Meet our graduate student: Erik

1. Can you please introduce yourself to our LIS community?

Hi, I’m Erik and I started attending Léman International School when I was in Grade 9. I graduated in the summer of 2017, after spending 4 years at LIS. I am now studying criminology at the University of Toronto.

2. How did you apply for universities? Which university was your final choice? Why?

As I was born in Canada, Canadian universities were always my first choice. I had also consulted the academic adviser at school as well as several other teachers to gather some helpful opinions. In the end, I settled for the University of Toronto, because it is a world-renowned, prestigious university that offered a program that I believed would be highly conducive towards my academic studies.

3. Congratulations to you on your enrollment in such a good university. Can you please share with us how you have successfully achieved your goal? What support did you receive from your teachers and school? 

One thing that really helped me achieve my goal was the constant and continuous encouragement that I received from my family, friends and teachers. They kept pushing me to work harder, which motivated me tremendously. I would say hard work and perseverance was what got me enrolled in such an excellent university.

4. What have you enjoyed most during your learning journey at Léman? Have you had any challenges and how did you overcome them?

One thing that I enjoyed the most was the small size of the classes (and it is something that I miss the most after being in university). Whenever I was confused in class, the teacher would always be there to guide and support me. The cordiality of the LIS community was something else that I enjoyed. All the students and staff were always extremely friendly and approachable, making it a welcoming learning environment.

5. How is your university life? How did the school prepare you for the university?

University life is great, albeit very busy. As a criminology student, we are always tasked with writing long, in-depth essays or research papers. They can be quite challenging at times, but the practice that I obtained when writing essays in high school was really beneficial. The IB program helped me to think and analyse things critically, which is a huge advantage in university.

6. As a Léman graduate student, what would you like to say to our students? What are your suggestions for our students to prepare for university?

My advice would be to be ambitious. Do not doubt yourself and always strive for the best. If someone tells you that you cannot be something, ignore them and prove them wrong. Secondly, make sure to always stay on top of things. Try not to procrastinate and never leave things to the last minute. Finally, although diligence is important, make sure that you balance your lifestyle between work and leisure. Do not overwhelm yourself and make sure you do things that you enjoy.