Dale joined the BIS Abu Dhabi family in Year 9 and after five fabulous years at the school, he has proudly graduated and is taking a gap year before heading ‘down under’ to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Adelaide.
Dale is planning to spend his gap year taking an internship at New York University in Abu Dhabi and composing music in his free time.
When asked how completing the IB Diploma Programme helped get Dale into university, Dale replied: “The IB Diploma makes sure that the student not only develops academically but they also develop as a person, as they are able to gain new experiences. For example, Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is a mandatory part of the IB Diploma Programme, and I am extremely glad that it was because it allowed me to discover many new interests and allowed me to grow as a person. When applying to a university, academic performance will always be a principal factor that is considered by the university, but it is the non-academic experiences and achievements that can set a student apart from the rest.”
Why Mechanical Engineering? “Mechanical Engineering is a course I am particularly interested in due to its problem-solving nature. I was also inspired by my brother who has qualified as a Mechanical Engineer and is now completing his Master’s in Aerospace Engineering. The Mechanical Engineering undergraduate course will provide me with many versatile skills that can be applied to a wide range of careers” replied Dale.
Dale is originally from South Africa but has decided to continue his studies at The University of Adelaide in Australia. “I have family in Australia, and I would prefer to study where I have a support structure. As for the university itself, its research facilities are highly regarded. I also know that Adelaide is a culturally diverse city with a multi-national student population. Moving to Adelaide will be a completely new experience for me. It will be an entirely new city to explore with a different culture and environment. I will also be looking forward to colder temperatures and some rainy days,” said Dale.
Dale has been an active member of the BIS Abu Dhabi community and performed publicly with his fellow bandmates at every opportunity. He has been involved in school productions, The Model United Nations (MUN) club and with the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Dale has some fond memories from his time at BIS Abu Dhabi: “Playing the drums with my band 'Unintelligible' for the school's talent shows and doing these live performances with my friends was always the main highlight of my school year. Another particularly awesome memory was having the opportunity to be the lead role, Jean Valjean in the Les Misérables school production; this experience helped me grow in so many ways. I will miss being part of the BIS Abu Dhabi community daily as I will miss my teachers, classmates, and my friends,” said Dale.
Dale is not sure where his career will take him after completing his degree, but wherever he ends up, he is sure to make his mark, just like he did at BIS Abu Dhabi. Congratulations, Dale!
The British International School Abu Dhabi
