Shaping a Global Path: An ISP Graduate’s Journey into International Relations

For many students, ISP is more than just a school, it is a lifelong foundation. Class of 2018 graduate, Omar, reflects on his time at ISP and how it has shaped him for his future. Today, he thanks ISP for the lifelong relationships he made and for the global network and connections that continue to support him today.

What are you doing now, professionally, academically, or personally, and what year did you graduate from ISP?

I graduated from ISP in 2018 after attending the school since 2004, which makes me a 14-year veteran of the school. After graduation, I moved to Exeter, a small town in southeast England, where I studied Economics and Politics at the University of Exeter from 2018 to 2023. During the COVID period, I lived in Egypt. As difficult as that time was, it gave me the chance to reconnect with the place I come from and gain valuable life experience. In between my studies, I also returned to Prague for a period to study PPE at Charles University before transferring back to complete my degree in Exeter.

Once I finished my bachelor’s, I moved to New York to pursue a Master’s in International Relations and Middle Eastern Politics at NYU. Finding a job after completing my degrees was not an easy process, especially in the United States given the political climate and everything happening in the world. Even with these challenges, I did not let them discourage me. It has been a real rollercoaster. One important lesson the real world teaches very quickly is that building a career depends heavily on networking, which is something I did not learn in school but only through actual experience. 

I am currently living in Prague on a temporary basis, working at the Kuwaiti Embassy as a Political Affairs Assistant while I continue pursuing a permanent position back in New York. 

Looking back, what advice would you give to your high school self? And what advice would you offer to current ISP students? 

Looking back, the main advice I would give my high school self is that good grades are not everything. They do not determine your future, and they do not guarantee a secure job. What truly matters once you step into the real world is networking. Start building connections as early as you can, because you never know who might guide you, support you, or open a door for you later on. 

I would also tell myself never to compare my path to anyone else’s. Everyone moves at their own pace, and it is completely fine if you feel like others have their lives figured out while you are still finding your way. Do not let that bring you down or affect your self-esteem. Your journey is your own, and that is enough. 

For current ISP students, I would offer the same message. Focus on growth, build relationships, and trust your path, even when it feels uncertain. 

Was there a teacher, staff member, or classmate who had a lasting impact on you? How did they influence your journey?

There are two teachers who have had a lasting impact on me, and whose influence still follows me wherever I go in life. The first is Ms. Morrison, my Grade 9 earning support teacher. She taught me how to trust people and, more importantly, how to trust myself. She helped me build the confidence I sometimes lacked in high school, especially when it came to my academic success. She taught me patience and determination, qualities I truly admire. I genuinely love her and, in many ways, she felt like a mother to me at school.

The second teacher I deeply admire is Ms. Leggett. I was unlucky not to have her as my IB history teacher, but I was incredibly lucky to have her back in 2014 during my freshman year in social studies. She was passionate, talented, and you could tell she truly loved her job and cared about her students. She was humble yet firm in the best way, never intimidating but always pushing us to do better. She made a huge impact on me and helped shape my academic future. I studied what I studied because of her influence. I remember our unit on Middle Eastern politics, where she encouraged me to express my confidence and knowledge in a way I had never been able to do in other classes. Something was different with her. She made me feel capable.

I am truly grateful to both of these teachers, and I still admire them to this day. I am also still in contact with both of them, and I hope to never lose touch. 

Which classes at ISP were your favorites, and what made them stand out? 

My favorite class at ISP was concert band. I have always had a deep admiration for music, and that passion has stayed with me until today. I never stopped playing my instruments, and I am still trying to pursue music in my own life. In that class, I felt like I could forget all my problems. Music has always felt like a kind of magic to me.

The other class I loved was social studies. I have always been passionate about politics and history, and I found the subject incredibly interesting. Even with all the chaos in the world, it is fascinating to learn about both the achievements and the mistakes that humans continue to repeat. Social studies helped shape the way I see the world and contributed to the path I chose later in my studies. 

Did anything at ISP spark your interest in your current field of study or career path? 

Yes, ISP definitely played a role in shaping my interest in my current field of study and career path. My social studies classes, especially the ones that touched on politics and international affairs, opened my eyes to how complex and interconnected the world is. Those early lessons sparked my curiosity about global issues, diplomacy, and the history behind conflicts and cooperation. 

Teachers like Ms. Leggett also had a huge influence. She encouraged me to dive deeper into topics related to the Middle East and international relations, and that confidence she gave me stayed with me long after I left ISP. Because of those experiences, I chose to study International Relations and Middle Eastern Politics in university, and it guided me toward the career path I’m pursuing today. 

What skill or mindset from your time at ISP has been most valuable in your personal or professional life?

One of the most valuable mindsets I gained at ISP was adaptability. Being in such an international environment taught me how to understand different perspectives, communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, and adjust to new situations quickly. This has helped me both personally and professionally, especially as I moved between countries and academic systems. 

Another important skill I developed was confidence in expressing my ideas. Through class discussions, group projects, and presentations, I learned how to speak up and trust my voice. That confidence has been essential in university, in my career, and in navigating the real world. 

Can you share a bit about your IB Diploma Programme experience? What were some of the most memorable takeaways?

Since I was a little kid at ISP, I always watched the seniors at the end of the year taking their IB exams. It looked terrifying, and I could never imagine myself being in their position. It always felt so far away, but of course it was only a matter of time. By the time I became a junior, the reality hit me that I was now an IB student and I had to take it seriously, because at that point it felt like it would determine everything about my university future. 

Despite the difficulty and the pressure, I actually had a lot of fun during the IB program. Sharing the same experience with friends, studying together, learning new things, and facing challenges as a group shaped me as a person. The program taught me how to work independently, how to write essays, how to present confidently, and how to manage long-term projects. All of that helped me tremendously once I got to university. 

One of my favorite memories is from senior year, when my friends and I used to study every day at NTK. We were all worried about our exams, but there was something wholesome about that period. We supported each other, pushed each other, and got through it as a team. It was stressful, but it was also one of the most meaningful experiences of my time at ISP. 

ISP is known for its diverse community. How has that global environment shaped your worldview?

ISP’s diverse community played a huge role in shaping my worldview. Growing up surrounded by classmates from so many different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives taught me to see the world with a much wider lens. It made me more open-minded, more understanding, and more aware of how interconnected everything is.

Being part of an international environment helped me learn how to communicate with people who think differently, how to respect other viewpoints, and how to adapt to new situations. It also made the world feel much smaller and more familiar, which later made it easier for me to move between countries for university and work. 

Even now, I constantly meet people from all over the world, and that comfort with diversity has made traveling and exploring new places feel natural to me. ISP opened those doors and shaped the way I connect with the world today. 
Overall, ISP taught me to approach the world with curiosity rather than judgment, and that mindset continues to influence both my personal and professional life. 

Have you kept in touch with friends from ISP? What’s the most interesting place you’ve reconnected?

Yes, I have kept in touch with friends from ISP, although it becomes harder as you get older and life gets busier. Even with that, I never stopped reconnecting with people from my ISP days. Staying in touch has given me the chance to visit friends all over the world, including the UK, the United States, Singapore, Egypt, and many other places.

One of the most memorable reconnections was in Exeter. At the time, I was a freshman and my friend was a senior, and I never imagined I would end up studying there myself. It was my first time visiting the UK, and four years later I found myself attending the same university. Another memorable experience was visiting the United States for the first time. I went to Boston and New York, and I always dreamed of living in the U.S. That dream eventually came true.

Not everyone gets the chance to reconnect with old friends across so many different countries, and I am genuinely grateful to ISP for giving me that kind of global network and those opportunities.