This summer, we are introducing the ISR Student Summer Stories series, highlighting how our students use their summer holidays to gain valuable experience, take on new challenges, and make a meaningful difference beyond the classroom!
1. Leonard
Our first story features Grade 12 student Leonard, who dedicated his time and energy to improving sanitation facilities at a school in Cameroon as part of his CAS project.
Inspired by his uncle, who initiated a similar sanitation project in Africa many years ago, Leonard became aware of the impact that inadequate facilities can have on a child’s education. At many schools, a lack of safe and hygienic toilets can prevent students from attending lessons regularly, with girls being particularly affected.
Determined to make a difference, Leonard began raising funds for the construction of a new sanitation block with running water. The plans include separate toilets for girls and boys, facilities for teachers, accessible toilets, and a sustainable wastewater system. Bringing such an ambitious project to life required courage, persistence, and a great deal of personal responsibility!
Leonard approached potential donors, organized fundraising activities and presented the project at school events. Asking others for financial support was not always easy, but he continued to speak about the importance of the project and encouraged people to become part of it. His commitment even attracted the attention of the local newspaper Rheinische Post/NGZ, which took a keen interest in his efforts and interviewed him about the initiative.
Leonard’s story shows that meaningful change often begins with one person who is willing to take the first step. His dedication has helped turn an idea into a project that can have a lasting impact on an entire school community for years to come.
We are incredibly proud of Leonard and everything he has achieved! His example reminds us how important it is to take responsibility, become actively involved, and use our own opportunities to support others. It also shows that no meaningful project is achieved alone: This journey was made possible through the trust, encouragement, and generous donations of the ISR Community, including partners, families, friends, and everyone who believed in and supported the project.
We are proud to share Leonard’s inspiring journey as the first chapter of this year’s ISR Student Summer Stories!
2. Carl
Our ISR Student Summer Stories series continues, celebrating the meaningful experiences our students pursue beyond the classroom during their summer holidays. Whether through internships, social projects, or personal initiatives, these stories highlight how curiosity and the courage to explore new opportunities can lead to valuable learning and personal growth.
For our second ISR Student Summer Story, we are delighted to introduce Carl, one of our future Grade 12 students, who spent an inspiring week at the German Bundestag completing an internship with Member of Parliament Carl-Philipp Sassenrath.
As the internship took place during a full parliamentary week, Carl was able to experience the work of the German Parliament first-hand. He accompanied Mr. Sassenrath and his team throughout their daily activities, gained insight into their responsibilities, and witnessed several parliamentary debates and votes.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the work of the German Parliament. I was able to experience the team’s day-to-day responsibilities and shadow Mr. Sassenrath during a full parliamentary week with many important votes. The internship gave me valuable new perspectives on politics, public service, and the legislative process,” Carl says.
A particularly memorable part of the week was Carl’s personal interview with Mr. Sassenrath. Their conversation revealed an exciting connection: both developed an early interest in politics through Model United Nations (MUN) conferences. Mr. Sassenrath explained that his political journey later continued through local CDU politics and his involvement in sports, particularly through projects that brought schools and sports clubs closer together. At the heart of his work is a simple but powerful motivation: the desire to make a meaningful contribution to society!
When Carl asked what had surprised him most about working at the Bundestag, Mr. Sassenrath highlighted the dynamic pace of parliamentary life, with its many meetings, appointments, and personal exchanges. He was especially impressed by the strong sense of collaboration and constructive dialogue that shapes political work behind the scenes – an encouraging side of the Bundestag that is not always visible to the public.
His advice to his younger self also offered Carl an important takeaway:
“Follow your passions and trust your instincts. When you truly care about what you are doing, you are far more likely to do it well!”
We extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Sassenrath and his team for giving Carl this exceptional opportunity to experience political life at the Bundestag first-hand! We are excited to see where Carl’s curiosity and passion will take him next – and who knows, perhaps one day Carl will be the one offering a similar opportunity to a future ISR student!
