At ISSOS, we’re always inspired by the incredible journeys our students have during their time with us, and this summer was no exception. One of our Cambridge students recently shared a heartfelt review of their ISSOS experience, describing it as “the summer of a lifetime.”
From the initial nerves of being away from home to stepping out of their comfort zone and building lifelong friendships with peers from around the globe, their story truly captures the magic of ISSOS. They highlighted the warmth and support of our counselors, the inspiration from expert teachers, and the unforgettable moments spent bonding over day trips, sports, and downtime activities.
We’re so proud to create a space where students can grow, learn, and leave with memories they’ll cherish forever.
Read the full review below and see what makes ISSOS so special.
"When I was first offered the opportunity to spend three weeks of my summer at Cambridge university taking part in ISSOS’S summer program I was thrilled and extremely excited, however I was also nervous and apprehensive about spending so long away from home with people I had never met. I had doubts and worries but pushed myself to attend it and I have never been so glad. ISSOS offered me the summer of a lifetime with endless opportunities to meet new people, try new things, step out of my comfort zone and build my character. I wouldn’t change my ISSOS experience for the world.
When I first arrived, my nerves were obvious. I was greeted by such lovely counsellors who assured me that the nerves were normal and I was not alone in this. Already I felt so much more comfortable. Meeting my group of girls and counsellors who were going to be my family for the next three weeks gave me hope that I had nothing to be worried about. I started to feel silly for being so anxious upon my arrival, however when I got to know everyone and spoke out about it, I was indeed not alone in my feelings. We all bonded so quickly and strongly. ISSOS gave us all the opportunity to learn about each other's cultures, lives and how we all differ from one another. The range of sports events and day trips we had brought us all closer together, but not just these, even during our downtime we grew so much closer with each other. Spending time in each other's rooms, playing games in the garden, sitting in the kitchen together before lights out. Even the small things helped us grow as a group. We started off as strangers and finished being life long friends who live in every corner of the world.
It wasn't just my friends that made the summer such an amazing experience for me. The teachers who were experts in their subjects were incredible people. My journalism teacher Emily was an inspiration to me in this subject. She made me exceedingly comfortable to ask as many questions as I needed, helped me in each area I needed help in and made it possible for me to excel and learn more in this subject. On top of all of this, she was also an amazing person. My theatre teacher Amy was no different. Her bubbly and joyful personality made our classes so much fun. She helped us all grow in confidence and pushed us out of our comfort zones. Each group had a counsellor who looked after us outside of our academics and electives. I had the pleasure of having Laila as mine. She was the most incredible person I interacted with. She made our group feel so special and cared for. She was always there when we needed her and never let any one of us pass up an opportunity. Head counsellors Donald and Helen deserve a massive thankyou for making the three weeks so enjoyable for all of us. They really were a great team and made sure each and every one of us had the best time. All the counsellors were amazing and made me feel extremely comfortable the entire time I was there. I want to say thank you to the entire ISSOS team for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime with unforgettable memories. I wouldn't change a thing about it and couldn't have asked to share it with better people. Thank you ISSOS." Maddy Thomas
It’s stories like these that remind us why we do what we do. A huge thank you to all our students, counsellors, and teachers who make every summer extraordinary!
