First-year Edinburgh University student and DCIS alumni Sam shares why her experience at the school was a memorable one.
Qualifying for a scholarship is no easy feat — just ask 18-year-old Sam, an alumna of Dover Court International School. For Sam, the IBDP scholarship helped her in many ways. It set her up for success at the prestigious Edinburgh University and changed the way she sees the world. HoneyKids had a chat with Sam to learn more about her IBDP journey at Dover Court International School and why she’s grateful for the experience now that she’s at university.
Hi Sam, tell us about the application process for the scholarship. What made yours stand out?
The scholarship application process at Dover Court was quite straightforward. I received support from my teachers for the application as well as references from them which was part of the application criteria.
Here’s what the folks from the scholarship committee had to say: “Sam submitted an excellent application for the scholarship; her application stood out for a number of reasons, including her role as Head Student and her involvement with the Student Council. She was very active with Model United Nations and was one of only two students chosen to represent DCIS and join students from other NAE schools across the world in New York to work on key issues at the United Nations as part of the NAE collaboration with UNICEF. Furthermore, Sam’s work with the Period Society in India, which ultimately led her and the team to win two awards, was particularly impressive.”
What was the IBDP program at Dover Court like? Any memorable experiences?
The cohort was very close, we really supported each other and felt as though we were all in it together. I am still good friends with many of them, even though we are now studying in different countries across the world! I also made friends with the new students which broadened my spectrum of friendships and brought fresh perspectives and opinions to our classes and discussions.
Were there any teachers in particular that made an impact on your IBDP journey?
All of my teachers were fantastic but Ms Bennett (Assistant Head & English Teacher) & Ms Mckernon (Deputy Head – Community & Business Teacher) were really supportive across the two years and particularly with my university applications. Mr Jury (Head of Mathematics) also really helped. He shared his wisdom and helped me personally with stress management.
What did you love most about being a student at Dover Court?
I loved how seriously I was taken. I really felt that I had a valid opinion and that my thoughts and ideas were not dismissed. We were not treated like children; we were given responsibilities, a sense of importance and we had to live up to that. We were trusted, respected and valued.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my involvement with the social enterprise The Period Society, which is “a youth-founded initiative that strives to promote menstrual equity”. While I was at Dover Court, I was the Operations Director and we won the Harvard MUN Act2Impact Award as well as a grant from the Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots Institute.
How do you think the IBDP program prepared you for university?
In practical terms, the IBDP has prepared me for life at university because I already knew how to reference, how to write academically, how to critically analyse data and text. More philosophically, I learned how to approach questions from different perspectives and have a multi-dimensional view.
And how did the IDBP scholarship change your life?
The scholarship gave me the opportunity to complete the IBDP at Dover Court. The IBDP course really stretched me for two years and changed the way I approach ideas and opportunities. It also gave me confidence to be ambitious and pursue my dreams.
What are your plans for the future? How will the IBDP scholarship prepare you for this?
Although I am currently studying at Edinburgh, I have been following my course online in Singapore. I have also been working as an intern at a Marketing and Consulting Firm. So, my immediate plan is to get to Edinburgh for my second year and after that pursue a career in the corporate world since I really enjoyed my internship this year.
Thank you, Sam!
Think your child could qualify for the IBDP scholarship at Dover Court International School? Click through for all the details you need to know.
This post is in partnership with Dover Court International School.
