Julia's Story
Julia received a full bursary to join ISA in Grade 9, after attending local schools until that point. She completed the full 4 years of High School and is now at University studying languages.
“I remember visiting ISA and thinking, ‘I like this place. I want to go’. I was impressed by the IB, which was a globally-focused programme that would open up the world for me.”
Having spent her early years at Ferryhill Primary School in Aberdeen, Julia Basniak joined ISA in Grade 8, equivalent to S3 in Scotland. She’d initially started secondary in the city, but after hearing good reports from a friend at ISA, asked her parents if she could go.
As a lifelong Aberdonian with Polish roots through her father, Julia joined on a full bursary and says her transition was very smooth.
“My transition was amazing and so much easier than I thought it would be. There wasn’t a uniform, and I had to adjust to the logistics of a new school, but the people and teachers were incredibly welcoming. It’s such a friendly place.
“Even though I was on a bursary, it never felt like I was any different from anyone else. I liked the tight-knit vibe of ISA. All the schools I’d gone to before had been big state schools, so harder to create that kind of tight-knit community.
“ISA is almost like a family and there is a strong bond among everyone in class. We work well together, and small class sizes support your learning. ISA is a very relaxed, chilled place and there’s more room to be yourself.”
With a diverse community, Julia believes ISA encourages an international outlook that has had a lasting impact on her perspective.
Beyond academics, Julia took full advantage of the extracurricular opportunities on offer and the extensive facilities at ISA.
“I played volleyball and was on the traveling team for two years. I tried out climbing since our school has an indoor climbing wall and got to try football and all sorts of sports.”
Julia found the IB stood out compared to the curriculum her friends in mainstream schools were studying.
“The school offers a good range of subjects and the IB encourages you to keep your options open. This motivated me to stay open-minded about my choices, as I didn’t have to narrow them down early on.
“I’d never have considered pursuing a language before I came to ISA, but I’m lucky to have found something I enjoy, as many people my age don’t know what they want to do.
“The IB is demanding. You have to complete an extended essay, and while this is challenging, it has taught me many skills that I know will benefit me in the future. The IB encourages you to be an independent learner, to multitask and to maintain a work-life balance, which will be very helpful when attending university.”
Julia was awarded a score of 39 on her IB Diploma, out of a possible 45. She turned down an offer from Oxford University and chose instead to stay closer to home, heading to the University of St. Andrews to study French, Italian and Spanish.
She hopes to combine her passion for languages with her love of sport.
“I’m a huge fan of football and Formula One, and my dream job would be an interpreter or translator for one of these sports. It’s early days yet, but I feel the IB and ISA has prepared me well for the future.”
