ROAR

St. John’s International School

SPRING 2016

Senior interviewsBecoming psychologically resilient

Second generation student

ROAR appears three times a year. To submit articles, please e-mail the unformatted text in a Microsoft Word document to the editor.

Editor: Marcia De Wolf mdewolf@stjohns.beGraphic designer: Gregory Parker

St. John’s International School

Drève Richelle 1461410 Waterloo, BelgiumTel. 02/352 06 10025COM-1516/3-16©2016 a.s.b.l. St. John’s International School F.C.J.

Please make sure we have your correct mailing and e-mail addresses. Either go to the alumni section of the Web site at www.stjohns.be/alumni and fill in the contact update form or send your contact information via e-mail to Marcia De Wolf at mdewolf@stjohns.be

Dear Friends of St. John’s,

Welcome to our Spring edition of ROAR!

It has been a very eventful time in St. John’s since our last edition, where a major focus has been our response to the need to increase our level of campus security in the light of the heightened security in Belgium. We have done our due diligence in such a way that there has been little adverse effect on our activities. Our sporting, musical and cultural events have continued, albeit within a framework of increased security awareness. Within this framework, St. John’s continues to be an extremely warm and welcoming campus for staff, students and their families!

This particular issue of our magazine follows in the well-recognizable ROAR tradition, in

that it contains a multitude of articles of interest, supplemented by beautiful photography that both captures and encapsulates magical moments that portray the very essence of who we are as a close-knit, communicative community. There are interviews with 10 of our seniors, several alumni stories, an article on psychological resilience by Susan Anderson and photo collages of Rock for Relay, the highly acclaimed Les Misérables musical, our recent Gala and that favorite annual event, the Tom O’Donnell soccer tournament where all funds raised go to cancer research.

Happy reading and all my best wishes to each and every one of you.

Ray Holliday-Bersegeay Head of School

Student band Godfish performs at Rock for Relay

On the cover

Please like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/stjohnsinternationalschool

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Senior interviews ....................................................................................2

Rock for Relay ...................................................................................... 11

Living as a global citizen ....................................................................... 12

Second generation student .................................................................. 13

Life after St. John’s .............................................................................. 14

Swing away! ......................................................................................... 15

Les Misérables .................................................................................... 16

Becoming psychologically resilient ....................................................... 18

Bal Masqué Gala Dinner .......................................................................20

Tom O’Donnell ...................................................................................... 21

Mane Events ........................................................................................ 21

ROAR SPRING 2016

Kids!Don’t forget to check out my Web site:www.luckylion.me

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SENIORINTERVIEWS

Marina Tavolieri

How long have you been at St. John’s?I’ve been at St. John’s for eight years.

Please tell us about your background: nationality, where you lived before coming to St. John’s (if applicable), family, etc.I’m Italian-Canadian, and before I came to St. John’s, I lived in Ontario. My entire family lives in Windsor, Canada, which is a small town around 20 minutes away from the border to Detroit.

Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?My senior year has been pretty stressful, but all around very rewarding. I have been involved in the AMIS Honour Jazz Choir, and will be leaving in March for the AMIS Honour Women’s choir. I also played Eponine in our production of Les Misérables,

We interviewed 10 of our seniors about their final year, what makes St. John’s special, their plans for university and what advice they have for our younger students.

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which was a dream come true for me. My final year at St. John’s has been fantastic; it is very bittersweet that it is almost over.

What makes St. John’s special for you?St. John’s is very special for me because it gave me a lot of opportunities to find myself through the performing arts program. All of the choirs and shows that Mr. Graham, Ms. Swanson and Arts Support make possible for us students is so incredible. If I did not attend St. John’s, I do not think I would have realized how much I love the performing arts.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?I am heavily involved in the arts program at St. John’s. I am currently involved in the Girls Choir, High School Choir, Vocal Jazz Choir and Chamber Choir. Alongside those activities, I take part in Mr. Graham’s ballet class and the school’s productions.

What are your plans for university and beyond?As of now, I am currently still auditioning for schools in the United States and England for Musical Theatre. After school, I hope to pursue the performing arts as a full-time career.

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?Take advantage of the opportunities the school provides. Very few other schools in the world offer what St. John’s offers in terms of extracurricular activities. If you have the chance to be a part of something, take that chance. You never know if you’ll get another one. Also, enjoy your time at school, it goes by fast.

