“Life is an adventure and you have now completed your first 18 years of it,” ISL director Nicki Crush told the graduating students during her opening speech at the ceremony, which took place at the Grand Théâtre. 

She further encouraged the graduating class to be proactive by creating opportunities for themselves, taking responsibility and to continue being curious and learning. 

Two generations

Among the graduating class was Luka Hoek, whose father, Omar, himself graduated from the school in 1988. It was a first for the international school to have a father and son both be alumni. Netherlands-native Omar graduated in 1988 when the then-American International School had merely 200 students. Today, the school boasts nearly 7 times that many--with 1,395 students--yet Omar moved from France back to the grand duchy so that his own children could attend his alma mater. Among his best memories from school are running outside with other students to see snow--given the international dimension of his class, some had never seen snow before. 

ISL's first father-son alumni Photo: ISL 

Omar, who said he was still in touch with his 18 classmates who live in various parts of the world, praised the authorities in Luxembourg for making the ISL a reality, “providing funding and believing that diversity enriches a country--that is the true beauty of Luxembourg”. 

His son, Luka, plans on attending the University of Finland but added he was sad to be leaving the ISL community. He told the ISL community that the school “has been a great chapter in my life.”

He added, “My friends and teachers are from all over the world, from Mexico to Luxembourg--that has really enriched my experience.”