Meet Vanessa Gerrard

Learn more about Vanessa Gerrard, Alumni (attended ISL 1985 to 1999)

Name: 
Vanessa Gibson – née Gerrard

Class of (or years attended): 
1985-1999

Where are you living now? 
London

What did you do after you left ISL? 
I went to University College London, then travelled and settled in Sydney for 7 years before returning to London in 2010.

What did you study at University? 
BA in Philosophy and Economics

Do you feel your ISL education prepared you well for University? 
Most definitely though the size of the lectures was quite a surprise compared with my graduating class of 17!

What are you doing now? 
I am married with 2 children under 4 and work full time in sales for a Canadian Bank

 Do you think that your time at ISL helped you pursue this? If yes, how? 
I think my time at (A)ISL provided me with a great intellectual curiosity that has helped me continue to grow in my career. 

What advice would you give students to help them make the most of their time at ISL? 
Enjoy all it has to offer, get involved in everything that you can and soak up all that your teachers have to offer. 

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 heavily involved in sports playing volleyball, basketball and running track & field. I also have fond memories of being in the choir for various musicals and in the band, where I played the flute!

 Describe some of the things that ISL does above and beyond teaching and learning? 
The school fostered a real sense of belonging and identity which has seen me maintain friendships from my time at school. The sports program was incredible; travelling to different European cities to play sports was certainly a highlight – as were all the P.E staff over the years – Coach Kasi is one in a million!

How did your time at ISL help shape you as a person? 
The diversity of the school, that is so much celebrated, laid the grounds for a curiosity of different cultures and traditions that I still have today. It also helped me adapt to new  environments that I have found myself in over the years. Finally, as mentioned, some of my closest friends are from my time at AISL, I only just had a Christmas reunion dinner with a few of them in London! 

 Describe ISL in 5 words: 
Supportive, diverse, fun, active, and warm