The Where Are They Now blog series looks at the lives of Beijing International School alumni after the last school bell has tolled. Nicole Gauvin attended ISB from 1995-1996; a short stint, but long enough to meet her future husband!
Timeline Since School
What have you done since leaving high school?
I have: gained BA from the University of Toronto, married fellow ISB alumni Max Mao, become an aunt, lived in Boston, attended a class reunion in Berlin, attended the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and traveled to Paris, New York, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia and Latvia
What has been your greatest lesson?
Don’t let the mundane get in the way of living life.
Looking Back
Which member of faculty had the greatest impact on you?
Ms. Lopez (guidance counselor), Ms. Gelfand (English & yearbook), Mr. Carroll (home room) and Mr. Naro (history)
What’s your strongest memory of ISB?
China Studies, the International Women’s Conference, hanging out at the Lido club after school with friends, volunteering to go to the orphanage in Tianjin with other students, meeting people from so many countries, backgrounds and cultures.
Advice for Students
What general advice would you give to current students?
Be grateful for what you have and be kind to other people as often as possible.
How can students make the most of their time at ISB?
Get to know as many people as you can.
What insight would you give to students and parents who are researching career paths and university choices?
Keep an open mind (parents especially). By the time graduation comes around there will be areas of study and careers that do not even exist right now. The world is constantly changing and nothing is a given anymore.
Influence of Beijing on Your Life
How has your time in Beijing helped you in your professional and personal life?
Having the opportunity to meet and get to know so many different kinds of people opened up my worldview.
What influence, if any, has your experience as an international student in Beijing had on your choices and experiences?
Everything probably. It’s where I met my husband and so many important decisions are because of that.
Photos courtesy of Nicole Gauvin
