Meet Karla Montes de Oca '19, who attended ASB from 5th grade to 12th, together with her brother Eduardo '16. While Karla's family identifies with Venezuela's traditions and cultures, their frequent movement when she was a child - within the United States, Mexico, Spain, and later, the United Kingdom - quickly makes her feel at home in several countries.

In her second year at King's College London, where she is undertaking a BSc in Biomedical Sciences, Karla is currently celebrating her recent Business Insights Student Placement for next year at MSD Pharmaceuticals, a leading biopharmaceutical company in London. At MSD, Karla will be working alongside professionals and gaining knowledge within the industries through hands-on experience.

What experiences or teachers from ASB might have inspired who you are today?

"Spending so many hours with teachers every week allowed me to learn so much more from my teachers than just the academic work. My teachers inspired me to pay greater attention and to hold myself accountable to a certain standard. Their enthusiasm and effort on my behalf served as a great motivator. Each of my teachers inspired me in different ways over the years - Mr. Smith's kindness, Mr. Lopez's humor, Mr. Whitehair's devotion to teaching - the list could go on with so many teachers who I will always remember fondly."

Tell us a little about any extracurricular or service activities you were involved in at ASB.

"I was the co-head organizer of the Barcelona International Schools Association ("BISA") together with my best friend, Emiliana Matas, as well Open Mic events throughout high school. I played on the ASB football team for six years and was captain my senior year. Beyond loving the actual game, I owe a lot of friendships and memorable experiences to the sport."

What would be a favorite ASB memory?

"The football tournaments always stood out."

In your opinion, what makes ASB special?

"In a nutshell, the teachers."

What are you thinking about doing after graduating from university?
"I hope that working at MSD during my placement year next year will give me a better idea of what I like most and a good sense of direction for what I want to do after graduation."

Any advice for ASB high school students?

"Take advantage of the kind community you have at school - make sure you appreciate all the employees that work to make your experience so sweet, from Manuel at the entrance to the kitchen staff and your teachers. You'll miss it once you leave."

If you could describe ASB in one word, what would it be?

"Family."

#Lynx4Life #ASBtogether
Contributed: March 2020