Marcial Colmenares

How long have you been at St. John’s?I have been at St. John’s ever since Grade 5. Both of my parents are from Venezuela, however, despite being born in Caracas, Venezuela, I can’t really relate with Venezuelans since I left to Colombia two months after being born. Apart from Colombia, I have also lived in the U.S. for a couple of years, Brazil for eight years and then I moved to Belgium. Most of my family has left Venezuela as well. I have an aunt in Los Angeles, one in Argentina, an uncle in Brazil, an aunt in Wales, and, surprisingly, an aunt in Belgium as well.

Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?My senior year has been fairly hectic, as I tend to involve myself a lot with what’s going on across the school. Between the two sport seasons and the many groups I partake in, it can be difficult to manage my time properly—especially because this year if very different to any of my previous High School years. You’ll undoubtedly find yourself with a larger workload, but on the other hand, your friendships and connections with your peers will flourish as you’ll soon realize you won’t have much time left together.

What makes St. John’s special for you?St. John’s is where I spent the majority of my life learning about

my studies, but more importantly about life itself and being a morally-just person. International schools are a very special and unique environment, since we are privileged enough to be exposed to many different cultures in a place where everyone respects each other equally. Additionally it goes without saying that I’ve made some life-long connections with many special people, and for someone who is unsure of their nationality, St. John’s has been a home for me.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?I’m involved in the football and basketball varsity teams.

What are your plans for university and beyond?For university, I plan to study Business with Economics in the UK. I’m fascinated by international trade, and I aspire to become an international businessman. I also want to start my own trading company.

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?My advice for the younger students is to try not to stress out too much about your workload. Instead look to spend time more with your friends as that will soon be coming to an end. Therefore cherish your friends, spread smiles, and the workload will suddenly not seem as intimidating.

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What makes St. John’s special for you?St. John’s is special because it offers endless opportunities. When I came to St. John’s, my only extracurricular activity was American football. After coming here, I have had the privilege of being captain of two sports, president of two clubs and member of countless extracurricular meetings at lunch. At least once a month, I have travelled to other countries to play sports. I even had the opportunity to hear the Duchess of Luxembourg speak at the Global Issues Network conference. St. John’s has not only helped me as a student but is truly special because of all the opportunities it offers outside of class.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?I have played two sports throughout High School: volleyball and basketball. I started volleyball in Grade 10 and in Grade 11 played on one of three teams in ISST history to go undefeated in sets. In my senior year we finished sixth, clearly I was instrumental to our success the previous year.

What are your plans for university and beyond?I plan on attending university in southern California. I will major in Zoology. Other than that, I am not sure what I want to do.

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?If I am completely honest, I procrastinated a lot in High School. I wouldn’t say that is necessarily a good thing, but it’s

not the end of the world. I know a lot of people say that you need to be organized and stay on top of your work, and every time you hear it, you roll your eyes. While that is definitely good advice, I know for some people it’s not really an option to not procrastinate. My advice would be to procrastinate well. By that I mean, don’t spend hours scrolling through your news feed reading pointless UNILAD articles, but make your procrastination worth it—spend time with your friends, play sports or enjoy time with your family. If I could go back and change anything from High School, I wouldn’t want to have taken less time at dinner with my family to finish my Biology IA, and I wouldn’t want to have missed basketball practice when I really needed to finish my Extended Essay. I would go back and not click on Buzzfeed article after Buzzfeed article instead of doing my work. There are things in life more important than schoolwork – Buzzfeed is not one of them. Basically, procrastinate responsibly.

Zach Arnold

How long have you been at St. John’s?I have been at St. John’s for five years.

Please tell us about your background: nationality, where you lived before coming to St. John’s (if applicable), family, etc.My father is American, and my mother is from Australia. I was born in Sydney, Australia, but moved only a few months later to Malaysia. I then lived in Georgia, Oklahoma and California in the U.S., before moving to Belgium in Grade 7. I have two sisters who also attended or currently attend St. John’s. Madison graduated in 2013, and my little sister McKinley is in Grade 9.

Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?Senior year has been incredibly fun for me. It is quite different to the past years in terms of workload, but other than that it is almost the same. I’ve enjoyed playing sports, participating in student council and hanging out with friends just as I have in the past, the only difference is the number of late nights I’ve had doing work.

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What makes St. John’s special for you?I feel that the cultural differences makes St. John’s special. By coming to meet different people with different ways of thinking it helps us understand each other better and come to think in different perspectives.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?In High School, I have done basketball, golf and tennis. So I am playing basketball this season, and I enjoy playing the sport with my team.

Momoko Osawa

How long have you been at St. John’sI have been here since 2005, so this would be my 11th year.

Please tell us about your background: nationality, where you lived before coming to St. John’s (if applicable), family, etc.I am Japanese, but I never l ived there. I was born in England and lived their until I was 7. Then I moved to Belgium to start my second grade in Elementary School.

Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?Compared to last year, with all the university applications and handing in my internal assessments for the IB, I have the strong feeling that this really is my last year. So I feel I need to do my best so that I can graduate feeling proud with my accomplishments.

Francesco Olivero

How long have you been at St. John’s?I’ve been at St. John’s for 10 years.

Please tell us about your background: nationality, where you lived before coming to St. John’s (if applicable), family, etc.I was born in Italy but spent the first years of my life living in Budapest and Prague before moving to Belgium. My sister, Ilaria, also graduated from St. John’s four years ago.

Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?Constant reminders of how different one’s senior year is aside, this past year has been rather similar to the previous. Nevertheless, the workload has increased, in addition to other things to worry about like university applications and exams in May. And, of course, it is always nice to pretend that as seniors we now have a shred of authority over our younger peers.

What makes St. John’s special for you?All international schools are fantastic places to be: great academics, an international upbringing and countless extracurricular opportunities, yet St. John’s really does possess

What are your plans for university and beyond?I suppose there are people who know what they want to do, however I am not sure. Therefore, I intend to find what I really want to do at university and continue studying what I would like to do afterwards.

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?Challenge yourself and start new things at school, cherish the people around you and enjoy school as much as possible.

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Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?Well, it’s definitely different! I find it has become increasingly difficult with the workload becoming greater. On top of having to learn the syllabus, there is also a plethora of assignments (themely IAs and the EE) that need to be checked over and turned in. We also have to worry about university applications, making our offers and the stress of realizing that time is running out! However disheartening that might sound, it’s nonetheless been an extremely exciting year.

What makes St. John’s special for you?This school has become my community in Belgium. The friends I have made here are ones I know I will stay in contact with far beyond graduation. My best friends are from all different parts of the globe with each speaking different languages. It’s something you just don’t find

a community feel which is hard to find elsewhere. Perhaps our teachers have repeated the values of “Companionship, Integrity and Respect” so often, they have been instilled into us students.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?For the past two years, I have been a part of the St. John’s soccer team. It has been really fun and something I would definitely recommend to everyone; you get to travel throughout Europe, make new friends and have fun playing a sport.

What are your plans for university and beyond?I have applied to study Mechanical Engineering at university in the UK, and if all goes well with exams, I will be studying at Imperial College in London next year. After that, who knows.

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?Take part in as many extracurricular activities as you can, as soon as you can. They are all great opportunities, and by the time you get to Grade 12, you won’t have time to do everything you want to do!

Soraya Kezelmann

How long have you been at St. John’s?This is my fifth year.

Please tell us about your background: nationality, where you lived before coming to St. John’s (if applicable), family, etc.My parents are both Hungarian, but I was born in Canada. I lived there for six years until I moved to the U.S., where I lived for seven years. After that, we moved to Belgium.

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so tough, shapes and shows you what you’re really about.

What makes St. John’s special for you?At St. John’s, you create a true relationship with your friends and teachers. Even if a student is not doing the IB, St. John’s International School is not easy. I believe each student should be proud to be supported by a school that lifts everyone up, seeking to create a community and succeeds.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?I am attending dance class every Tuesday after school with my friends. It is a fun activity because it shows the school spirit as the whole team sometimes performs in front of a large audience. Our teacher pushes every one of us to contribute to the class, which makes it a collaborative work. I am very involved in one of the art programs: Visual Arts. In fact, I take so much pleasure in doing art that I have hesitated whether I should study Art or Business.

