THINK Global School has been the most rewarding, fulfilling, and enriching experience of my life. I don’t say that lightly. Having graduated from university and spent the past two years working, I still find myself reflecting on my experiences at TGS almost every day. TGS made me more resilient and empathetic while strengthening my ability to think critically, and make real interdisciplinary connections. These are qualities I came to deeply appreciate during university and continue to rely on in my professional life today. At TGS, learning extended far beyond the classroom. We engaged with the real world firsthand, learning through experiences, places, and people in ways that traditional education rarely allows. I never imagined that my high-school experience would include traveling across the world, making friends from over 20 different countries and actually finding my passion.
Beyond academics, TGS gave me lifelong friendships that quickly became a family. I found myself connecting with people over things I never imagined I would share with others, common grounds that I had't found with my friendships back home. Those relationships taught me as much about empathy, belonging, and human connection as any classroom ever could.
Equally meaningful were the staff members who cared for us, not just as students, but as people, able to communicate and dialogue. They genuinely invested in our growth, took the time to understand who we were, and encouraged us to pursue the questions, passions, and curiosities that made us wonder about the world. We weren't just given the freedom to explore our interests; but educators challenged us to follow them, even when we weren't sure where they would lead. The staff were definitely the core pillar of TGS, and their support guided us through the many unknowns of this experience.
I also believe TGS's academic rigor, particularly in STEM, is sometimes misunderstood. I studied Environmental Sciences at university, have published papers, worked in a laboratory, and now work in marine conservation as a research coordinator. I also know TGS alumni pursuing STEM careers and studies at a wide range of universities. These experiences have reinforced my belief that TGS prepares students for rigorous academic and scientific work, even if its approach looks different from that of a traditional school. The curriculum may not be for everyone, but it offers an additional layer of learning since we weren't simply sitting in classrooms absorbing information; we were learning how to learn, how to teach ourselves and how to ask better questions. You reach a level of independence, adaptability, and intellectual curiosity that are invaluable and definitely stand out in higher education.
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
One of the most surprising and exciting experiences I had at TGS was taking a module in Oman that combined scuba diving, machine learning, and marine biology. It was the perfect example of how TGS brought interdisciplinary learning to life. We explored marine ecosystems firsthand through scuba diving, designed and conducted our own studies, and learned how technology, particularly machine learning, could be used to better understand the natural world. Being able to connect scientific concepts with hands-on exploration and emerging technologies made learning both challenging and incredibly fun. This module pushed me outside of my boundaries, and it was thanks to this that I found my true passion.
What other participants should know
- Come with an open mind, a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, and the curiosity to absorb everything around you
- ou won't be learning in a traditional classroom. You might find yourself studying on a beach, in the middle of a jungle, or on a busy city street. Every place becomes an opportunity to learn if you're willing to look beyond the obvious and ask questions.
- You don't need to be wealthy to have this experience.
