Coming Full Circle: From ISP Grad to ISP Mom
You might know Evgenia as our SCA Elementary School Representative, but did you know that Evgenia once wandered the halls as an ISP Upper School student? Check out our latest HUMANS of ISP interview to read this inspiring alumna story, “Coming Full Circle: From ISP Grad to ISP Mom.”
Hear Evgenia’s first-hand account of what it was like to return to ISP as a parent, why ISP is the best school for her son, and the most impactful life lesson she learned as a student.
Tell us more about your Journey after graduating from ISP.
After graduating in 2004, I stayed in Prague, then moved to NYC, then to Crete, and finally returned to Prague in 2021!
I enjoyed my time at ISP, but I came to appreciate it even more after graduation. My post-school academic life has been easier because of the type of education I received at ISP. I love the automatic connection with people who are third-culture kids like me.
What was one of the most important things you learned at ISP?
One of the most valuable gifts ISP has given me is the hunger to discover who I am and what I want to do in the world.
After some trial and error, I discovered my passion for Pilates, which I love. This has become my path and profession for almost a decade now.
What made you decide to enroll your son at ISP?
At ISP, children are treated as individuals, and their opinions matter. I really value this approach toward education, and it was one of the main reasons for wanting my son to attend this school.
So now I’m an ISP alum and an ISP parent!
I also volunteer with the School Community Association (SCA) as an Elementary School representative. I know what an important role SCA plays for the school, and while it has its challenges, it is a rewarding experience.
What is it like being back at your alma mater as a parent?
It took some time for me to acknowledge that I’m the adult now in school, not a student. In a way, being back at ISP makes me feel like a teenager again. My brain sometimes plays tricks on me because I keep thinking I will run into some of my friends in the very familiar hallways.
It’s also mind-blowing to me that our librarian, Sandra Richards, knew me as a student, and now she educates my son!
Do you keep in touch with other alums from ISP?
I made a few great friends during my time at ISP, and I keep in touch with quite a few of my classmates and schoolmates, even now, over 18 years after graduation. I occasionally meet fellow ISP grads for lunch or dinner, and I even was roommates with my classmate Stephanie (Class of 2004) in NYC at one point. My closest friend back in school, and still now, is my classmate Meridien, aka Nina (Class of 2004), and while we don’t see each other as often as I’d like, it does not affect our friendship. Now we create grown-up memories, like me being a bridesmaid at her wedding or her meeting my son for the first time.
I love the connection the alums have with each other, even the ones who barely knew each other during our time at school
I think tо have such warm feelings about a school, and your time as a student speaks volumes about a place.