Alix Cranshoff

How long have you been at St. John’s?I have been at St. John’s since Grade 5.

Please tell us about your background: nationality, where you lived before coming to St. John’s (if applicable), family, etc.I am from Belgium and am a quarter Greek. I’ve always lived in Belgium, and therefore always spoke French since my mother is Belgian, and my father is half Belgian, half Greek. I only really started speaking English correctly when I attended St. John’s in Grade 5. During the years I have spent at St. John’s, I started to understand that learning new languages impassioned me. This is the reason why I have chosen to learn Spanish, hoping it will later on allow me to communicate with people worldwide during my Business studies at university.

Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?It’s a complex task to briefly describe your senior year. It is very different from the previous High School years. Each one of us has a different amount of stress and anxiety. Some of us do not give our best. Senior year is a year that requires a lot of effort and motivation to succeed. This is the year where you learn to surpass

elsewhere! The teachers are also wonderful; they listen to you and care about your work and your progress. Leaving St. John’s and talking with those outside of the community is what always allows me to realize what a special place it is. It has both the intimacy of a small school and the diversity of an international one. It’s a community I will most definitely miss.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?Ever since I moved to St. John’s, I’ve participated on the cross country and swim teams. I find that doing sports here is a great way to get to know people in other grades and excel at your sport. It has also given me the opportunity to travel to different schools in Europe to participate in competitions and championships. By the time I graduate, I’ll have gone to 10 ISSTs—and made memories I’ll never forget.

What are your plans for university and beyond?I plan to study either in the UK or Canada. As of now, I am unsure, but I know I will be happy wherever I go!

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?Enjoy life in school! Experience as much as you can! Study hard! Although it might seem like it sometimes, school doesn’t last forever.

yourself and the year where you realize that your whole future career depends on the amount of effort that you give. It is not easy. It is also different because your teachers support you much more than your previous years in High School. This is why I believe that senior year, because being

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between senior year and the others is the IB workload, but it’s still manageable.

What makes St. John’s special for you?The community here at St. John’s is great. The teachers here provide a fantastic learning experience, and it’s so easy to make wonderful friends.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?Yes, I do track and field as well as cross country

What are your plans for university and beyond?Next year, I should be studying either Politics and Economics or PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics), depending on what university I decide to go to.

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?Just remember to find a balance between work and your social life!

Pierre-Louis Jones

How long have you been at St. John’s?This is my 14th year here.

Please tell us about your background: nationality, where you lived before coming to St. John’s (if applicable), family, etc.My name is Pierre-Louis and I’m (unsurprisingly) from France. I lived briefly in the UK before coming here.

Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?Senior year has been both fun and challenging. The main difference

What are your plans for university and beyond?In the end, I chose to do Business at university. I chose to do Business because it gives each individual such a wide scope of possibilities to succeed in any area. I therefore hope to own my proper art business later on in order to combine both of these subjects. I hope that my motivation will enable me to reach my dreams.

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?The advice that I’d give to younger students at St. John’s? Probably what the teachers will constantly repeat: MEET THE DEADLINES. Even though it may sometimes not seem like the deadlines are helping you, they are! The IB requires so much work and organization that you need to be on time. So I’d definitely say to meet the deadlines as effectively as you can. Secondly, I witnessed a lot of my friends too shy or unsure whether they should ask for help. DO IT! The teachers at St. John’s are kind and are there to help you, so step forward if you’re not feeling comfortable.

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Stephen Kayola

How long have you been at St. John’s?My name is Stephen Kayola. I’ve been at St. John’s for 10 years. I came to St. John’s in 2006 and started in Grade 3.

Please tell us about your background: nationality, where you lived before coming to St. John’s (if applicable), family, etc.I was born in Tanzania and lived there until I was seven years old. I have one younger brother in Grade 8 named Richard, who tells me he’s excited for his future High School adventures. My brother and I are very close. We do everything together, when we were both younger we would wear the same clothes. We both enjoy playing soccer together, and as I am about to leave for university I will miss my brother very much. I am from a country located in east Africa, and it’s a tropical country with beautiful national parks and sunny beaches. Tanzania is my home, and I lived there until I was eight years old. In 2006, my parents had to move to Belgium due to work purposes. It has always been hard for me moving from school to school, and therefore when I heard that we were moving to Belgium I was nervous. I had never heard of Belgium before, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. When I arrived at St. John’s for the first time, I was very nervous. I spoke

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little English and so it was hard for me to communicate with the teachers, however I made friends very quickly because the teachers and students at St. John’s were very welcoming and caring, and after a couple of weeks I settled in very nicely. School was a lot different in Tanzania. For example, we would only have one meal a day, which would be porridge most of the time. School would start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. However I didn’t get to experience much of school in Tanzania as I moved to Belgium when I was eight.

Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?Senior year is definitely different from my previous High School years. There is much more work, many deadlines and very little time to relax. As it’s the final year of IB, most of the free time is spent studying, however procrastination is a problem that many of us experience. Senior year can also be quite exciting with graduation, senior prom and senior trip. These are things that can be motivating for us. Not only that but also the friendship that we have as seniors is also a key to a successful senior year. We all support each other and help each other out through tough times of IB.

What makes St. John’s special for you?What makes St. John’s special to me is the ability of people to always care for you. Students, teachers and parents are always there for you when you need them. St. John’s is one big, diverse community. St. John’s is special because every person here can feel at home. You are welcomed as you are, and it’s a place where you have the opportunity to express yourself for who you are. Here at St. John’s, we are lucky to have people from all around the world. This gives

us the opportunity to learn and experience different cultures.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?At St. John’s, I have participated in High School and Middle School sports. I was part of the soccer and track and field teams. My favorite sport at St. John’s was soccer. I enjoyed it because of the great coaches (Axel and Sebastian) who were full of passion and always pushed us to become better. I also enjoyed soccer because of the players on the team who I share a great bond with.

What are your plans for university and beyond?At university, I plan to study Business and Marketing. I have enjoyed studying IB business at St. John’s and wish to further explore this subject in more depth.

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?For the younger students at St. John’s, I would like to say keep listening to your parents everyday, they know what’s best for you. Spend as much time as you can with your family because time flies, so enjoy it. Listen to your teachers because they want you to perform to the best of your abilities, to make you and your parents proud. When the IB closes the doors on you, remember to be the key to your own success and open those doors. Without hard work the doors won’t open. Focus and don’t let them stop you.

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before coming to Belgium. We moved here due to my father’s job. In my family, I have my father and my mother and my little young brother whom EVERYONE knows about, Fahim.

Can you briefly describe your senior year? Is it very different from the previous High School years?So far it is very stressful. There are a lot of sleepless nights and lots of work to do for the last year. If you are taking IB Art because it’s easy, do NOT be mistaken because there is a lot of work with no time at all.

My previous years were easier and work was normally not too much, but when choosing IB courses things became difficult. This did not phase me despite all the difficult times; I have created bonds with people that I now can call my friends for life.

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Maesha Islam

How long have you been at St. John’s?I have been at St. John’s since Grade 4, which is almost nine years that I have been here.

Please tell us about your background: nationality, where you lived before coming to St. John’s (if applicable), family, etc.I was born in Bangladesh and that was the only place I was living in

What makes St. John’s special for you?The PEOPLE in St. John’s!

The teachers are so easy going and very open minded about anything you want to talk about, and they are always there and not only here for their work but also they are here for you. That’s what’s special.

Are you involved in the athletics and arts programs? If so, which sports/arts activities?I have played volleyball for six years but not this last year of Grade 12 because I need to focus on studies! I have played basketball for two years and I have played softball for three years, and I’ll be ending this year by playing softball. Other than sports, I have been in choir and girls’ choir since I was in Grade 6, and I am still continuing on my last year.

What are your plans for university and beyond?I am determined to go to Canada to study communications in media and culture.

What advice do you have for younger students at St. John’s?Major key: getting work done on time is the key to success!

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rock for relay

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Living as a global citizenPeninsular Malaysia.” Before that, I have worked in a joint project of International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank for two years.

What did you learn at St. John’s that has proven helpful in your career?St. John’s was a gateway for me to experience a multicultural environment. It provided me with the opportunity to develop my cultural intelligence, dynamic mindset, interpersonal skills, broadened my perspective and made me susceptive towards new ideas. In my professional life, I meet a lot of people with diversified views and backgrounds on a regular basis. The interpersonal communication skills that St. John’s helped me to develop in my early life has a profound, positive impact on my daily life as well as career.

