To be completely honest, when asked, “How have the skills you gained from international school been useful in society?” I find it a bit difficult to answer. This is because I don’t consciously feel like I’m actively applying any special skills. However, the fact that I can use English now has led me to become a blog writer in English. Whether that counts as “useful” or not is up for interpretation, but it’s the reality of my situation.
Table of Contents
1. English Proficiency: A Result, Not a Goal
Attending an international school naturally allowed me to become proficient in English, but it wasn’t something I deliberately aimed for. It was simply a byproduct of being immersed in an English-speaking environment. That said, this ability has become the foundation of my current work as a blog writer. It’s not that I intentionally sought out a career that required English; rather, it’s because I can use English that I ended up in this line of work.
2. No Grandiose Skills to Speak Of
There’s often an assumption that international school graduates possess “global perspectives” or “exceptional communication skills.” But for me personally, I don’t think I embody those traits in any significant way. For instance, I didn’t particularly excel at project-based learning (PBL) or group projects during school, nor am I especially good at public speaking. That’s why I’ve chosen blogging as my primary medium of expression instead of something like YouTube or podcasts, which require a more extroverted approach.
3. Finding My Place as a Result
Whether or not my international school experience directly benefits me in society is debatable. However, it did give me the ability to use English, and that skill eventually led me to blogging as a career. This wasn’t part of some grand career strategy—it just happened naturally. Still, I’m grateful that this path has allowed me to find a niche where I feel comfortable and productive.
Conclusion
When reflecting on how the skills from international school have been useful, there’s no grand or impressive answer here. The simple fact is that being able to use English has shaped my career path into what it is today. Nothing more, nothing less. And honestly, that’s enough for me. Being able to engage with society in my own way and at my own pace feels like the best way for those skills to manifest themselves—and that’s perfectly fine in my book.
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