When Nina stepped onto the stage to sing at the International Baccalaureate (IB) Global Conference, she embodied the spirit of the IB program—embracing courage and challenge. Performing Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing” before an audience of nearly 2,000 people, Nina took this as a unique opportunity to express her practice and love for the arts.

 

“I was hesitant as I didn’t know what I should perform,” she shared. “But after discussing with Mr. Nikolaos, we concluded it’d be a very nice song to sing. I was very nervous to go onstage, but I had to keep in mind that this is a really special opportunity and that I would enjoy it!”

 

Nina has been singing since she was six years old and has continued to integrate music in her life through taking part in the Jazz Band, Musicals, Artscapade, as well as writing her own music. At ASH, we continuously encourage students to push their boundaries and approach challenges with excitement and curiosity. Beyond academics, the IB program inspires students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world experiences—just as Nina did through this performance.

 

“The IB program at ASH really allows me to select subjects that I’m very interested in and passionate about,” Nina explained. “Through High Level Theatre, I’ve been able to build my confidence when performing in front of an audience as well as work on my teamwork skills when collaborating with my peers. High Level Literature allows me to understand the depth of language and how much power a single word may hold. Through this, I’m continuously learning how to develop my writing when I write my own music, allowing me to really delve into my creativity.”

 

In this performance, Nina demonstrated what the IB philosophy looks like in action at ASH—students who can “feel the nerves and do it anyway”, enjoy taking their practice to new levels, and (literally) use their voices to make meaningful connections with the world around them.