Page 26 - FIS World JUne 2024

Forever Inspired Friendships
Alumni Reunion highlights the deep sense of belonging and connection to FIS
Why do international schools go to such great lengths to celebrate alumni friendships forged in bygone decades and eras passed? As every international school alumni office knows, gathering former students together in one place for a reunion is a Herculean task, scattered around the globe as they are. But when schools do, the results are magical, containing the essence and DNA of what makes an international school education so unique.
Friendships, as we know, are an integral part of every person’s identity. Add to that friendships that actively embrace our diverse world and you arrive at a place of deep belonging and connection, wherever life takes you. This year at our FIS Alumni Reunion, we celebrated with 140 alumni spanning five decades, and from as far afield as Australia and everywhere in between.
We had the all-time first experience of welcoming back five FIS couples, including one from the Class of 1974, who have been together since Grade 10! We heard stories of deep respect for educators that shaped their lives and love for those no longer with us, as well as stories of enduring friendships and countless examples of the joy at finding another “FISer” in unexpected places.
As our Class of 2024 prepares to begin a new chapter beyond FIS, they too, are encouraged to stay in touch with one another, look after each other – and return to school to celebrate those friendships in 10, 25 and 50 years time!
Hilary Polomsky
FIS Development and Alumni Relations Manager
24 FIS World May 2024