Reconnecting with alumni in Seoul

On February 9, alumni in Seoul gathered for an evening of reconnection with our Head of School, Mr. Ryan Witt; Secondary Principal, Mr. Jacob Way; Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Shelley Cotton; and Korean Guidance Counselor, Ms. Jackie Lee. Over twenty recently graduated students joined in the event, and staff alumna Miss Hollie Kim also attended.

Mrs. Cotton says all students who attended are currently in or preparing for university. “To see them in their place in life, how they’re fitting in in their specific schools, how they’re representing TIS, and how proud we were of who they’re becoming, it was just so cool.” Mrs. Cotton says students are thriving in their subject departments and wake up with the ambition to strive in their work and towards their goals. In their universities, Mrs. Cotton says students are “leading the pack, leading their groups because we produce such strong students.”

As is often said at our school, ‘once an Eagle, always an Eagle.’ The embodiment of this phrase was truly seen with the camaraderie taking place at the event. Even years or a quick eight months after graduation, friendships remained, and some have even grown stronger. Students arrived at the event together, chatted, and bounced around to different tables to share in laughter and in old stories.

“They would tell stories of a certain interaction where a teacher said or did something that changed their high school focus or changed their passion,” says Mrs. Cotton. “That was cool to see that they have such good relationships, and our teachers really invest in our students, and that actually makes a difference, and you see it unfold as life goes.”

Thank you to all alumni who joined in this special event. We are so encouraged by the connections that continue among you and the perseverance you still have to learn, love, and lead. Thank you to Mr. Witt, Mr. Way, and Mrs. Cotton for reconnecting with students, and thank you to Ms. Lee for planning and executing the event!