Patrik Antony

“ The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. “

– Aristotle

I came to AAS in the last trimester of 8th grade and from the beginning I knew that the community here would create an amazing experience for me. Over the four years that I spent in Sofia, I made a lot of new friends who were always there for me when I needed them and helped me get through high school and mainly through the IB program. Throughout the years that I studied at this school I went through a lot of hard times, but also many fun experiences. I am also very thankful for the support of all the teachers and classmates. I am glad that I got the opportunity to study at AAS.

Ioan Assenov

“ Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right “

– Henry Ford

Everything we do, all of our thoughts, all of the words we say are dictated by the stories we tell ourselves. Questioning why we think the way we do and uncovering the origin of our stories is how we can understand ourselves and why we are the way we are. A few years ago I thought that mathematics simply wasn’t for me. I had genuinely convinced myself that I was destined to be mediocre at this subject. However, my aspirations towards science and technology made me realize that mathematical intuition is of incredible value to me. If I were to do well, I had to stop glorifying my inability to succeed and to instead embrace my current situation and better myself. This anecdote is one example out of the many times I have identified self-deceptive rationalizations, deleted them from my mind, and improved myself. As a result, these past two years have brought about successes (social, academic, and personal) in my life that my past self could not have even fathomed to be possible.

Finding the right story is not always easy and embracing it may be even harder. Nevertheless, never stop questioning and seeking truth. If there is one takeaway I need you to remember it is this: change your story and you can change your life.

Steven Lubomir Bojilov

“ There is no conceivable reason for our moon to perfectly eclipse the Sun. The cosmos possess no motive to be exhilarating and this fuels my boundless curiosity. “

It is with great regret that I will leave behind a world filled with empty spaces and inefficient systems; a society burdened with the mistakes of its predecessors and stagnant progress of its residents. The paths many inevitably follow often lead to nowhere. Many great philosophers and thinkers of previous times shine brightly down these meaningful paths, yet human flaw remains unsolvable. Hypocritical as it may be I ask why can’t we do meaningful things as a society? With the manpower we currently hold, why are we still constrained to the boundaries of meaningless things? Regrettably, I realize that I may be unable and hopeless in my ability to surpass certain limits, unable to be a guiding light as previous thinkers have been. This story, this message likely lost may seem meaningless to some. Despite this, I refuse to convince myself and anyone else that the stories we collect are meaningless, it is my joy to see the monotonous hidden side of life that the current fast-paced world often overlooks. The stories of many including my own are fascinating and important, despite how many and how ultimately forgotten. For my pleasure, I wish to carve a hopeful path, in a meaningful direction and I’ll take any help I can get. Technology will expand and certain notions will become old and meaningless. I sincerely hope that we as a society improve and master the art of civilization, working together to conquer meaningful things.

P.S. I would like to go to Mars

Mihail Bossev

“ Work Works “

– Achilleas Zikas

“I remember coming to AAS in 5th grade. I remember getting my first yearbook and flipping through the pages, eventually reaching the senior class. The idea of being a senior seemed so farfetched. But year after year I got closer and now, well now I am sitting on my desk writing my senior page.

My high school journey, like every other student’s, has been a stressful experience with highs and lows. The highs have been great. I have made unforgettable memories and friends who I can call my brothers. But I am most grateful for the lows. The challenges and struggles I have gone through have been the moments that have shaped my identity and allowed me to grow. Without them, I would not be who I am today. The most important lessons you will learn in high school are not molecular biology or solving integrals, they are merely challenges that will help teach you high school’s true lessons.

With that all being said my advice is this: stay present, enjoy the current moment, find a purpose and follow it relentlessly, and take risks. Anything that happens in high school is not that serious, so don’t be afraid to fail. You won’t remember your failures but you will always remember your regrets. Work hard on the things that matter to you. Chase your dreams and always bet on yourself no matter the odds.

I can’t pretend that I am happy that this chapter is ending, but I also can’t pretend that I am not excited for what the next one holds.

