After arriving from Ireland in 2015, Samantha Thurgood ’21 arrived at American School of The Hague. It soon became more than a place to learn—it was the environment where she rediscovered her confidence, uncovered her passions, and began shaping a future she once thought unreachable. Having graduated in 2021, the deep personal transformation accompanies the academic growth she continues to carry with her.

 

Throughout her six years at ASH, Samantha explored an impressive range of extracurriculars. She began with cross-country, but soon found herself in drama club, a shift encouraged by her parents. Though she felt nervous at first, drama became a welcoming space where she really enjoyed the experience and community. High School brought even more variety: track and field, roles behind the spotlight in the play, performing as the guitarist in the musical, and even presenting her own original music in the senior talent show. In tenth grade, Samantha described a trip to Portugal as part of the Habitat for Humanity project as life-changing, where travelling students helped build a house for a lady.

 

Among all she experienced, Samantha describes her language-learning journey as the most valuable. She bravely enrolled in Spanish, and later switched to Dutch, which became a turning point: “That was when I realised, I could learn languages. I was taught in a way that fits my way of learning.” This discovery launched an ongoing passion—one she continues today through advanced courses in Dutch and German.

 

Perhaps the most powerful impact ASH had on Samantha was restoring her confidence. At ASH, however, she found care, structure, and belief. “When I came to ASH, I was offered all the resources and opportunities I needed. I was given the time and patience to grow into a capable person and was able to explore and discover myself. I was treated like a person who was deserving of a high-quality education… For the first time in my life I felt worthy and human.” Samantha shared that her teachers and learning support coordinators made a huge impact on her academic journey, and shows profound gratitude for their kindness and trust in her abilities: “I still use some of the learning techniques they all have taught me in my language learning mission. I am eternally grateful for what they’ve done for me, and I will never forget them”.

 

Today, Samantha is studying Graphic Design and Web Design in ’s-Hertogenbosch and completing an internship in Uden. With a growing design portfolio and dreams of one day living in Austria—or staying happily in the Netherlands—she continues to build a life rooted in resilience, and self-discovery.