IB

Two NGOs, One Olympiad, and a 35/45: Silvia's Path to Erasmus

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Not only did the founder build two youth NGOs, won an Olympiad and help launch a Model UN while in high school, but she still found time to volunteer towards causes she was passionate about and leave a lasting impact.

"I was able to hand them over to younger students after my graduation. Both projects continue to exist and are being organised by new generations of students, which makes me feel that I left a lasting legacy. - Silvia, on the founding of SenMun and the Model Court of Justice
IB student Silvia

Academic Snapshot

35/45

IB Score

2

Co-Founded NGOs

Winner

Russian Language National Olympiad

Economics Major

Erasmus Rotterdam, Netherlands

What she built before she even graduated:

  • Co-founded 2NGOs: Luvenum Luris and Young Diplomats, running conferences of 100-plus students on law, human rights and diplomacy
  • Slovakia's first Model Court of Justice. She built this before passing it on to younger students, who still run it
  • Helped launch SenMUN, a Model UN conference for a town with no other access to one
  • Ran a nuclear energy exchange project with an Italian school
  • Won the national Russian Language Olympiad
  • Translated for Ukrainian refugees and volunteered with a food charity on the side

Four HLs and a Stretch for Spare Time

In order to keep up with so many commitments, Silvia turned to Revision Village for Math and Physics’ Questionbanks with video explanations for weak spots when a concept wouldn't stick and to mock exams to prepare for final exams under test conditions.

"Revision Village helped me recognise my weak areas, focus my preparation and make my study time more efficient."


The subjects

7

English B HL

5

Economics HL

6

Psychology HL

5

Math AI HL

5

Slovak A SL

5

Physics SL

Silvia also secured a B in Theory of Knowledge (ToK) and a B in her Extended Essay (EE).

A Gap Year Before Rotterdam

For most, it would take years to match what Silvia experienced in just 12 months following her high school graduation; A stint as a Junior Project Manager at Slovakia's National Recycling Agency. Tutoring for the SAT. A horseback trip through Kyrgyzstan, skiing in Italy and Switzerland, the total dark of polar night in Svalbard. And golf.

Now she's in Rotterdam, studying Economics and Business Economics at Erasmus University with potential plans for a career pathway in Finance.

"What matters most to me is continuing to develop, and keeping the freedom to pursue opportunities that I may not even see today."


Silvia’s Advice

  1. Check what your target degree actually needs before you lock in HLs.
  2. Then pick subjects you'll enjoy
  3. Don't study alone by default; Silvia got more done at a café table with classmates than at a silent desk.

Ultimately, it comes back to mindset. “Enjoy the IB. Even the difficult periods are part of the experience ... your future self will thank you for it."