Who best to get advice from on IB studies, applying to university and starting work than people who have been there, done that?
People like the Haut-Lac School ambassadors and graduates, who came back to share their experiences and tips with our current students at the first Haut-Lac Alumni Summit.
From the sciences and finance to international relations and human well-being, their journeys couldn’t be more different. Their takeaways, however, are one and the same.
Read on to find out what they said.
What year did you graduate and what are you doing now?
Édouard: J’ai fais Haut-Lac d’où j’ai obtenu mon diplôme en 2011. Je travaille désormais chez Logitech à Lausanne, où je m’occupe du développement de services circulaires et durables pour les entreprises.
Ceri: I graduated in 2019 and did biomedical science at university. I’m now working in a biotech company.
Margaux: Actuellement, je travaille en tant que chargée de recherche à l'Université de Lausanne. Je suis basée à Sion et on a un projet mandaté par le canton du Valais sur la transition énergétique et les multi-usages de l'eau.
Sheraz: I graduated from Haut-Lac with the Class of 2014. I’m currently based in Geneva, where I’m a managing partner at a professional services firm called Stone Partners. We provide professional services in Web3, so anything blockchain technology related.
Georgie: I graduated with the Class of 2020 and I've just completed my Master's at the London School of Economics. I studied international development and humanitarian emergencies.
Jenny: I am in the health and well-being sector. I'm an entrepreneur, content creator and a Wim Hof method instructor. I create workshops and retreats and guide people in breathwork, cold exposure and mindset training.
What were the main advantages of studying the IB at Haut-Lac?
Ceri: How tough it was! Going to an English university makes you see how much tougher the IB is than A levels, which gives you a little extra boost when you first arrive at university.
Margaux: À Haut-Lac, ce qui était vraiment sympa, c'était la multiculturalité et les bons liens sociaux à travers non seulement les classes, mais aussi les activités extrascolaires comme le sport, les arts, etc. Ça permet vraiment d'avoir un équilibre sympa entre les études, les cours et le reste.
Sheraz: It definitely pushed me in certain areas. I think the IB can form a generalist at the same time as letting you choose some options. I think Swiss high school students have 12 different topics per year, I had six during the IB and A-level students have about 3 or 4, so I think the IB was a good mix allowing you to choose some specialties and have a general background.
Georgie: I think studying the IB had a lot of advantages, especially for going to university. I found I was a more well-versed student than a lot of other people in my first year, particularly in terms of hard skills such as essay writing, citations and the sort of the things you take for granted. When I went to university, I already had these in my pocket unlike a lot of people and it was a really crucial element that helped me thrive at university.
How did the IB Diploma Programme prepare you for university and professional life?
Ceri: The IB is definitely one of the hardest high school diplomas you can do, so it’s a really good way to prepare yourself for further education at university. Skills like multiple languages are useful for the rest of your life.
Margaux: Je retiens surtout les soft skills qui ont pu sortir du programme IB comme la collaboration, la communication et l'organisation. Elles ont été vraiment mises en avant dès le PEI et ont vraiment fait une différence aujourd'hui dans ma carrière professionnelle parce que j'arrive à être organisée, efficace dans mon travail, et je n’ai pas peur de collaborer ou de parler en public par exemple.
Sheraz: I think it gave me a good perspective of cultural differences and a great international exposure. I think CAS was really great. The elements of creativity, activity and the social side of things put extracurriculars into your life, where it's not just about the books, it's everything around the books as well.
Georgie: I would say the IB made me a very well-rounded person, capable of being resilient in the face of challenges. I gained a lot of soft skills in communication, teamwork, independence and organisation, as well as the ability to thrive in a multicultural environment and eing really at ease talking to people as well.
How has Haut-Lac helped shape your professional career?
Ceri: Definitely by growing up in such a diverse environment and completely bilingually. Being multilingual, I've been able to interact and converse with multiple colleagues in multiple countries and it helped be get my current job.
Sheraz: It always felt like a great experience and great memories. I think you don't so much remember the small details but rather the bigger picture and, which was a great high school experience.
I just have very fond memories of being in the playground playing football or having lunch or being in the classroom laughing and learning. Overall, it was an amazing experience that allowed me to take that positivity into the real world.
Georgie: At Haut-Lac, we do a lot of interdisciplinary topic and that is really important aspect which helped shape my career. I study international development, which is another interdisciplinary topic. We cover history, science, politics, geography, geopolitics, and making links between them is something that Haut-Lac really prepared me for in my professional career.
What is your best memory of Haut-Lac?
Ceri: My favourite memory was when we took part in the Mediterranean cup with the girls football team and our coach Greg and we won.
Margaux: C’est quand on a fait le Spectacle du Secondaire en décembre.
Sheraz: There was lots! I think it was all the elements around being with my fellow friends and students. Anything related to presentations or playing football, and just being surrounded with different people that shared common values.
Georgie: I have so many, it's hard to pick one. I think one of my best memories was either going to the Med cup in Verona to play a football tournament or all the shows I used to do with the performing arts department. I did about four or five shows. It was such a great experience to be with all your friends performing on stage in December in front of your parents and family members.
Jenny: I think the competitions between the houses. I was in Bern, the best house. At the end of the year, we would have a petanque competition and that was always a highlight.
What three bits of advice would you give to current Haut-Lac students?
Édouard: Si j'avais trois conseils à donner aux élèves de Haut-Lac, ce serait de rester curieux, de faire attention au monde autour de nous qui est plein d'opportunités et de ne pas avoir peur de les saisir, même si ce n’est exactement aligné avec ce qu'on veut faire ou qu'on ne voit pas comment ça va nous y amener. Tout ça c'est des choses qu'on apprend, des valeurs qu'on assimile et qui font après qu'on est qui on est et qu'on est quelqu'un d'intéressant dans plusieurs entreprises ou dans le travail qu'on veut faire dans le futur.
Margaux : Profitez vraiment à fond, créez des bons liens, et n'ayez pas peur de vous approcher de vos profs parce qu'ils sont vraiment passionnés et ils ont beaucoup de choses à vous transmettre.
Sheraz: I think the first one is definitely be yourself. You may have your parents, your friends and a lot of people pulling you in a lot of different directions, but try and take the time to really understand what you want and try to follow that path.
Another one to work super hard and push for specific objectives like you’re told, but to also enjoy the moment. You're never going to be as young as you are today, so enjoy it as much as you can.
The final one, which aligns with the two others. Life doesn't have to be that serious. You're there for the experience, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Georgie: I would say try not to stress too hard. It's very difficult to do, but try not to stress too much. Things will work out so make the most of what Haut-Lac has to offer. Do the extra-curriculars, do the school show, do the sports, do the arts, do as much as you can and make the most of Haut-Lac because it's really such a great environment to be in.
Jenny: Trust your guts. Trust yourself. There's no right or wrong path. There's nothing you can do wrong, you're already on the right path. If you weren't on the right path, then it wouldn't actually be happening so you can trust that small things become big things.
Take care of your own health, that’s mental health, physical health and emotional health. And be curious. Dare to discover new things. Try new things all the time. Be curious about people, not just the ones your age, but also other ages, other generations because there's so much you can learn.
How would you describe Haut-Lac in one word?
Édouard: Ouverture
Ceri: Diverse
Margaux: Multiculturalité
Sheraz: Community
Georgie: Family
Jenny: Family
Interviews by Marine Champaud
Transcription & blog post by Emma Dowou