Vasila Chaprazova

“ I just got back my IQ scores and they were Mensa level: 133,98 percentile, like straight up Sigmund Freud, Tesla vibes. “

– Kanye West

Even though I wasn’t an excellent student in Physics, I remember one thing from this class: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. As I am now reflecting upon Newton’s third law of motion, I am realizing one thing: you always get what you give!
The past four years at AAS were a bliss! I remember how the first day of school in 9th grade felt like a maze run. Dylan and I had Graphic Design 1st period and I didn’t know how to work with Google Drive, let alone any Adobe Software, so he was generous enough to help me out. He was the first person to save me from the embarrassment of being the “new kid” and I will never forget that! Alice, on the other hand, was just as confused as I was…especially at Orientation Day…Thankfully, people thought we were twins, so baring the struggle of using our feet during football tryouts kind of made sense to everyone else. Speaking of feet, Tomas has been the person to fully comprehend my humor and reciprocate it. I remember his extravagant pony tail in 9th grade, that he still strokes and whips while talking. Habits… I love you guys, thank you for being so iconic!
Anyways, these three people especially made my experience at AAS unforgettable! 4 years later, I hope to return all the happiness you gave me, just like Sir Isaac Newton suggests! Thank you to all the teachers that were so patient, kind and helpful! Thank you to all my friends that make me cackle all the time, I am so happy we can spend our last months together!

Valérie De Mil

“ If you’re happy doing what you’re doing then nobody can tell you you’re not successful. “

– Harry Styles

Bulgaria has been my home away from home for 11 years. Moving abroad since the age of 3 has come with its challenges but also with its many opportunities. I have met so many incredible people and have learned so many amazing lessons that I will forever be grateful for. AAS welcomed me into a loving and accepting community which has allowed me to meet some of the most amazing people. It has been an unforgettable journey that I will cherish forever. As this journey comes to an end I want to thank all my friends and family for making it an amazing one. Life is full of surprises and I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to move to Bulgaria. Although I am sad I am leaving this year, I am excited to start a new chapter in my life. As I move forward I will take with me to always be kind to others and to stay true to yourself.
Spread love xxx

Mark Drumev

“ I think every decade has an iconic blonde, like Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana and, right now, I’m that icon. “

This was just one more thing I did.

Elia Feghali

“ Last but not least, I wanna thank me,
I wanna thank me for believing in me “

– Snoop Dogg

My life without AAS would have been completely different. I am confident that there is no place where I could have gotten a similar or better experience than here. The people, the teachers, the sports, the campus, the atmosphere are all amazing. I really want to write inspirational stuff, but that’s too hard, so remember these two things.
One: “”Life gets good when you stop caring””-me
Two: “”The older you do get the more rules they’re gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin’ man, L-I-V-I-N.”” – Matthew McConaughey

Tomas Germer

“ They should name a disease after me “

– Tomas Germer

Hey, diddle, diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Mother Goose

Boris Gurov

“ It always seems impossible until it’s done “

–Nelson Mandela

My journey at AAS started in third grade, and somehow these past ten years went by like a flash. I have always been baffled by the idea of graduating, especially since it always seemed like a distant glare on the horizon. Well, the time has come. I am grateful for the support and courage that my friends and family gave me to finish this journey- as it was not an easy one. These appreciations are also directed towards all of my teachers, many of whom I have known for several years now. Without you all, I could have never accomplished everything I have thus far. One of my father’s favourite sayings is: “”The smallest living entity is not the individual; it is the family/community that we live in””. The support of our AAS community has proven this to be true.

High school, in my opinion, isn’t purely an educational process; it is more so a journey to discover one’s self-identity. By comprehending how to balance academics, sports, and social life, I understood what I am passionate about and what goals to pursue in life. As if not a difficult enough process, the pandemic gave me another perspective and challenged me to think differently. We, as a class, have managed to overcome all challenges that came our way, and that’s what makes us resilient. On a more personal note, I learned that time management is the key to success (any IB1 students reading, please start your IAs early, trust me on this one) and is something I will be focused on improving even more in the future.

