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Hi, my name is Alina. I am in Year 4 and I am nine-years-old. I was born and adopted from Russia when I was almost three.
We moved from the U.S. where I lived in Washington, DC., I went to the British International School there so I knew the ways of the British system. My school was very small and I rode my scooter or skateboard to school every day! I really miss home but I love my teacher at BIS Abu Dhabi, Mrs. O'Connor. I love talking to her about books and life.
I have met a whole lot of friends here and the people are nice. People here work on respect and thoughtfulness. My favourite subjects are spelling, guided reading, and English. I love reading and books are my favourite thing about school. My favourite thing about life are animals. Animals are my life, to be specific! I am a vegetarian. I care about animal rights and the planet. We do not have a car because of global warming.
I want to be a wildlife vet and work in Africa.
I cannot do protests in Abu Dhabi but I have saved a street kitten by taking her to the Falcon Hospital Animal Shelter and I have done a beach clean-up.
I am on the Falcon Swim Team at school and the Fourth Lane Swim Club. I have been on a swim team since I was five. At school I am learning to sew in CCA.
I also fence and play the piano. But we don't yet have a piano in Abu Dhabi.
I like the malls here and I love the Manarat al Saadiyat. I love doing art there.
Moving here has been hard but it is an adventure. I am happy to have my friends and Mrs. O'Connor.
Alina, year 4
It’s something I’ve believed for a long time — that learning isn’t predetermined by our genes. It’s about growing, persevering, and learning through the process. I was really mindful of this idea at this week’s wonderful Primary Summer Concert, after which I found myself reflecting on whether these amazing children have an innate talent, or whether they have achieved so much because of hard work and practice.
I believe it’s the latter. These children, their parents, and their teachers all seem to share the belief that by trying and working hard, they will get better at what they do. This is what we call a growth mindset.
This week at BIS Abu Dhabi, we have had the joy of celebrating both ends of the school journey and it has been a beautiful reminder of how we support our students to dream big and grow into their future selves.
As exam season unfolds, there's a special kind of stillness that settles over the school. In the quiet hum of the examination hall, behind the rustle of papers and the soft clicking of keyboards, is a profound truth: we are witnessing a moment that our students will carry with them forever. It is the culmination of years of learning, growth, and perseverance, a chapter closing and a new one ready to be written.
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