Senior Spotlights

Hello, my name is Selena, I’m a senior at QSI International School of Pápa, I have embraced a transformative journey since moving to Hungary from Norway during my junior year. With being used to living in bigger and populated environments, I discovered the contrasting charm of Pápa. QSI has been instrumental in my growth, providing valuable lessons and strong support from exceptional teachers and mentors. My aspiration is to pursue a career in culinary arts, with dreams of becoming a chef and eventually establishing my own restaurant. This newfound passion emerged as a fresh idea during my final year of high school.  

It's been an incredible journey, and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to study at QSI international school of Pápa. I'm excited to see what the future holds, and I'm looking forward to pursuing my dreams. Thanks for reading, and congratulations to all my fellow graduates! 

Hello, my name is Maximilian, and I am a member of the graduating class of 2023 from QSI Pápa. I have been doing my entire High School here in Pápa and have enjoyed it despite it not being as big as my former schools in Rome, Stockholm and London. Meeting great friends have helped a lot. The pandemic years were hard and I really enjoy being able to socialize with them again. 

Next up is 11 months of military service in the very northern part of Sweden and after that I’m planning on applying for Business studies at university in Seoul, South Korea. 

Hello, my name is Yutong and I am a member of the graduating class of 2023 from QSI Pápa. Although it may seem like a crazy idea to move here, I have no regrets. I am grateful for the four years I spent here, as they challenged me to develop myself in various ways, from improving my language skills to exploring music and art. As I prepare to graduate, I already have some plans for the summer and some ideas for my future. While I am not sure about everything, I am confident that one day we will all meet at the top. 

My name is Emma. I am a senior at QSI International of Pápa and I moved to Hungary from Sweden in 2014. It was very long ago that it was my first day at QSI but I do remember the feeling of being overwhelmed and nervous. This all went away when I got to meet the supportive and wonderful teacher and student community that has persisted as long as I’ve been here. Owing to my teachers I’ve developed a love for learning and engaging in the real world problems at hand. Many of the friendships I’ve made here have stayed and remained just as close when someone has moved away.  

Just as any middle- through high-school experience wax and wanes the foundational support received by my peers have helped carry me through. I am eternally grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to grow up in such a loving environment and I will reflect back on this experience with much love and adoration. I am planning to attend university in Australia. 

Greetings, my name is DonyA a senior at QSI International School Pápa. My life as a military brat has been crazy from moving from state to state, starting at the age of 5 in the state of Oklahoma where I was born. Years later, unfortunately, my family and I had a humanitarian move to Washington State, because my grandfather was terminally ill. I attended a good elementary school/ middle school when I moved to Washington State. In middle school I joined a choir, and our school took 1st place in our competition at Silverwood theme park in Idaho against another school. I also participated in basketball and wrestling. My first year in wrestling I made varsity and placed 3rd in the State, another sport that I played outside of school is soccer. I played soccer for one season and didn’t enjoy it as much, so I stopped.  

Another thing that I have done that could’ve changed my life forever is try out for an open call for Disney in Seattle. I made it through all three call backs and was given the opportunity to go to Disney. I played in 2 plays (Treasure Island, and Secret Garden). Both were life changing for me, because I had never done any plays before, and I turned out really enjoying it.  

Before I could get through my freshmen year at high school, we moved to Spokane Washington where I transitioned to homeschooling. As my family and I found a church to call home, I was called by the Lord to be a leader at my youth group, and I said yes. I went through so many battles while being a student leader, but I wasn’t alone, I made good friends to call family. I then started working 3 jobs while also being a student leader and it was quite easy to deal with. I loved what I was doing. Before Europe I was baptized in Spokane.  

When I moved to Pápa Hungary, I didn't know what to expect. Over the summer I've made some new friends from all other nations and that made living in Papa a lot easier. I was also able to get a car. As the new school year started, I made some new friends at QSI International School. I learned how to read music better and learned how to play the ukulele. Now that I am a senior I will be officially done with school. I don't know what life has ahead for me, but I will be able to carry out my faith and my knowledge with me. When I was younger, I was told that I was crazy, but I do remember saying to that person I am not crazy I am DonyA and so as I go through this long journey, I will have that in my head that I'm not crazy, but I am DonyA, that is me, and that is who I AM! 

Hello, my name is Dylan, and I’m a senior at QSI International School of Pápa. I moved to Hungary last summer, and it’s been a great experience to live here and try to understand different world views and ways of life. I’ve lived in 3 countries, and QSI is my third and smallest high school, which has been quite a difficult transition from class sizes of about 300 at my first high school and 70 at my previous school. I am grateful for the teachers and students, especially the secondary 3s and 4s for making that transition easier. Despite its shortcomings, QSI has been a great place to learn and spend my senior year and enjoy what Hungary has to offer. It’s been exciting to be able to travel to lots of different countries and interact with people from all over the world, even in the small town of Pápa. After graduation, I plan to attend Colorado School of Mines to study computer science, and I look forward to what the next chapter of my life will bring. 

Hello, I am Logan, and I am a senior at QSI Papa. To some, my school experience may seem strange - moving around, changing schools, saying hard goodbyes, and welcoming new hellos. However, this is my life. I have had the opportunity to meet many new people and am fortunate to call most of them my friends.  

While some may see my school/high school journey as difficult, I am thankful. I have learned a lot moving around the world; it has broadened my perspectives, sparked creativity, and challenged me to grow. The collective experience has molded me into the person I am today. 

As I reflect on my experiences, I believe Anthony Bourdain said it best, “As you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly; you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life – and travel – leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks – on your body or on your heart – are beautiful...”  

I am thankful for my friends and my family – who, without, this journey would not be possible. 

I look forward to taking my experience at QSI with me, a mark in my life, and I hope I leave a mark behind me here when I leave. 

Hello, my name is Ellen! I’m a senior at QSI international school of Papa. I moved to Hungary my junior year and now I’m graduating! I’ve lived in four different countries and they have all been very different but I think Hungary has been the most different. I’ve lived in big cities my whole life and Papa is quite different from anything I’ve ever experienced. QSI has enriched me with many new lessons and my journey towards graduation has always been supported by amazing teachers and mentors. My senior year has been challenging because of lockdown since I have so many things that I want to try here in Hungary. Lockdown has taught me to find joy in the small victories and experiences. My dream in life is to work within international relations or with politics, I’ve always wanted to make the world a better place with my debating skills and QSI has given me a very useful international global perspective. After graduation I will study International Relations at Eötvös Lorand University in Budapest. This new chapter of my life is soon to begin and I can’t wait!  

Hi, my name is Zsófi. I'm one of the Hungarian students at QSI Pápa. I've been studying at QSI for 4 years now and this is my last year. I have always loved being at QSI and I'm going to miss the school, the teachers and the students. This is my senior year and it was not easy due to COVID. I have missed going to classes and spending time with classmates. After graduation I will study law in one of the Hungarian universities. 

Hi, my name is Eszter, I’m from Hungary and I’m a senior student at QSI Pápa. I have been studying at QSI for almost four years now and I have been enriched with many great experiences, laughs, tears, and tons of knowledge that prepared me for adult life. My journey towards graduation is special, due to the many on and off digital, working from home, periods. My senior year is though, filled with many challenges, but twice as much joy and support coming from my family and friends. After I pass my AP tests and graduate from QSI Pápa, I will spend my summer around my loved ones, getting a nice tan, and having fun, hopefully when places reopen. And most importantly, I’m going to prepare for a new, exciting journey, university. This new journey is going to happen in a blink of an eye, and I am ready for it.