3. Nicholas
For the third chapter of our ISR Student Summer Stories, we are delighted to share the experience of Nicholas, one of our Grade 11 students, who spent part of his summer at the Bocconi Summer School in Milan.
Nicholas chose Bocconi because of its strong international reputation and its academic focus on subjects closely connected to his interests in international law, politics, and global affairs. At the same time, the program offered him an opportunity to look beyond the classroom and discover whether he could imagine studying and living in Milan in the future!
During the Summer School, Nicholas participated in two academic labs: “The European Union and Its Economic Policies in Post-Globalisation” and “International Politics”. Both courses concluded with a final presentation, giving him the opportunity not only to deepen his subject knowledge but also to develop his research, critical-thinking, and presentation skills.
“The lectures and presentations reshaped how I view international relations,” Nicholas explains. Through discussions with lecturers and fellow students, he gained new perspectives on political cooperation, economic policy, and the complex relationships between countries and international institutions.
Nicholas also took part in extracurricular activities, including a cooking class, which gave him the chance to experience Italian culture in a more personal and enjoyable way. Alongside the demanding academic program, he formed new friendships, explored Milan, and experienced everyday life in one of Europe’s most vibrant university cities.
“Between the top-tier academics, the friendships I formed, and the city of Milan itself, it became a place where I could see myself living in the future,” Nicholas says.
We are very proud of Nicholas for stepping outside his familiar environment, embracing new academic challenges and approaching this experience with such curiosity and openness! His time at Bocconi is a wonderful example of how initiative and a willingness to explore new opportunities can support both personal and academic growth.
4. Helen
Our fourth story features Helen, who travelled from Germany to Shanghai to participate in the Peer Potential Mock Trial (PPMT), one of China’s longest-running English-language mock trial competitions for high school students. Over four intensive days, more than 100 students across 22 teams took part in courtroom simulations evaluated by law students and graduates from universities including Yale, Harvard, and New York University.
Helen was the only participant traveling from Germany. She joined a newly formed team of five students who had never met before and, after the first round of training, was selected as team captain.
She also took on two demanding roles: Prosecution Closing Attorney, delivering the prosecution’s final argument, and Defendant, facing cross-examination. Seeing the same case from different perspectives required critical thinking, clear communication, adaptability, and composure under pressure.
Together with her teammates, Helen achieved an impressive result. The team ranked among the strongest performers in the preliminary rounds and narrowly missed out on the final three. Helen’s individual performance was also recognised with the Outstanding Witness Award!
Yet what stayed with her most was not the award, but the people she met and the atmosphere of mutual respect, humility, and support. Helen reflected: “Before this competition, I thought being ‘good’ mostly meant being talented or performing well. But I met so many people who were not only capable, but also kind, humble, and willing to help others. I realized that excellence isn’t something you achieve alone – it grows when you’re surrounded by people who inspire you to become better. Winning the Outstanding Witness Award made me proud, but meeting those people was the most valuable part of this experience. For the first time, I truly understood what ISR means when it says, ‘It’s cool to be good.’”
Helen’s story reminds us that meaningful experiences are shaped by the people we meet, the perspectives we gain, and the courage to challenge ourselves.
We are proud of Helen for representing herself and our ISR Community with confidence, curiosity, and openness. Her journey reflects what “It’s cool to be good” means in practice: striving for excellence while remaining humble, supportive, and willing to learn from others.
5. Maria & Amelie
Our fifth ISR Summer Story features Grade 11 student Maria and Grade 9 student Amelie, who spent 14 days traveling through China and covered more than 4,500 kilometers by train. Inspired by their brother Leonard, who visited China with ISR last year, they were excited to experience the country for themselves.
Their journey began in Beijing, which for them represented the present-day face of China. They visited the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Ming Tombs, and the Temple of Heaven. The Great Wall was a particular highlight, and they also enjoyed discovering the local cuisine and trying the famous Peking duck!
