"The advantage of the AISB educational system is that it is very real life oriented. The information you find out in class has a practical side to it, even in math, physics or chemistry. The things you learn are very useful afterwards, once you graduate."

WM: What have you been doing since AISB? 

IC: After I graduated AISB, I decided to give up studying abroad, at least for a while, and risk auditioning for the Theatre and Film University in Bucharest. It was a hard decision, taken only intuitively, based on no reason whatsoever, just on an inner drive that I decided to listen to. Apparently, it proved to be true since I entered the rst one on the list and enjoyed the three years of university thoroughly. 

I have been collaborating with Bulandra Theatre since 11th grade and, after graduation, I was employed at the Jewish State Theatre in Bucharest, where I am still working. 

I also perform in plays in Teatrul Mic, Godot Cafe, Unteatru and Green Hours. In 2011, I started studying psychology at Titu Maiorescu University and in 2012 I also started a four year training program in Psychodrama. I nd the combination of Psychology and Theatre, purposefully intertwining therapy and self- development, fascinating.

WM: What was the key moment in your life when you realized what you want to do/what career to pursue? Who or what in uenced you to become who and what you are today?

IC: I don't remember a certain key moment when I made up my mind to choose the path I chose... it was an innate feeling all along high school and even before. 

However, there was one person from AISB who encouraged me and in uenced me to take acting seriously, who shaped me and taught me self-discipline and that is Mr. Greg Jemison, my theatre arts teacher to whom I will always be grateful for his trust in me and for his own respect for acting and theatre arts, a respect that I took with me in my career and will always keep. 

Theatre Arts was a part of my IB program and the fact that I could choose to study acting in high school was one of the reasons I chose AISB in the rst place. The experience was a high standard one, comparable to the actual experience in professional theaters and I will always keep it in mind as a diapason for everything I do.

WM: Tell us a "crazy" AISB memory and name 3 AISB "partners in crime".

IC: I remember when we were rehearsing for the musical "Grease" with Mr. Jemison and Miss Ham and I was supposed to do a ip over my partner's back. I tried it once on stage, with a protection mattress underneath and it went just ne. After a while, Robin, my partner and I were in the canto classroom that had a raspy carpet and we decided to try the ip again. I fell and scratched my whole forehead that turned all red with blood. I then went into the theatre to tell Mr. Jemison what had happened and everyone started laughing thinking I was playing a trick, saying it was a very good joke and no one would actually believe me. Eventually, Petru Calinescu realized it was real blood and told everyone I was not joking. I remember his father, Florin Calinescu, when he came to school to pick up Petru, took me to their house and took care of me, put a special ointment on my forehead and made sure I was Ok I didn't look particularly sexy for about a month... 

WM: You have the chance to give advice to the current students. What would you say? 

IC: I am a Romanian and I can compare the Romanian educational system to the AISB one and also see, by contrast, the bene ts of this school. One of them, something that I think students should really feel grateful for and take advantage of is the AISB library. It is very well equipped, the books are appealing, not the dull, dry kind of books that may be tiring to read, so I advise them to read a lot, to expand their knowledge beyond the information they receive in class, to be curious, to go in depth in the elds that interest them. 

The advantage of the AISB educational system is that it is very real life oriented. The information you nd out in class has a practical side to
it, even in math, physics or chemistry. The things you learn are very useful afterwards, once you graduate.

Also, the fact that there are so many nations in one place is a wonderful opportunity to nd out more about each nation's way of thinking, rituals, culture, etc. I would advise them to be open minded and socialize, use high school as an opportunity to develop their social skills, their tolerance and why not, their sense of humor. 

WM: What do you think the AA's priorities should be? What AA activities would you like to see happening or attend?

IC: I think it is useful for current students to read the stories of di erent former students, nd out their high school dilemmas and how they overcame them, maybe many of them are the same as their own questions.

Also, it should present di erent accomplishments of former students that can inspire the actual students to aim for the sky in order to land among the stars, as they say. Studying at AISB, in such comfortable and good quality conditions, is a privilege that not many people can enjoy so...ENJOY! 

Read the entire WORLD Magazine Summer 2013 edition here.