Leandro Ernesto Iñiguez

“ When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming. “

– Dory

It is crazy to think that I have only been in Bulgaria for almost 2 years. It felt like a lot more. These 2 years have been one of the most incredible and enriching experiences of my life and I do not say this because I had never in my life experienced such a level of academic rigour and education as here in AAS (which I am grateful for, by the way); but because the people I have met throughout these 2 years have been, most definitely, some of the most extraordinary and kind people I will ever meet in my life. I cannot begin to express just how happy I am that I have found myself in this tiny country so far away from home, but what I can say is that I will always remember my two years at AAS and all the people that have made this seemingly tortuous experience of having to do two years more of highschool, one of the most wonderful in my life. Here I found that I can be ok with who I am, because I am surrounded by people that love me no matter what and would never judge me or make me feel like I am less than I am. These people have shown me only love and acceptance. They have made me cry with laughter and accompanied me through the difficult experience of starting a life abroad, getting used to a different culture and a different system, a different everything! I may risk sounding repetitive here but thank you guys, you were truly great. From now on, you are my family, no matter how much time passes or how far away we are from each other. I will always be here for you guys!

Nikola Ivanov

“ Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack. “

– Sun Tzu

I must begin by expressing my gratitude towards everything AAS has given me throughout my 5 years spent here. What makes AAS stand out for me is the community we have established here – a way more supportive, caring and engaged community than I had ever expected entering the school in 8th grade. As years rolled by I began comparing my school to others more and more often, which helped me understand really how special we are here. Very few people are given the opportunities we are given, so I urge AAS students reading this to take a moment and appreciate what you’ve got… and take those opportunities. Make connections with all the amazing people in our community, take part in the dozens of events we organize, sign-up for those after school activities, because there is a lesson to be learned in everything you do. I picked my quote to convey exactly this message. The possibility of victory, the opportunities for personal development and growth, only come when you take initiative and when you take risks. Sun Tzu may have been talking about war strategy, but his messages express his philosophy about life – a philosophy, which I firmly stand behind and embrace. Personally, what I received from my time in AAS goes way beyond an education and an IB Diploma – it includes skills, experiences and knowledge that last a lifetime and I have our community to thank for shaping me into the person I am today. I am (hopefully) graduating from AAS with warm feelings and unforgettable memories!

Anthony Richard Kerry

“ I don’t need you to believe in me. I believe in me. “

–Daniel Craig

14 years. 2,500 days. 17,500 hours. 1,000,000 minutes. My journey at AAS comes to an end. A rollercoaster of emotions with ups and downs throughout my time here. It has been a long one, but an enjoyable one. Ever since coming to AAS in 2008 I was gratefully appreciative of this wonderful school. Not only has this school given me an education, but it has made me grow and become the person I am today. Lifelong lessons have been learnt which I will take with me for the rest of my life.

Many great memories have been created with my friends at AAS, dating back all the way to preschool where we would race around the playground every day and I would cheat to win. Late in elementary school where I would go to the library before 8:30 to play Minecraft. The cultural trips and the time spent around everyone in late September, and now, writing this quick summary of my time at AAS. Memories that I will keep with me forever.

Finally, I want to thank the people who I have met in these 14 years and the people who have helped me get to where I am today. People who I wish to keep forever. Some I have known for 13 years, some for less than a few months. One of them, Andrey. He’s been with me since day 1 and I will forever love him and be thankful I have him as a close friend.

Thank you to my parents, my brother, my friends, teachers, staff, Julie, everyone that has helped me be where I am now and be in the position to write this farewell. I will truly miss the Anglo-American School of Sofia.

Zehra Khan

“ Slow down you’re doing fine, you can’t be everything you want to be before your time. “

– Billy Joel ‘Vienna’

While I have only been a part of the AAS community for 2 years, I can still easily say that it has been a particularly significant, fun, and educational time in my life. Upon joining in 2020, I felt nervous about having to move schools (and countries) again, at such a critical stage in my life and education. But, my classmates, teachers, and the wider community in general welcomed me with such open arms, for which I am so grateful. I have made some incredible memories here, and I can safely say that when I look back at this point in my life, it will be with the utmost fondness and appreciation for what once was. The friends I have made here have added so much joy and love to my life in such uncertain and often gloomy times, and I know they will continue to do so. In terms of how AAS has helped me grow, I believe that the teachers here and the school environment have nurtured my confidence and honed my ambition, helping me reach my highest potential, even during times where I did not feel it was possible. I think it is a testament to the excellence of a school when one can feel both comforted and challenged, and still filled to the brim with curiosity. I can only hope that I carry the lessons I’ve learned, the experiences I’ve had, and the strengths I’ve gained here at AAS with myself to the next chapter in my life, and even beyond.

