Grade 12 student Linda Jaschik recently won an EARCOS Global Citizenship Award, which recognizes students who demonstrate the fine qualities of a global citizen – representative of one’s home country, while keeping an open mind, respectful of diversity and cares for the community, among others. We chat with Linda on her passion and school life in GESS.
Congratulations on your win! How did this Award come about?
To be honest, this award came as a surprise! I didn’t even know I was nominated by my teachers but I am very grateful. I understand I was considered for the award because of my engagement in multiple areas in school, as well as my academic and personal achievements. For example, I have been a part of the student council for 2 years now, caring for the school community, and I am very involved in CAS projects such as Educate and Engage, where we taught English to students in India. I have also always been an advocate for acceptance and open-mindedness among my peers, which was recognised by the teachers who nominated me.
What does winning the Award mean for you? Has it changed your life, mindset or attitude in any way?
This award means a lot to me as I have always strived to be a valued and positive member of my community. I believe this has also really affected my mindset and attitude towards service endeavours, as I recognize even more that it is important to continue dedicating myself to this type of work.
What do you hope to continue doing, that is aligned with the values and beliefs of this Award?
I hope to continue supporting my community through service, whether that means my community in GESS, university in future or others. Currently I am doing this by helping out the 4th grade beginner German class as a CAS activity. I feel my upbringing in an international environment like Singapore has really impacted my mindset as a ‘Global Citizen’, and I will also continue to hold these values close to my heart.
You are in Grade 12 this year, how has school life been for you, balancing classes and your personal pursuits?
The last part of Grade 11 and the first part of Grade 12 have been very stressful for me, but the stress has become more manageable with time. I am part of the theatre club in GESS (being one of the co-presidents last year), and I will also be taking part in this year’s production of Alice in Wonderland. Outside school I have been pursuing musical theatre for several years now, and since I am very passionate about it, it hasn’t been too hard to keep up with! I recently started working at the German TV and Radio ARD here in Singapore which has been quite a rewarding experience so far, as I learn a lot about different areas of the world by listening to the broadcasts.
How do you feel GESS has helped you through your life’s pursuits?
One thing that makes GESS unique from other IB schools in Singapore is how much value is placed on CAS experiences. I think that CAS is an important part of the IB curriculum and the CAS supervisors have always been very determined to ensure that every student does their part. Additionally, there is a very good support system for students by the counsellors as well as teachers themselves. I definitely had my stressful days, but I always feel that I can talk to my teachers to figure out how I can overcome my challenges.
What are you planning to do after GESS? How do you feel GESS prepares you for the next phase of your life?
While I am still keeping my options open and looking into various universities, I am currently planning to apply to the University of Amsterdam’s PPLE (Psychology, Politics, Law, Economics) Bachelor Programme. In general, I really want to go into the area of politics and law, with my ultimate goal being to one day work at the United Nations or as an ambassador of Germany. GESS provides good support with a dedicated university guidance counselling team, who is always willing to help! The uni-guidance class has also in general prepared me for life at university which I think is very valuable.
Lastly, any word of advice for fellow schoolmates in pursuing their interests and passion?
I think that it is very important to continue to pursue your interests even though IB can be very stressful. Learn to manage your time (I myself am still learning this) and don’t give up when it gets hard!