Which teacher at St. John’s positively influenced you the most?All teachers from St. John’s had a positive influence on me. However, I would like to mention Ms. Finlay from Middle School and Mr. Mackenzie from High School. Ms. Finlay was my EAL teacher throughout Middle School and Mr. Mackenzie was my mathematics teacher in High School. I am grateful to them for inspiring and encouraging me to excel in my academic life.

What makes St. John’s special?St. John’s was more like a global village where peers from all over the world would share values and ideas. St. John’s academic degree prepared me for university, however, my peers from St. John’s prepared me for the challenges that life has to offer, such as adapting to new environments and respecting others’ values. I have been living and travelling in different parts of the world, and I hardly face difficulties in terms of “people skills.” I am grateful to St. John’s for providing me the platform to become a global citizen.

What advice do you have for current St. John’s students with big dreams?No matter how hard or how far the path to your dream becomes, never give up. Believing in oneself and having strong determination is the only way to achieve the goal in your life.

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become.”

– Steve Jobs

Interview with Khaled Saifullah, Class of 2007

What do you currently do?Currently I am working as a graduate researcher and pursuing a PhD in Economics at the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya. My PhD topic is “Measuring the well-being of indigenous communities in

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Alumnae Nicole van Ruiten brings son back to St. John’s

When and for how long were you a student at St. John’s?I was a student at St. John’s from 1985 until 1987 (two years only).

How long has your child been a St. John’s student?My son, Ladhu, has been at St. John’s for five weeks now. Hopefully, he will complete High School at St. John’s.

Please tell us what experiences you had as a student at St. John’s you want your child to experience as well.I had a wonderful time, and this is the reason why I have brought my son Ladhu here.

I loved the sports and the social aspect of traveling that it involved.

I loved the variety of nationalities amongst the students and the teachers.

The teachers showed me, for the first time in my life, how to enjoy studying. They were passionate about teaching and that permeated the experience. I felt rewarded and respected for most things I did (I did some naughty stuff as well).

I enjoyed the independence of being able to walk to school myself. My parents had always lived far out in the country, so to live with other families near the school was liberating.

The smart thing about St. John’s was (and still is) that if you do not do your studies, you do not get to play and travel.

Second generation studentIt is the best motivation ever! It worked for me, and I see it works for Ladhu, who is crazy about basketball.

St. John’s helps a student find their passion and then they are supported and helped to grow in this activity. This just makes them want to study.

Rita Greene pointed out to me that I had to continue in Fine Art, and so I did. I never had considered this a study/life obsession (I still question it, though, at times).

Before St. John’s, I used to go to school in The Netherlands. There were no after-school activities, thus we did a lot of stuff out of sheer boredom. I look back at it now as wasting time.

Today, the Internet and video games have infiltrated life to the point that I wonder if this is okay. These last few years, I have fought against this horrible thing and, more often than not, it has been fruitless. It can almost fully replace a social life and physical activity, while teenage time is especially about connecting with peers and other adults outside of the tiny family structure.

I noticed that during this first school term Ladhu had no time to hang out with his Playstation, a thing that has interfered with our life the last few years. I am so happy with this development! Hurray, hurray!

Maths used to be a big issue for Ladhu. We were informed about hours of after-school tutoring, but after one week here he has told me he is understanding it and is

actually enjoying it. This shows some talented teaching and empowers him.

Has the school changed a lot since you graduated?The school has physically changed a lot. It is quite something compared to what it was when I was here. All these possibilities to do creative things—and it all looks so good, so professional.

Yet the foundation is still there at the core—the caring for and respect of the individual child within a small community. And coach Davis is still here!

I still feel it when I am there. St. John’s has that exciting, joyous vibe that I have not encountered in many other schools.

What makes St. John’s special in your opinion?A child spends so much time at school, so it is a blessing to have a good time, feeling maximum support while learning, growing and playing. St. John’s gives all of this and more.

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LIFE AFTER ST. JOHN’S

We spoke to Tupou Chan Tung, class of 2010, about life after St. John’s.

