Rhea Sheth’s journey across Asia - from Dubai to Singapore and Hong Kong – led her to CDNIS, where she joined as the new girl in a high-achieving academic environment. While the transition could have been intimidating, Sheth was met with empathy, optimism, and a spirit of collaboration from both faculty and peers. Their warm welcome helped her quickly find her footing and begin to genuinely enjoy her classes.

"CDNIS's [global outlook] helped me to keep an open mind when considering global politics and issues around the world," she says. "We explored many global issues, such as human trafficking and climate change."

Sheth is about to begin her first year studying biochemistry at Imperial College London. She feels ready as CDNIS allowed her to build confidence and take ownership of her skills, with rigorous projects like her extended essay challenging her to bridge two scientific disciplines. Beyond the classroom, Sheth founded a crochet club, played netball, honed her communication skills through school-wide events such as the CDNIS carnival, and took part in leadership conferences.

"The IB as a whole was one of the most challenging two years so far," says Sheth. "Balancing service, academics, reports, and sports was intense, but my teachers continued to inspire me to take on new challenges, and it made it easier to excel in multiple parts of the curriculum."