Róża Maria Konieczna

“ A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever. “

– Mary Lou Retton

4 years ago I stepped into AAS for the first time. It was a large, mysterious institution. I didn’t know what to expect from my time here; I was scared and confused. Over the past years, I’ve seen myself grow and develop. I’ve set myself goals that I wouldn’t have ever expected to achieve, but surprisingly I have. Setting my goals high, and pursuing them through all the difficult times has taught me that a key to success lies in a person’s determination. There is no secret to it, it is simply a result of hard work, consistency, learning from failure, and perseverance.

What does the future hold? I don’t know, but isn’t that the beauty of it though? The surprise and uncertainty. Although I still don’t know how to pay taxes, I am certain that each one of us will achieve great things, to define our own success. It has been a memorable journey with all of you and I’d like to thank you all for helping me become who I am today! Good luck on your future adventures and do not ever give up on your dreams, no matter how unattainable they might seem to others!

Stefania Kotsia

“ The minute you learn to love yourself you won’t want to be anyone else “

– Rihanna

My experience at AAS began 11 years ago. I’ve made priceless memories that I will hold on to and cherish forever. These past years have been some of the best and worst years of my life. I learned to accept and adapt to the changes that the world presented to the class of 2022 within our last two years of high school. Through tears and moments of grief and frustration, I am proud to say that I made it. So many situations have come to shape me into the person I am today and have allowed me to grasp a better understanding of the world. These last two years of high school strengthened my understanding of who I am as a person, what I am capable of, and what I truly desire from life. I have become resilient and have persevered above all else.

If there is one thing that IB has taught me is to never make a permanent decision based on a temporary emotion. Don’t give up regardless of how hard it gets. You are going to fall and make multiple mistakes but that’s okay. Strive for success regardless of the outcome. Life is about making mistakes and learning from them because that’s part of self-growth. You are responsible for your happiness and you can not let other people rain on your passions. I want to give a special thanks to my brother for helping me battle this crazy journey and to my mother for her consistent moral support.

AAS, I will miss you.

Eliz Kulova

“ People have a lot to say about lives they’ve never lived. “

– Unknown

12th grade always seemed so far away and now I am on the senior page of the yearbook. I always thought I would have something cool to say, but I don’t even know what I would say now.

Here is a little bit of something:
I always try to find the logic behind things and be understanding. Events from the past few years have showed me that this might not always be possible. Regardless, I always try to do my best for the things I care about. I think that is a good way to approach such things.

Anyway… (my editor told me to add this)

Sneha Kumari

“ As long as we don’t die, this is gonna be one hell of a story. “

-John Green, Paper Towns

Highschool has been one ridiculous rollercoaster ride, and the flag ceremony in Grade 10, cultural trips, and Ms. B’s (aka Mr. L’s alter ego) rocket tests are just some of the amazing memories I will forever remember. I couldn’t have made it without my parents and best friends, who always listened, always had my back, and made these past years tolerable. I also wouldn’t have survived the IB without Bioninja, Youtube, and TI~nspire. Like Gwen Stacy said in The Amazing Spiderman 2, “if feels like we are saying goodbye, but we will carry a piece of each other into everything we do next”. So, thank you, AAS!

Tymoteusz Kwiatkowski

“ Sometimes you gotta close a door to open a window “

– Jerrod Carmichael

Professional Deadline Misser

Arthur Oliver Nikoloff

“ If someone offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say YES, then learn how to do it later. “

–Richard Branson 

Dear Arti,
Dear Class of 2022,
Dear readers,

This is my AAS time capsule. N-years from now, as you are reading this letter, these are the three most import things I gained from AAS:

Firstly, FRIENDS. For the five years I spent at AAS, I met and made friends with people from so many backgrounds that I could only imagine. The whole world was encountered at the doorstep of AAS, spanning from Australia to the US, India to the UK, Lebanon to Israel, Korea to Bulgaria, and many more. Thank you all for making me a real global citizen.

