A Ticket to the World: Katerina Sukdolakova’s Journey from ISP Scholarship to Global Citizen

When Katerina Sukdolakova stepped onto the stage at the ISP Gala 2025, she shared more than a personal story - she offered a heartfelt reflection on her belief in the power of opportunity, and how an ISP scholarship gave her the chance to grow, learn, and imagine a future beyond what she thought possible.

Seventeen years ago, Katerina’s daily commute from the district of Prague 4 to the International School of Prague (ISP), nestled in the picturesque Šarka Valley of Prague 6, felt like stepping into another world. Not because the distance was vast (it was only an hour’s journey), but because the transformation it brought was immeasurable. In her words, “it truly felt like I was travelling to a different country”. ISP, with its vibrant diversity and international spirit, stood in stark contrast to her Czech high school experience. It was, she added, “an island filled with energy,” where culture wasn’t just studied, it was lived.

“When I think of the ISP scholarship I think of ‘opportunity’ – opportunity to think differently, to be curious, and to design your own learning journey.”
Katerina Sukdolakova, ISP Scholar and Class of 2011

Her initial motivation for applying for the scholarship was refreshingly humble: to practise English and meet people from diverse, international backgrounds. At the time, the early 2000s internet boom had sparked her curiosity about life beyond her borders. But ISP gave her more than she expected - it offered not only access to global perspectives, but also a deeper understanding of her own cultural identity, paradoxically revealed to her while she was still on home soil.During her speech, Katerina recounted her first nervous attempt at public speaking with ISP’s Speech and Debate Club (spoiler: it didn’t go well!). But in doing so, she captured the essence of what makes the ISP Scholarship Programme so transformational. It’s not perfection that’s rewarded, but courage. It’s not fluency that’s expected, but the willingness to try. Her teammates and coaches didn’t critique her wobbly English or shaky delivery - they encouraged her. They welcomed her. They saw her potential, not her performance.

Those early moments of encouragement set the tone for what would follow. From earning her IB Diploma at ISP, to receiving a scholarship at Colorado College in the U.S., completing a Master’s degree in Switzerland, and now building a professional life in Bern, Katerina has navigated each stage with the same openness and curiosity she first cultivated as a teenager.

“I was given a chance to be part of a vibrant and supportive community, to grow academically and personally, and start my own international journey at ISP.”
Katerina Sukdolakova, ISP Scholar and Class of 2011

It would be tempting to describe Katerina’s path as a series of lucky breaks. But the truth is, the “luck” was sparked by something far more deliberate: someone believed she deserved a chance. Someone funded a scholarship. And that one decision changed not just a student’s education, but her entire worldview.

As she put it, the ISP scholarship was like being handed a ticket to discover the world. That ticket didn’t expire after graduation. It validated her curiosity, equipped her with the tools to explore widely, and gave her the confidence to walk into rooms, like the one that evening at the Gala, and remind us all of what’s possible when education is paired with belief.