Next came Xi’an, a city that gave them a fascinating glimpse into China’s past. They explored the old town, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, and the world-famous Terracotta Army. Seeing the thousands of extraordinary figures in person was one of the most impressive and memorable moments of their entire journey.
In Shanghai, Maria and Amelie experienced yet another side of China: modern, vibrant, and full of impressive skyscrapers. They visited the Shanghai Tower, the Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Garden, and the Jade Buddha Temple, and especially enjoyed the fascinating contrast between modern architecture and traditional culture.
Their journey then continued to Guilin and Yangshuo, where the rivers and spectacular karst mountains reminded them of the landscapes from Avatar. A boat trip, a suspension bridge, and the remarkable “Liu Sanjie” show on the Li River made this part of their adventure particularly special.
Their final stop was Hong Kong, where they explored Victoria Harbour, the Avenue of Stars, Wong Tai Sin Temple, and Victoria Peak — and even met a friend from school!
After two exciting weeks filled with new impressions, cultures, landscapes, and unforgettable memories, Maria and Amelie returned to Frankfurt with one clear wish: to visit China again.
We are delighted to share their journey with our ISR Community and hope their story inspires others to stay curious, explore the world with open minds, and embrace every opportunity to learn beyond the classroom.
6. Anton
Our sixth ISR Summer Story features Grade 8 student Anton, who spent nearly two weeks completing an intensive neuroscience research internship at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.
From the very beginning, Anton was much more than an observer. Dr. Nora Bittner and her colleagues introduced him to different areas of neuroscience and involved him in real scientific work. Dr. Bittner is a Scientific Coordinator at Forschungszentrum Jülich’s Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), where her work is connected to the structural and functional organisation of the human brain.
A major focus of Anton’s internship was the connection between neuroscience, medicine, mathematics, and computer science. Working with data from the 1000BRAINS study, he wrote his own Python programs to analyse relationships between age, brain structure, cognitive performance, and brain networks. He also explored MRI and fMRI, white matter lesions, functional connectivity, and machine learning.
One particularly exciting task involved examining real MRI scans and comparing his observations with results produced by an automated algorithm. Using Python and Jupyter Notebook, Anton also worked with classification and regression models and data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, gaining insight into how computational methods can support modern brain research.
His internship also took him beyond the computer. Anton learned about brain-tissue preparation and microscopy, experienced cognitive testing, and visited an MRI scanner at the university hospital. These experiences showed him how laboratory work, imaging technologies, and data analysis come together in neuroscience.
Anton documented each day in a detailed internship diary, reflecting on what he had learned. His existing programming skills and knowledge of neuroscience were also positively recognised by the researchers – wonderful encouragement for a young student with such a strong interest in the field.
We are very proud of Anton for approaching this exceptional opportunity with curiosity, focus, and enthusiasm, and for taking his learning far beyond the classroom!
7. Felicia
We are excited to share the story of our Grade 7 student Felicia as the seventh chapter of this year’s ISR Student Summer Stories series!
During the summer holidays, Felicia embarked on an unforgettable journey through Alaska with her family, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, vast stretches of ocean and incredible wildlife. Among the many remarkable moments, one experience stood out in particular: seeing whales in the wild for the very first time.
One evening, while the family was enjoying dinner on board, Felicia suddenly noticed a splash in the distance. Moments later, an excited announcement from the ship’s captain confirmed what everyone had hoped for: whales!
Guests quickly gathered by the windows as humpback whales appeared in the water outside. Felicia watched in fascination as the enormous animals moved gracefully through the ocean, their fins and flippers briefly emerging above the surface before disappearing again beneath the water.
And the encounters did not stop there. Throughout the journey, Felicia was fortunate enough to see several whale species, including humpback whales and fin whales. An especially memorable moment came when orcas appeared. With their distinctive black backs and towering dorsal fins breaking the surface, they seemed both powerful and remarkably calm.
For Felicia, seeing these extraordinary animals in their natural habitat created a fascinating mixture of excitement, awe, and wonder. The experience gave her an entirely new appreciation for wildlife and for the beauty of Alaska’s spectacular waters.
