BIS Abu Dhabi Graduate Interview

Meet Abigail, Class of 2026 IB Diploma Programme Graduate

Abigail joined The British International School Abu Dhabi in August 2018 in Year 6. Since then, she has become a valued member of the BIS Abu Dhabi community, representing the school through sport, embracing new opportunities, and completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with an impressive 43 points.

“I was so incredibly happy and relieved when I received my results,” said Abigail. “The IB is known for being such a demanding programme and it felt so rewarding to know that all my dedication and hard work had paid off. More than anything, I wanted to make my family proud.”

In 2027, Abigail hopes to begin the Psychology (Honours) programme at the University of Sydney as she works towards her goal of becoming a sports psychologist.

“Sport has always been a lifelong passion of mine, alongside psychology, which I discovered my love for after studying it for my IGCSEs,” she explained.

For Abigail, moving to Australia is also a return home. After eight years away, she is looking forward to being closer to family and friends, meeting new people, and experiencing university life.

She credits the IB Diploma Programme with helping her prepare for this next step.

“By studying this rigorous programme, it has allowed me not only to develop my academic knowledge, critical thinking skills and refine my time management skills, but to also become a more well-rounded student,” said Abigail.

Sport has been a central part of Abigail’s BIS Abu Dhabi journey. During her time at BIS Abu Dhabi, she represented the school in multiple sports with Team Falcon, particularly football, and her favourite memories include competing in events such as BSME, BSAK 7’s and ADISSA.

Most recently, Abigail also completed the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and was recognised as the first student in the first cohort at BIS Abu Dhabi to complete it.

When asked what she will miss most, Abigail spoke about the school’s strong sense of community and international nature.

“Growing up alongside people from so many different cultures has given me a much broader perspective on the world,” she reflected.

This year brought unexpected challenges and disruption, but Abigail stayed focused by developing a steady, balanced routine and keeping her future goals in mind.

“I had a goal of the results that I needed to acquire for my career pathway,” she said. “This was also another motivating factor to push through and keep focused.”

Looking back, Abigail is grateful for the teachers, friendships, and opportunities that have shaped both her academic journey and who she is as a person.

Congratulations, Abigail. Your dedication, resilience, sporting spirit, and commitment to your goals are an inspiration. We wish you every success as you begin your next chapter at the University of Sydney.