Credit: ISL

On Wednesday 25 May 2022, the International School of Luxembourg (ISL) Class of 2022 graduated at the Grand Theatre de la Ville de Luxembourg.

Parents and relatives were attended the event on site for the first time since 2019, after COVID-19-related restrictions have been lifted.

In his opening speech, Director David J (DJ) Condon, invited the 2022 Senior Class to reflect on the impact of their International Baccalaureate Education. He highlighted the importance of intercultural understanding and respect and reminded students that the purpose of their International Baccalaureate (IB) education is to change the world, as opposed to simply getting into a good college. Dr Condon also urged the graduates to engage in dialogue and avoid labelling others in an increasingly polarised society, before concluding “Fortunately, you soon-to-be graduates have given us adults ample reason for optimism and confidence in the future. You are our hope, our inspiration, and I wish you all the best”.

The ceremony included speeches from Elle Spencer, faculty elected speaker and Christoffer Rosenkvist, student elected speaker, as well as student musical performances. Out of the 103 graduating students, nineteen received a K12 award for attending ISL since kindergarten. The ECIS Award for International Understanding was awarded to Olga Tcirkina.

During his address, Iain Fish, Upper School Principal, stressed the incredible resilience shown by the Senior Class throughout the last two years and the wonderful successes they achieved in a context marked by the pandemic. He highlighted two characteristics which defined this year’s Senior Class and give him the greatest sense of optimism and pride: a bias for kindness and a predisposition for action. He said that kindness is a severely underrated value and a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals is the only thing that ever has changed the world. He concluded: “Your education has given you the skills and knowledge to understand the challenges ahead and creatively seek solutions to address them. You have shown as individuals and as a grade that you desire change and that you want to lead to the charge and you want to do it with compassion.”