Marisa Aisha’s World of International Diplomacy

Let’s talk about your KYS days. So, what did you study in KYS? Was it your decision?

I was in the Pure Science stream. And, haha! Yes. I chose to study chemistry, biology and physics, even though I was planning a career in the legal sphere. I loved it! I think we almost blew up a part of the chemistry lab once. 

Who helped you the most while you were studying in KYS? How?

Our parents away from home – the teachers. And by teachers, I do mean everyone we have had the opportunity to learn from in KYS. We had/have brilliant ones, who allowed us to make mistakes and learn from them; who taught us how to stand up for what we want and what we believed in; who became our friends. I think the teachers and the structure of learning and growing up in KYS made it conducive for personal development. You’re encouraged to explore, take on incremental responsibilities, and generally grow up to become some useful to the world. 

What did you love most about your KYS experience?

The people. I didn’t realise it then, but now, I feel that there is a bond you have with your fellow KYSERs that is a bit different. Sure, you might not see each other that often, but the camaraderie is something else. Maybe it’s a boarding school thing, but with KYS, it truly feels like family. You feel like at the end of the day, those nerds that you lived with for five years, got your back. 

In what way have your experiences helped you after graduating from KYS?

I think KYS made us grow up faster than we (probably) intended to. Think about it – our parents chucked us in the middle of nowhere to (mostly) fend for ourselves. We learnt how to take charge and delegate and to organise and cooperate. We had to be responsible and accountable for all our actions. And since we were there, together, on our own, we had to quickly learn how to be self-reliant and realise the importance of being selfless. 

How did the posts you held in KYS impact your character development?

The most challenging one was being Head Girl in 2003. When I ran for the position, it was on a list of things I felt I needed to achieve. But after actually getting the job, I started to feel responsible, accountable, even protective over the students then. Though, I think that sense of responsibility over 300+ students, rightly or wrongly, manifested itself in different ways. When something bad happened, especially if it was one of the girls, I would think that it was my fault for not doing enough prevent the situation from happening. At the time, I felt a lot of pressure to not make any mistakes or wrong decisions, to the point that I would overthink many decisions I’ve made. Nonetheless, that was the base. Over time, I’ve learnt to draw the line between being responsible and being accountable for my, and other people’s, actions. 

What notable awards have you won when you were studying in KYS? How did they help with your university applications?

Gosh, this is a while back and to be completely honest, I am a little fuzzy about the details. And really, I think only the admissions unit in the universities will be best suited to answer this question. If I had to hazard a guess, any award obtained will be an indication or an assumption of a skill that you have mastered. For example, if you received an award as “best debater”, the assumption is that you have excellent oratory skills, commendable ability to structure arguments, and calm under pressure. In my experience, interesting extra-curricular activities, coupled with a well-written personal statement can help you get into the universities you are aiming for. In my personal statement, I wrote that I wanted to be Spider-Man – and I got into law school!