Message from the Secondary Principal

Inquirers: We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

Knowledgeable: We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.

As I reflected on my life experiences and my connections to the above IB learner profile attributes I reflected on the impact a trip to Zimbabwe had on as a 14 year growing up in rural Vermont. I am an incredibly curious person and as a history major, knowledge about how and why the world is how it is has always been of great interest. I believe the beginning of my deep desire to know and to inquire occurred after I traveled with 40 other high school students to a part of the world few Americans will ever get to see.

I was fortunate enough to be selected for the 5 week cultural and historical tour to Zimbabwe, 1 to 2 students from each state was chosen and I no doubt benefited from living in Vermont, the state with the second lowest population of the 50 US states. At the time I was in 9th grade, in a class that totaled about 30 students and I had seen little of the world. My curiosity and hunger to know more about the world exploded shortly after our arrival in Harare and movement around the beautiful country of Zimbabwe, meeting urban professionals, staying in the homes of those living in the countryside, and being overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness shown to me.

The legacy of European colonialism quickly became an obsession of mine. I wanted to talk to every person I met in Zimbabwe and hear their stories, gain their perspectives, and help me to better understand and broaden my narrow vision of the world. I came back to my small town in Vermont a very changed person and dove deeply into reading, learning, and discussing my new interests. I knew then that I wanted to major in history and focus on the 20th century and that I wanted to be an educator. It set me on the path that I still walk today, I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to spark my curiosity and love of learning.

Chris Boyle
Secondary Principal, International School Dhaka