This week we hear from Eileen Faye de Vries, a Final Year students at Final Year Student at The London School of Economics and Political Science

“Don't forget to enjoy high school while it lasts, because trust me, everything will work out in the end!”  

I joined AICS in 2009 as a 6 year old in Group 3, embarking on a journey that would span 13 incredible years. By the time I graduated in 2022, AICS had become a second home to me, filled with unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships, and invaluable lessons.

During my final year at AICS, I applied to several universities—mostly in the UK—and was thrilled to receive a conditional offer to study Social Anthropology with International History at my dream university, the London School of Economics (LSE). After meeting the grade requirements, I made the big move to London in September 2022.

Now, I’m in my third and final year of my bachelor’s degree. Having grown up in Amsterdam in the close-knit AICS community, transitioning to life in a bustling city like London has been both challenging and rewarding. Over the summers, I returned to Amsterdam to intern at a corporate communication agency and an advertising agency. These experiences cultivated my passion for marketing and have led to my next exciting step—pursuing a master’s in Strategic Marketing at Imperial College Business School next year!

One of my fondest memories of my time at AICS would have to be annual camps we would go on. Specifically, the sailing camp in Friesland in MYP1 & MYP2 where many friendships formed whilst trying not to capsize our boat in the freezing water. 

My advice to current AICS students would be: aim high! Start looking at what you would want to do after graduating as early as you can, so you can set a goal and work towards it! And of course, don't forget to enjoy high school while it lasts, because trust me, everything will work out in the end!