Where are you living now?
I am a Luxembourg resident (and national).

What did you do after you left ISL?
I pursued higher education in the United Kingdom.

What did you study at University?
I graduated with a First-class Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering with a Diploma in Industrial Studies from Loughborough University, United Kingdom.
My experience at ISL was invaluable as I was able to foster my relationships and skills in a multicultural, ambitious, and supportive environment. This made my degree much more bearable in terms of the technical content (thank you Higher Level Maths!), as well as my time management in completing projects individually or within a team.

What are you doing now?
I am a space systems engineer at ispace inc.’s European office in Luxembourg City. The company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a deep space exploration startup working on the world’s first commercial lunar program and currently designing, building, and testing a suite of robotic landers and mobile rovers for prospection and exploration of the Moon. We have contracted launches on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and will carry both static and dynamic customer instruments to the Lunar surface on board our technology, including our work with NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Do you think that your time at ISL helped you pursue this? If yes, how?
ISL provided me with both the knowledge and the personal ambition to pursue a challenging technical career. Having worked in aviation, space, and robotics I can say that the transferable skills gained at ISL - including but not limited to presentation, deep diving, and problem-solving - have significantly contributed in making me a proficient and reputable young professional.

What advantages has studying at ISL given you?
As mentioned, the multi-cultural environment was invaluable, as it taught me to listen and be tolerant to varying points of view and assess every situation critically, approaching conflict open-mindedly rather than acting by impulse. This is a skill that comes very useful in my daily job where I juggle both technical inputs and human influence to advise the most appropriate solution to engineering problems, so it is very important to guarantee the highest quality of our products.

What advice would you give students to help them make the most of their time at ISL?
ISL is a huge opportunity for you to be able to foster your abilities in a supportive and driven environment. Make use of your time here not only by pursuing academic excellence in one of the best institutions in the country working on one of the hardest degree courses in the world, but just as importantly you need to build relationships and the future professional skills that will be crucial to your success in higher education and later career. Building character does not just come in the form of a solid academic performance, but in the completeness of the individual and in his/her reputation amongst its peers, so get engaged in numerous activities.Trying things out will open up new doors that you might have never thought existed, go for it!

Were you involved in any clubs/activities at ISL? What did you enjoy about them and what benefit do you think they have for students?
I was part of the Track and Field team throughout high school, as well as Symphonic and Jazz bands, mentoring programs for lower school, and I was a member of the honor society. Apart from being a break from the books and a great time with friends, these opened new doors that I previously bypassed. For instance I joined an athletic club in Luxembourg and participated in the nationals championship for Long and Triple Jump. The benefits are linked to what previously mentioned: the students have an opportunity to build character (and foster talent) while trying new things out in a supportive environment and discover themselves further!

Describe some of the things that ISL does above and beyond teaching and learning
The opportunities offered by the school are virtually endless, from sports to arts, to mentoring and languages, field trips... there is something for everyone and students should make sure they are informed and up to date with everything that is on offer so they can benefit from it. Gauge this opportunity now and grow your range of competencies and skills whilst in such a supportive environment, trust me!

How did your time at ISL help shape you as a person?
ISL taught me to be confident in my abilities and to pursue what I want to achieve, taking obstacles as challenges and challenges as organized tasks, which have led me to securing outstanding opportunities in roles and industries I had never considered within my reach. This is credited to the brilliant teachers in this school who understand that one’s academic success goes further than a textbook page or an exam, listen to your teachers and to their precious feedback, they are value-added to your present and future.

What do you think is unique about ISL?
ISL is unique as it is able to inspire the highest performances from pupils of every culture and background without resorting to a systematic ‘corporate’ approach that is all too common in schools. Students are driven to their best as they feel the ambition and desire to achieve, rather than being forced to or feeling the pressure of failure. A truly successful academic establishment should make every day feel like a new experience, a new success story, and ISL is most definitely in-line with this.

Describe ISL in 5 words
Multi-cultural, excellence, opportunity, student-driven, future!