Experiences like Felicia’s show how travel can open our eyes to the extraordinary world beyond our everyday surroundings and turn a family holiday into lasting memories.
We are delighted that Felicia has shared this special experience with our ISR Community.
Thank you, Felicia, for taking us along on your unforgettable adventure in the seventh chapter of this year’s ISR Student Summer Stories!
8. Gian
We are excited to share the story of our Grade 11 student Gian as the eighth chapter of this year’s ISR Student Summer Stories series!
For Gian, this summer was shaped by a remarkable variety of experiences – from travelling and discovering new cultures to gaining valuable professional insights and learning to rely on himself.
His summer began with three weeks in South Africa and Mauritius with his family, fulfilling a long-time dream of going on a real safari. Experiencing cultures so different from life in Germany gave him new perspectives and made for an unforgettable start to the holidays.
Back home, Gian spent a week coaching tennis, cycling 25 kilometres to and from the courts each day. The routine became a valuable lesson in discipline and consistency.
He then worked alongside his father in the family business, gaining practical insight into how a company operates day to day. This was followed by a week-long internship at a brand strategy and design agency in Aachen, where he joined client briefings and sales calls and contributed to live marketing campaigns.
His main project was building a landing page from scratch, from the first visual mock-up to the finished website. What seemed simple at first turned out to involve far more strategy, planning and testing than expected, giving Gian a new understanding of how branding and design can influence a sale.
Gian closed out his summer with a short solo trip through Switzerland and France, visiting friends and hiking around Chamonix. Travelling alone encouraged him to make his own decisions and rely on himself.
Reflecting on his summer, Gian shared:
“My internship showed me how much strategy sits behind something as simple as a webpage. Combined with what I learned from my father and my solo trip, I realized the special part of the summer wasn’t any single experience but the variety between them. If there’s one thing that carried through all of it, it’s that good leadership means listening first. Heading into the IB, that’s the preparation I didn’t know I needed.”
Thank you, Gian, for sharing your inspiring summer journey with our ISR Community!
9. Sam and Nero
We are delighted to share the story of our Grade 5 student Sam and Grade 4 student Neo as the ninth chapter of this year’s ISR Student Summer Stories series!
During the summer holidays, the two brothers experienced a very special adventure in Bali with their family: an unforgettable early-morning journey to Mount Batur, one of the island’s active volcanoes.
Their day began at 2:30 AM, when they were picked up from their villa in Jimbaran. After a two-and-a-half-hour drive, Sam and Neo arrived at the foot of Mount Batur, where they swapped their regular car for an off-road Jeep. Together with their friendly guide, they made their way up the rocky volcanic slopes in the darkness.
After around 30 minutes of a wild and bumpy ride, they reached the viewpoint just in time for sunrise. Slowly, the sky changed from dark blue to purple, pink, and bright orange. As the sun appeared above the mountains, clouds and mist drifted through the valleys below. For Sam and Neo, watching the landscape come to life was one of the most memorable moments of the entire trip.
The brothers also collected volcanic rocks as souvenirs and learned more about Mount Batur’s past eruptions. Their guide showed them the dark path once taken by lava, giving them a fascinating impression of the immense power hidden beneath the peaceful landscape.
After exploring the volcano, the family visited the Mount Batur hot springs, where the naturally warm water offered the perfect chance to relax after the cold morning and adventurous Jeep ride.
Their journey continued with delicious Balinese food and a visit to a Kopi Luwak farm. There, Sam and Neo learned how the famous coffee is produced and even had the opportunity to meet and gently touch a real luwak.
From watching the sunrise above the clouds to travelling across volcanic terrain and discovering local traditions, Sam and Neo’s day was filled with adventure, learning, and unforgettable family memories.
Thank you, Sam and Neo, for taking us along on your incredible Balinese adventure as the ninth chapter of this year’s ISR Student Summer Stories!
