My first Publication Alumni Magazine21-online | Seite 20

ISSUE 21, JUNE 2019
makes you just take everything in control and be the person
who makes things happen.
One day I want to be an aerospace engineer. I plan on
working with electrical engineering as well, because I want
to be making satellites and outer space projects that expand
human knowledge.
So, in other words, I understand that ACS did change
you, hopefully for the better, with leadership and
other pursuits. How did you come to study at ACS?
How did you choose to go here?
My parents did it. It was very funny, because before that
I was in the math school and I really didn’t want to leave.
I love mathematics, especially competitive mathematics is
very interesting to me and it was my life back then. And
so, leaving that and coming here, I was so afraid, because
– what was I going to do here? I still wasn’t into event
organizing, debating… it was all about mathematics for me,
and maybe physics. So it was very scary, because my parents
this was part of what allowed me to entertain the idea
of coming here. And then the other things. I didn’t like
the idea of coming to a private school and my parents
having to pay a lot of money for education and I had
heard that the scholarships are for the first people in the
rank list. Believing that, I said: “If I become first, I have
this scholarship – I will come.” I was very sad, because
“Every single moment I was here,
if there was a need, I’ve been
volunteering for everything.”
I became first and then – there was no scholarship! The
test itself was very interesting and challenging, which was
something unexpected. Because of that, when the results
came out, I was very happy to have gotten in. Back in 7th
grade I didn’t care for the state exams either, just like I
don’t today. It’s a good tendency.
If you could, what one thing would you change
about ACS?
Just one thing?
Oh well, top 3 things. 
Joana during Science Fair 2015 showcasing Models of Tesla’s
Experiments
really wanted me to come here, they knew that this was a
wonderful school that would give me great opportunities.
And it’s not that the math school is not competitive or
anything, it’s just that it’s so focused on the mathematics
that students there don’t really get to explore other things
they may like. This is why I really like that I changed my
school and came here.
Do you remember how you changed your mind?
I do. My parents and I came to the open house days and I
was very impressed with the campus, the labs. I remember
I was very impressed by the chemistry lab. We didn’t have
such labs, nor the opportunity to work with experiments
ourselves. I missed the stronger math program at my
previous school, after the initial disappointment over
not getting a scholarship for scoring the highest among
girls on the admissions exam. And it wasn’t easy for me
to do this because, as I said, I had branched into other
things and I couldn’t become part of the big team. I only
managed last year to join the Girls National Team. So,
I would like a stronger focus on school spirit, for students
to get to know one another beyond their grade levels. I’ve
heard that the blocks used to carry heavier weight and
there were points for participation, which I think is an
interesting idea. I’d also like to see how more traditions
continue, for example the Senior corner at the Cafeteria –
there’s no such thing nowadays.
Really? Isn’t it the tables with the beautiful view, by
the windows facing the Fountain?
No, we only just fought for them! (laughs) And we were
very intimidating and were able to get some, but anyone
just sits there, which is very annoying. We are the last
class that actually remembers them, because 11th graders
have never been in the old cafeteria, only in the temporary
one. In the temporary one there was still something, but I
don’t think they understand it in the same way. So when I
come back in 10 years, I’d like to see this or something like
this continued, so students come here and feel part of the
community.
Also, organization-wise, I’ve had moments when I felt rather
lost, as if hardly anyone knew what was happening and
some things, we as students feel, are not very well thought-
out. There are things that I feel need to be improved, so that
students can come here and actually want to study.
We all are teenagers and we like to complain a lot, so we
tend to share our complaints with each other. I know a lot of
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