Survalienne Lucia (2019, Spain) joined Surval Summer Camp for two weeks in 2016 from her home in Bilbao, and immediately fell in love with the school. She was determined to stay on in Switzerland for the school year and led her own application, joining Grade 10 at Surval that Autumn.
A bright and enthusiastic student, whose life philosophy is to “say yes to the opportunities we are presented with”, Lucia immediately settled into Surval life, picking up English quickly, throwing herself into IGCSE studies and Enrichment opportunities - she was a devoted member of the Charity Committee, a lively participant at MUN and completed her Bronze and Gold International Awards whilst here.
Lucia’s commitment to her studies and wider-school life, and her wonderfully enthusiastic, appreciative and inclusive attitude established her as a strong role model in the school. At the end of her first year at Surval, she was voted Student of the Year; the biggest honour Surval bestows upon a student. In June 2017, at our 55th Surval Graduation and Prizegiving, which took place at the majestic Chateau Chillon on the shores of Lake Geneva, the girl who had been “frustrated not to be able to communicate with anyone in English” during Summer Camp, stood up in front of an audience of Surval students, parents and staff, and, with beautiful composure and characteristic animation, delivered the Vote of Thanks to a standing ovation.
“I know for sure that, without Surval, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. This school has given me so much and challenged me in all possible ways to become the best version of myself. It has not only shaped me academically but has permitted me to meet amazing people and make lifelong friends that I know I will always have by my side”
A year on, we have caught up with Lucia this week, she tells us how her Surval Experience has held her in fine stead over this last year.
“This past academic year I’ve been in Exeter, Devon. As my first time living in the UK, I quite loved it apart from the rain and cold weather ha ha! My year has been great, even though COVID-19 interrupted it. In terms of studies, everything happened really quickly. I had to leave the UK in a matter of days in order to be able to get back to Spain. I arrived home on the 15th of March and started my exam revision right away through independent studies as our classes had finished. My examinations took place as 24 hour online exams. Even though these were tough, I passed successfully and were really happy with all my results.
I really enjoyed my first year at the University of Exeter and my course. I’ve met so many new people, and made lovely friends. I feel that Surval prepared me in many ways for my first year at Uni... I find that independent study and living in an international environment are the two things that I learned at Surval which I found most helpful this year. I found comfort in this, while many of my friends felt lost in this aspect.
Looking at my future, I still have two more years in the UK, even though I think I might be spending this coming one here in Spain due to COVID. And then I’ll be finishing the last year of my degree at the University of Rennes, in France. After this, I’m hoping to do a Masters, probably back in Switzerland again!”