Secondly, TEACHERS. You have opened my eyes to areas that I have not imagined existed…and the way they were presented. Who has heard of Hybridoma, has shot methanol rockets, taken field trips to learn Socialist history, slid downhill at BERMUN, sang Happy Birthday at a Swimming competition in Kiev, researched and brought to class math memes, made 100+ mistakes in class assignments…but that was OK…and saved us from hunger at a football tournament in Latvia. Oh, there are so many more that will be forever remembered…

Thirdly, REALIZING WHO I REALLY AM. In AAS I learned to think critically and not to be afraid to embark on new paths. I discovered that I can be successful in everything that I do because success is the result of hard work, positive attitude and perseverance. So, thank you AAS. I took the maximum that AAS offered me, I feel very confident of myself, and I am waiting for all of the greatness that is in store for me.

Arti, s1206, May 2022

Gergana Rosenova Papazova

“ Close your eyes, cover your ears with your hands and open your soul “

– Kurban Said

Last night I had a dream that I was on a magic carpet. I was soaring amongst the stars and the clouds, seeing five countries, hundreds of faces, and twelve years fly by me. I saw my mother lighting my birthday candles. My father helping me on the back of an elephant. My brother taking all of my property in Monopoly. I saw friends from the past and the present. Semini plants for Novruz and heavy South African thunderstorms. PE classes and drama projects. All of the novels I’ve read. Coming to AAS in 11th grade allowed me to conclude this chapter of my life with people who have given me comfort, and who I will love forever. I couldn’t be more grateful for every blessing life has given me and every lesson learned along the way. I couldn’t be more thankful for the person I have become. The list of things you’ll see, places you’ll go, and people you’ll meet is endless. Be kind to those around you, consume as much art as possible, and party as hard as you can before you’ve realized the time has slipped between the cracks of your fingers. Lead with passion and courage. Your mind and your heart. You have your entire life ahead of you to settle down- don’t let it be now.

Ily Rafaeli

“ Know what I know is that that I know, yet know not that that that I know is that which you know, as knowing is nothing if not for expertise. I know not what I know, but that which I’ve learnt, knowing to learn to know as to bring value to action. Know to experience to learn to know, for just as knowing nothing is more than not knowing anything, that that you know is both relative and invaluable, yet limited beyond our knowledge. “

– Myself

It’s often said that the simplest solution is always the best one. Thing is, though, nothing is ever simple.

In primary school, I envied the most athletic kid in the grade, was jealous of those who excelled academically and felt insignificant for being the smallest player in every basketball team. Yet for all the pain such thoughts evoked, I don’t regret having them. I realize now that the only thing separating flaws from strengths is the commitment to improvement. Unknowingly, recognition of and subconscious dedication to overcome these flaws has grown me. So simply commit to growth and you will succeed, right? Sure, except for the fact that true commitment is one of the most difficult things for a person to do.

At 14, I would stare at the emptiness of my ceiling at night. Sometimes, just before falling asleep, I would see the ceiling covered in hundreds of randomly interconnected wooden cogs which spun en masse. With the ceiling seemingly moving further away, this array of cogs would increase in size and complexity. The experience terrified me to the point where I would scream in a burst of tears. I didn’t fear the array of cogs, but rather felt my brain in physical pain as I tried to make sense of the array’s increasing complexity. I soon, however, became used to the cogs and recognized beauty within their endless chaos. The world is just as full of endless chaos, with even the simplest daily human interactions being more intricate than fathomable.

Don’t feel discouraged by the lack of simplicity in life, but embrace its complexity. Don’t become accustomed to the comfort of the easy and simple, but seek challenge. Grow.

Yash Rana

“ Do not go gentle
into that good night,
Rage, rage against
the dying of the light “

– Dylan Thomas

I moved to AAS around 2 years ago. Disoriented and half the world across from all my friends. Now by the end of this year, I feel like I have known the people with me for a lifetime. I truly appreciate the opportunity to be at a school so culturally diverse, yet filled with such amazing individuals.

I’d like to thank all of the friends that made my years at AAS some of the best I have ever had. Each one of you has made a deep impact on my life. I wish you all the best in achieving all of your dreams.

Thanks to every single one of my teachers who put forth their best effort in giving me a complete education, but more importantly, keeping me engaged and interested in learning.

Lastly, to my family, the real OGs, thank you for supporting me all the way from the beginning.

