Meet Jessica Bank, ASH alumna from the Class of 2014 as well as Dutch and Spanish teacher in Middle and High School, and Middle School Musical Director.

 

As a language teacher, Jessica’s lessons go far beyond grammar and vocabulary. For her, learning new languages is a meaningful way of unlocking opportunities for connection and empathy with others. “Nelson Mandela said, ‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.’ That’s what language is really about,” she explains. “It’s not just about words—it’s about making the effort to truly see and understand someone else’s world.

 

Through learning Dutch or Spanish, students don’t just master linguistic skills; they develop values that inherently help make the world a better place. “Language and culture are deeply connected, and learning a new language naturally encourages students, as well as anyone in any line of work, to reflect on different perspectives and ways of life” says Jessica, “That awareness helps people grow into more respectful, open-minded, and compassionate individuals, qualities that matter just as much outside the classroom as they do within it.”

 

As a teacher, Jessica is constantly evolving. “Teaching is a profession that pushes you to keep learning,” she says. “No two days are the same, and we wear many hats.” One of the most rewarding parts of her job is witnessing students grow in confidence, particularly through the Middle School musical. “Watching students step into the spotlight, support one another, and find their voices is incredibly inspiring. It’s a reminder of how much learning happens beyond academics.”

 

For Jessica, teaching is not just about imparting knowledge—it’s about modeling curiosity, empathy, and lifelong learning. “I learn a bit more every day—through my students, colleagues, and the surprises that come up in the classroom. Over time, I hope to continue building a bigger toolbox of strategies and insights to draw from”.

Claudia Botero ('82) reflects on her years at the American School of The Hague, where she found belonging, freedom, and lifelong friendships. A true third culture kid (TCK), Claudia embraced ASH’s open-minded culture, which helped shape her worldview and future career in international education. From riding her brommer through Wassenaar to leading university tours in Colombia today, Claudia shares how ASH's global spirit can have an imprint that can last wherever life takes you.

 

 

I attended ASH from 1980 to 1982. After a rather humbling year at 't Rijnlands Lyceum in Wassenaar (where my Dutch language skills came back to me but I barely survived academically), ASH was heaven. As a third culture kid, I had started school in Amsterdam, moved to Tokyo, and returned to The Hague at 15, naïvely thinking I could slide right back into Dutch school life – yeah right. But the moment I joined ASH as a junior, with other TCKs who just got it, I knew I had found my tribe. ASH was its own little universe set against the wonders of The Hague and Wassenaar. It was a time of freedom, adventure, and friendships that have stood the test of time (and distance!). We took our ‘brommers’ everywhere and owned the city, fueled by an endless supply of patat, kroket, and stroopwafels. And thanks to the wonderfully open-minded Dutch culture, no topic was off-limits - we grew up without taboos and with a healthy dose of independence. To this day, I carry those memories (and possibly an enduring love for everything Dutch) wherever I go.

 

 

One of the most valuable things I took from ASH was the incredible sense of freedom - both academically and socially. Growing up in The Hague with ASH as our backdrop felt like having the world at our doorstep - quite literally. Not only was MUN the place to be seen and heard (Mouin Rabbani dancing on the table and being thrown out of the General Assembly comes to mind), but one minute you were playing soccer in Frankfurt, and then the following weekend you would be singing with the choir in Paris. This mix of intellectual curiosity and real-world adventure taught me that no dream was too big, and no destination was out of reach – I say this now with hindsight, back then, it was just another normal weekend we took for granted.

 

 

The Dutch belief in acceptance and openness was everywhere, and at ASH everyone had a story worth hearing. That openness left a deep impression on me and led me to major in Political Science and a Master’s in International Relations. Math was not for me, computers even less – so I am certain MUN played a major role in this decision as I loved every aspect of it. ASH taught me the importance of being adaptable and understanding others’ points of view – an essential skill when working in education and teaching high school students. After growing up in the Netherlands, nothing fazed, shocked, or scared me, so opening students’ minds to the world felt innate.

 

 

Absolutely – besides the mild terror of the "senior heater" and the gamble of walking past it, the arctic-cold bathrooms (seriously, why were they always freezing?) with the possessed doors that would swing open and smack you when you least expected it, the smoke filled senior lounge, and the “no bell” prize (coined by Matt Hoye when the bell stopped working for the rest of the school year), ASH was full of unforgettable moments. But apart from this and the stairway chaos, it’s the incredible teachers who left the deepest mark: Dr. DeWitt’s dive into Dante’s Inferno still makes me question which circle I’m destined for, Mr. McGuire’s sharp humor is still vivid in my mind, and the delightfully eccentric Ms. Bartholf who turned learning French into a pleasure. But what truly remains in my heart are the friendships and the sense of belonging to something special. That feeling was so powerful that, after organizing a pandemic Zoom class reunion, an amazing group of 80’s ASHers came to my hometown, Medellin, Colombia for our 40th anniversary reunion in 2022—a dream come true and proof that once an ASHer, always an ASHer!

 

 

Today, I still carry the ASH spirit with me as I work in education, helping students find their own paths. I loved being a school-based college counselor, and even though I’m officially retired, I can’t quite stay away. Through JCT4Education, I continue to guide international students and families and lead university tours across Colombia.

 

ASH has a funny way of staying in my life, though - like when I ran into Peter Loy, a former ASH counselor, at a university event in France. So, much like those international weekends of days gone by, what goes ‘round comes ‘round and proves that it really is a small world after all!