I graduated from St. John’s in 2010. I continued on to complete my Bachelors degree in Biomedical Science from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.

be intimidating. I was fortunate enough to have Martha Doenges as a teacher and mentor in Grade 8. She helped a young island girl transition into a world class international school. She taught me how to learn. Mr. Savage always offered advice and gave praise where and when it was due; whether it was for a good analysis of a passage or a good game on the field.

What makes St. John’s special?St. John’s is not like your average school portrayed in movies, where being different makes you odd or weird. St. John’s embraces all individuals; they recognize and praise all achievements—from academic achievements, sports achievements to those of the creative nature (music, art, drama). It forms a good foundation for students to grow into the adults that they intend to become. I was never the best student academically, but St. John’s allowed me to excel as an athlete without losing focus of the academic side of things.

What advice do you have for current St. John’s students with big dreams? Never give up on your dreams, no matter how big or small. The world is but a fountain of endless opportunities; where you fail in one place, opens up the door to succeed in another. Embrace your individuality, it is what makes you stand out, and you will leave a mark in the lives of many. Finally, best of luck in all your future endeavors, stay focused, have fun and be yourself.

What do you currently do?I am currently working as a medical laboratory scientist with the National Health Services, here in Samoa. I deal with patient diagnosis and drug therapy management. As a medical laboratory scientist, we play an essential role as backbone of the diagnostic team.

What did you learn at St. John’s that has proven helpful in your career?At St. John’s, I learnt that you could never be good enough. You keep learning. Be better than the person you are today, be the best you can be. If you are doing well today, you can always do better. In a career such as mine, you constantly need to be learning and have that “can do” attitude to make sure that patients are given the correct diagnosis and the most suitable treatment.

Which teachers/adults positively influenced you most?I know many can relate on how moving to a new school can

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SWING AWAYPlease tell us more about your personal and professional background.I started playing golf in 1992 at the age of 12. I was introduced by my uncle at the seaside and decided to join the Overijse golf club after my first-ever golf experience. Golf quickly became my favorite sport and I spent all my free time and holidays practicing my skills in order to become professional one day.

I entered the Belgian national team in 1995, which allowed me to travel and compete internationally, leading to a full scholarship in 1998 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. I studied psychology and graduated in 2002.

I turned professional in 2003 and played competitively for seven years on the European challenge tour, Asian tour and a few events on the European tour. My career highlight is my professional win in Switzerland. I am now a fully qualified PGA teaching professional.

What makes Hulencourt a great golf club and course?Hulencourt Golf Club has fantastic facilities, and the quality of maintenance is the best you will find. Hulencourt’s goal is to become the best golf club for the sport, family or relaxing times. It offers these three opportunities with excellence and elegance.

How did you get involved with St. John’s and its golf team?I started teaching several kids enrolled at St. John’s. There had been a golf program in the past, but there was nothing anymore. After visiting Coach D and with the help of parents, we rebuilt a strong program three years ago.

St. John’s came second in the golf ISSTs last year, which is amazing for a school our size. What was the secret of that success?We have a nice group of talented, dedicated and motivated kids who train from September to May, in the sun as well as in the cold, rainy days. We (coaches) work on their swing technique during the

winter and put it all in application with friendly matches in March and April, in order to be ready for the ISST in May.

You run your own academy, is that only for highly talented youngsters?No, the academy is open for all kinds of golfers, starting at six years old. We do have a variety of classes, golf schools and workshops so that any passionate golfer can attend and progress in a group of their level and at their own pace. The level of the golfer does not really matter as long as they are motivated, dedicated and ready to work hard.

What advice do you have for young golfers or students thinking of trying golf?I don’t come from a golfer family; I started on my own, so feel free to come and try the game. It’s a great sport but beware—once you try, you become hooked!

How can people find out more about your academy and Hulencourt?We do have a Web site: www.golfhulencourt.be where you can find a lot of information, and you can follow the academy on Facebook (jerome theunis golf academy) and Instagram (jtgolfacademy).

Interview with former professional golfer and current St. John’s golf coach Jérôme Theunis

16LES MISÉRABLES

17LES MISÉRABLES

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By Susan Anderson Elementary School Principal

A current buzz word in educational circles is “mindfulness,” being mindful of one’s own well-being and that of others. A strong component of well-being is psychological resilience.

