Alumni Feature: Anzie Wiseman

Anzie Wiseman was a student at The International School of Indiana (ISI) for thirteen years, from Kindergarten until she graduated in 2024. 

Since graduating, she has been pursuing studies of Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Miami. Outside of class, she has assumed leadership roles on campus, participated in undergraduate research, and continued to apply the fundamental skills she was taught at ISI.

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With benefits like language immersion, the tight-knit community, or the IB Diploma Programme, what drew you most to ISI?

Reflecting on my time, my favorite aspect of ISI is, by far, the community. Since day one, ISI has always felt like a family. Despite the fact that it literally was - my mom was my elementary music teacher - the smaller class sizes allowed for a sibling-like bond to grow between me and my classmates, while also allowing students to build greater connections to teachers, ultimately resulting in greater success in the classroom. The tight-knit community not only makes day-to-day life on campus enjoyable, but it also provides a great support system. As a student, I frequently felt a sense of security knowing that my teachers would be there to help whenever I needed it. 

What is your favorite memory from your time at ISI?

My favorite memory of ISI was participating in the houses, specifically winning the house cup my junior year! I had always loved participating in different house events throughout my entire time in the Upper School. However, my junior year was particularly special, as I was nominated to be a house captain. While presenting some friendly rivalry amongst the community, I always felt like the houses brought ISI closer in different ways. They connected students from different grades and languages and promoted community engagement in spirit weeks and other events, and always made them more fun. Leading my back-to-back house cup victory was a testament to my team's and my passion for the Pioneer House, but more importantly, our passion for making the community more exciting. 
 

How does what you learned at ISI help you in your current endeavors? 

I am currently a sophomore at the University of Miami, where I am studying Marine Biology and Ecology. Academically, the International Baccalaureate program allowed me to dedicate the last few years of my high school career to taking classes that allowed me to dive deeper into subjects like Biology and Math, while having the opportunity to study subjects like History and Theatre for fun. All of the academics, from STEM to writing and the arts, allowed me to learn a great deal of content while refining important skills, which made the academics at the University level significantly less daunting. Beyond the classroom, on campus, I have assumed leadership roles in clubs, including serving as Dive Safety Officer for the Scuba Club, the largest student organization on campus, and Treasurer for the Marine Mammal Rescue Team. Also, I am involved in Undergraduate Research on campus, and I am an animal husbandry volunteer at the Science Museum. Over the summers, I have worked as a Scuba Instructor for ActionQuest, a summer program for teenagers that I participated in during my high school years. 

ISI has a curriculum that focuses on shaping students’ outlook on international relations. In your experience as an ISI student, how do you think this unique approach to learning sets ISI apart from other schools?

By attending ISI, I feel I was given the opportunity to develop not only a global awareness, but also a greater appreciation for all the different cultures that make up our planet. From a young age, I was encouraged to explore other cultures and traditions that I otherwise would have never been exposed to. Not only does ISI teach their students about these traditions, but they also involve the students in them, in all different language tracks. Through ISI’s opportunities to travel, I was able to connect with others from all around the world and gain insight into the many different backgrounds we come from, and how that shapes the opportunities we have. 

These experiences prepared me for the real world, as I moved to Miami for college after my time at ISI. Here, I jumped right into the cultural melting pot that the city offers. I was able to connect with peers, professors, and neighbors by not only sharing these appreciations and experiences with them, but also being excited and eager to continue to learn more!

From student clubs and groups to a wide range of athletics, what extracurricular activities, or community-building events, were your favorite to get involved with at ISI, and how did they help shape the person you are today? 

During my high school years at ISI, I enjoyed being a part of many different clubs and activities on campus. I think ISI sets students up with amazing opportunities to be involved in many different ways, ultimately shaping more well-rounded individuals. To name a few of my favorite activities, I was a student leader among the Model UN and Timmy Club, student-directed the high school play, and played Varsity Golf. At many different schools, a student may only be able to do one of these. However, at ISI, not only can you participate in so much, but it is also very heavily encouraged. There is time allocated in the daily schedule where students are able to dedicate time to clubs, and the athletics and arts departments work closely together to ensure all students can thrive in their many different activities. 

Considering the impactful opportunities ISI presents to its students, like the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) project, and the overall international experience, what were you able to gain from your ISI experience that has stuck with you throughout your life?

The CAS aspect of the International Baccalaureate Program pushed me to be a more involved student during my time at ISI. By being so eager to participate in many different activities, I was given opportunities to connect with different students and staff, and was even given the opportunity to travel around the country and the world. As a result of participating in the Timmy Club as part of my CAS requirements, I was able to travel to the Dominican Republic in May 2024. I, along with seven other students, traveled to a small community where we were able to work with locals to improve the quality of the local school. Having this opportunity allowed us to apply the language skills ISI had introduced us to so many years ago, while serving another community and building more cultural connections and awareness. My awareness was enhanced, and I left that experience even more appreciative of my time at ISI, and all the opportunities it has led me to since graduating.