Meet William Cope

Learn more about William Cope, Alumni (2000-2015)

Where are you living now?
Luxembourg

What did you do after you left ISL?
I went and studied Design Engineering at Aston University in Birmingham, UK. 

What are you doing now? 
I now work for myself as a freelance sports coach and graphic designer. So now I spend most of my time working for Little Lions Luxembourg, where we work in schools and run after school activities for children with a focus on sports and movement. I currently work in three schools weekly and am looking forward to adding ISL to that list in the Spring to teach Rugby to Grades 3 to 5. In addition to the sports side, I work on marketing and web development for 3 different sporting establishments in Luxembourg.

Do you think that your time at ISL helped you pursue this? If yes, how?
Of course, ISL had a positive impact on where I have gotten today. Having a well-rounded curriculum has enabled me to transition fields more easily because ISL demanded to learn various skills. I put some of those skills like French, German and Marketing to use every day.

What advantages has studying at ISL given you?
Studying in a very multicultural environment has prepared me enormously. Each team or environment has members from different cultures and to be able to listen and appreciate their viewpoints is crucial to be a positive and effective member of any team.
The leadership skills that I learnt from various roles in the extra-curricular sports teams have greatly benefited me in my studies and my work now. Being able to effectively lead meetings, delegate tasks and provide motivation is key. Having made mistakes and learnt from them at school has definitely improved these skills.

What advice would you give students to help them make the most of their time at ISL?
ISL has some of the best teachers in the country, you might never get the same quality of teaching again in your life. At University, lecturers can’t give the same amount of personal contact time as you have now. Therefore, I would suggest that you appreciate them more and make the most of the generous time they donate to you.

Were you involved in any clubs/activities at ISL? What did you learn from these experiences?
Football, Rugby, Athletics, Math, Drama
The main thing I learnt from all this is how to be a ‘Coach’. I got to witness from the age of 10, teachers become great coaches because they knew how to motivate. The skill to motivate a group or individual is key to what I do now, and I draw on my experiences from Coaches here at ISL to do so with the children I teach.

How did your time at ISL help shape you as a person?
The best thing that ISL did for me as a person was to let me shape who I wanted to be within a well structured and positive environment. There was never a pressure to be the best in the world at anything, but there was pressure to be good at as much as possible. This environment is key to shaping a well-rounded person and I think that is very well reflected in myself now.

What do you think is unique about ISL?
The quality of teaching and the individuals that go above and beyond to teach and mentor students without seeking praise for it. Never since have I seen so many individuals care for their students as much as at ISL. This is a culture ISL have instilled over many years and only when you leave do you realise how unique this is.

Upon reflection, what do you think ISL could have done better?
Since leaving ISL, I have had 3 major surgeries which have greatly impacted my life. I didn’t have the coping mechanisms to deal with these and I suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. Talking and learning about Mental Illness has helped me into having a better mindset and I wish I was more aware of the services available to people when I was younger. I want to help ISL as much as I can with this.