I would like to share a small piece of a workshop I attended last November on the theme of resilience.

The workshop referred to research that had taken place in South Africa, initially amongst Middle School adolescents who were dropping out of school, depressed or addicted. The aim of the research was to identify common domains for students following such pathways and to find effective intervention strategies. The research found that the problems that manifested themselves in the Middle School students were also demonstrated in Elementary School students. Further research suggested that early intervention correlated with children developing into resilient adults.

The research was then moved on and applied to the world of international schools, where students and their families can find themselves in quite unfamiliar territory and vulnerable situations. There are a variety of reasons that can contribute to this and include separation from the wider family circle and the support it provides, social challenges due to language barriers or cultural differences,

Becoming psychologically resilientadditional work pressures for parents and new school systems for students, etc.

The research identified two common domains for student depression, addiction and dropout as being:

1. Pressure to achieve in school, both from without and within.

2. Isolation from parents.

The findings are not in any way meant to apportion blame to one party but to offer a realistic lens through which to view the potential impact of change in our lives.

Let’s unpack what pressure from within school can look like. It could look like an assessment, an exam to revise for, a presentation to prepare, a sports tournament to win or a drama to perform. Students typically want to achieve the best they can, and schools that encourage personal excellence in all areas of development need to be mindful of the pressure this can create and ensure there is support and encouragement at hand and that a sense of balance is taught.

Pressure from without can be a natural spin off from parents genuinely interested in their children’s education and futures and who have heavily invested in this area. Of course we all want our children to enjoy success, remembering that success is individual and reveals itself in various forms. The quandary occurs when children

internalize the desires from others for them to be successful as “I must not fail!”

Now let’s consider the second point. Isolation from a parent can be on a physical or an emotional level. Physical isolation may be a result of regular travel away from the family, connected to work. The family unit may change over time and one parent may not be present. Emotional isolation can develop if a parent is personally struggling with the challenges of the new location.

However, the good news, concluded by the long term research, is that many children despite circumstances develop into resilient adults when common factors are present in their lives. These being;

1. A sense of humor – I think we can all appreciate this in all aspects of life. Humor helps reduce stress and helps a person to move beyond a specific or intense problem preventing unnecessary escalation. If fact, there is an official percentage quoted as to how much time we should be having fun that indicates our psychological hardiness. So, what percentage of your life do you spend being happy and having fun? Official answer later …

2. A sense of detachment – parents and children need the ability to detach themselves from a situation and view it from an objective perspective

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Becoming psychologically resilient(e.g., it is not my fault if my Mommy and Daddy have to work late, or it is not my fault if my child is struggling to learn French). Detachment allows for personal well-being and helps us to move into a place of strength where we are able to reach out to others in need of help and support.

3. The presence of a healthy adult – this is an important finding for parents and teachers alike. It is where school and home partnerships can be extremely effective in providing role models, guidance and support. The healthy adult is described as someone with the ability to nurture, the capacity to mirror feelings and attitudes and to explain boundaries in a way that is understood.

These notes are think tanks and reminders of how important our own well-being is if we desire to be a positive influence in the lives of others, especially our loved ones.

“International” living can be an amazing experience, but it does come with the risk of exposing ourselves to some elements of vulnerability which we are advised to pay attention to.

By the way, 40% of happiness in life is the official indicator of psychological hardiness! Did you make it?

Be healthy and be happy!

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G A L A D I N N E R

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March

9

25

25–April 8

Parent-teacher conferences (no school for students)

Good Friday (public holiday, no school)

Easter break (no school)

April11 Classes resume

May

5

6

16

18

22

Ascension (public holiday, no school)

No school

Whit Monday (public holiday, no school)

St. John’s Golf Tournament

Family Day – plus alumni reunions classes of 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006

June

4

22

Graduation

Last 1/2 day of school for students

Mane EventsTOM O’DONNELLEach year, the St. John’s community comes together to remember Tom O’Donnell, a former student who passed away to cancer in 1998, by organizing an indoor soccer tournament in his honor. This past Friday night, the “Junior Tournament” was held for students from Grades 5–8. On Saturday, it was the turn of the High School students, alumni and staff in the “Senior” Tournament.

Get back in touch and network with fellow alumni.http://stjohnsconnect.comCheck it out and sign up!