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Portuguese 
19.05.2025
After spending ten years living abroad — in the United States, Switzerland, and Poland — it was during a brief visit to Beacon School that I was certain: “Mom, Dad, this is where I want to study.” Even with little time to get to know the school, something about that environment made me feel it was the right place to continue my studies from Year 7 onwards. Looking back now, I know it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
From the beginning, I was warmly welcomed by teachers and classmates. Within a few months, I already felt completely integrated, comfortable staying after classes to ask questions, exchange ideas, and explore new interests. This attentive and individualized approach from the teachers was crucial. They go beyond the content — adapting their strategies according to our needs. In my case, at first, I needed extra support to adapt to academic Portuguese. In Mathematics, teacher Marcela Visnadi encouraged me to develop a scientific initiation project, suggesting that I research a topic to teach older students. This experience not only deepened my interest in the subject but also connected me to pedagogy, something I continued to explore through extracurricular activities, such as volunteering as an English teacher and interning in the Math department before starting my studies at the University of Toronto.
The support extended beyond academics. During High School, guidance from Lucas Sousa in the University and Career Counseling office was essential. He helped me choose my IB subjects, suggested extracurricular activities aligned with my profile, and guided me in selecting my university course — Chemical Engineering. This support gave me the confidence to outline a clear path, both in the IB and in my university applications abroad.
Beyond academics, Beacon was a space to explore extracurricular interests that marked my journey. I joined the volleyball team, which became an important outlet to relieve the stress of IB demands. I was also involved in organizing BMUN, the school’s Model UN simulation, with the support of teacher João Andrade. Seeing over 100 students from public and private schools come together to debate global issues was a memorable experience that broadened my perspective on the impact of diplomacy and dialogue.
Finally, what truly makes Beacon unique is its central purpose: “International Education. Brazilian Identity.” On one hand, the rigorous academic training of the IB prepares us for universities around the world, without leaving gaps for those who choose to pursue a path in Brazil. I left school having written an Extended Essay, studied differential and integral calculus, and ready for the ENEM. On the other hand, the school maintains a genuine connection to Brazilian culture — from the June Festivals to the daily use of Portuguese. For me, this was a way to reconnect with my roots after years abroad. Participating in trips to the Amazon and the interior of Pernambuco, where we built cisterns for local communities, was a tangible and emotional way to reconnect with Brazil.
Today, looking back, I see how each of these experiences shaped not only my academic path but also my worldview. Beacon was more than just a school. It was a place that prepared me to pursue my dreams with confidence, wherever I choose to be.