhu helps spruce up a building with Fundación Sembrarte (Boca la Caja, Panama)
Joshua, Isa, and Marwa take part in a scavenger hunt, TGS-style (Osaka, Japan)
Amelie and Soeun pose for a photo during weXplore (Thessaly, Greece)
Camille peers through a telescope during the Can You Atronish Me? module (Istanbul, Türkiye)
CM1 students explore Oman for the first time during their orientation (Muscat, Oman)
CM2 students take a plunge at Salinas Agua Colorada (Oaxaca, Mexico)
