When ASB alum Zachary Freer ’23 talks about his semester abroad in Sydney, his excitement is contagious. “I’ve always loved exploring,” he says, “and this felt like one of the rare chances I would have to live and study somewhere so far from home.” At UNSW, he’s continuing his studies in Philosophy and Economics while embracing Sydney’s active, outdoorsy lifestyle. “I’ve spent a lot of time at the beach and recently gotten into long-distance running, which fits perfectly with the city,” he adds.

Last summer, Zach returned to ASB as an HL Economics assistant, this time standing on “the other side of the classroom.” He calls it both rewarding and humbling. “It was such a privilege to extend my passion for teaching back to ASB and to revisit the IB Economics curriculum that first inspired me to study Economics.”

That deep connection to the school runs in the family. His mom, Lauren, teaches high school English Literature, while his father, Peter, has long been an active presence in the ASB community, teaching and coaching mathematics, advising leadership, helping create development programs, and even serving as a commencement speaker. For Zach, ASB’s values of learning, mentorship, and community are deeply rooted in his background.

Looking back, Zach says ASB prepared him in countless ways. Debate, MUN, and TEDx gave him the public speaking and critical thinking skills he leans on every day at Brown. One of his fondest memories? Sharing the TEDx stage in 2023 with his sister Julia ’25: “Julia is one of my closest friends and I’m her biggest fan, so I couldn’t have been happier to share something so unique with her.”

Even now, Zach stays closely connected to ASB students through debate and MUN. For him, it’s about giving back. “So many of my most valuable opportunities came directly from the mentorship and guidance I received from ASB’s incredible teachers. Any chance I have to give even a fraction of that back is something I’ll always try to do.”

Zach is also part of a small but growing group of ASB alumni in Australia. He’s number five on our list! It’s exciting to see our global network stretching even farther across the world.

His advice to current students is simple and heartfelt: “Stay true to yourself and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Don’t worry about what others think. Focus on what excites you.”

See photos of Zach and his family's journey at ASB in the photo gallery below (registration required to view).