Ana Ross

“ Wherever you go, go with all your heart “

– Confucius

It’s unbelievable how fast time flies, yet how slow it felt reaching this milestone of our lives! Looking back, I want to appreciate all the challenges I faced and all the lessons I learned as they shaped me into who I am today. I’m beyond grateful for all the crazy friends, diverse experiences, joy, tears and laughter from the past 5 years in AAS:) I’ll never forget Dupeta <3 Well, peace out; and in honour of Gery – Live, Love, Laugh. YOLO

Moritz Viktor Schilling

“ Everybody wanted to know what would happen if I didn’t graduate… I guess we’ll never know. “

– Kanye West

Although I had a 6 year break from my studies at AAS abroad in Thailand I very much enjoyed coming back to AAS. AAS has always had a special place in my heart as it was where I started off school for 4 years from kindergarten to 3rd grade. and now I have come full circle to complete my last three years of high school here at AAS graduating as an IB student.

As I complete the last few weeks of my high school experiences and look ahead towards the future life, it comes as a realization that high school is just the beginning of life, and many important years of life lie ahead. I honestly can’t believe that high school is coming to an end this fast, I will miss it very much. Especially the long walks that my friends and I took around school during study halls discussing very important topics (definitely more important than studying for final exams).

So as I leave this school I would like to leave you all with a comforting quote from Master Oogway, although I will be gone I still have hope for this school; “My time has come. You must continue your journey… without me. You must… believe. Promise me you’ll believe.” – Master Oogway

Maya Shabat

“ Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. “

Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is it, I’ve made it! It’s crazy that a couple of months from now, people I have grown up with will be living in different areas around the world. It feels surreal writing this, the time has passed by so fast, and I haven’t been able to process the end of this chapter. I have been lucky to be attending this campus since Kindergarten, the age of 5, until now, being 17 years old. Since that first day of school, with Hebrew being the only language I knew with tears in my eyes as I didn’t want to get separated from my parents for so long, I have grown to be a diligent student who has always strived to do her best. Although the IB has been a rollercoaster, as it has been to everyone, it taught me valuable skills such as critical thinking and organization, which are necessary for the future. Our IB experience has been a peculiar one, including both COVID and war, forcing us, individuals, to take the tools we have learned and act for the betterment of our world. I realized that it’s crucial to take everything into proportion, don’t be too harsh on yourself. We are all humans, after all.
Over the years, my classmates and I have created endless memories and have secured friendships. I cannot wait to see where this new journey will lead us. Leaving our families and becoming independent young adults who have the world ahead won’t be easy, but we will figure it out as we always have. Thank you to AAS, my family, and friends for supporting me throughout this journey, I’ll miss it.

Charikleia Stathopoulou

“ There’s no such thing as a coincidence in this world. Everything is inevitable. (From CLAMP) “

Gratitude is the most difficult emotion to express. Generally, when achieving something, most people would rather believe they did it all alone.
For me, if it were not for Ms. Vasso Petta to “”carry”” me through the most difficult grades at school, Ms. Marilia Thanou to help me discover my love for learning and Ms. Angeliki Gana to teach me English from scratch within 3 years, I would have never reached AAS. Apart from that, I feel very grateful for my family and friends, who stood by me during the absolute worst. Also, one of the biggest roles was played by Ms. Roula Panagopoulou, who left us in 2017. Ms. Roula taught me how to throw away all the problems I got in the Special Needs class. She taught me how to think for myself, how to solve my problems directly instead of whining, how to socialize and how to do 100-question exams in one hour as if it were nothing. As such, know that everything is dedicated to her. I am also grateful for all the teachers I had during those four years at AAS, without whom I would not have grown to the extent I have. I started as the neurodivergent village girl who can’t do much and became the girl who fulfilled her biggest dream, all thanks to all those who supported me from my home in Rigklia, Messinia and my home in Kryoneri, Attica to Sofia and continue to do so.
A million “thank you”s are not enough to express all the gratitude I feel.
Thank you everyone, goodbye.

Andrei Stenin

“ You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. “

– Martin Luther King Jr

After being at AAS since Kindergarten, I have had the opportunity to meet hundreds of new people. When joining AAS, I was scared of becoming a part of this community, and even on the first day of school, I shed a tear because my dad was late to pick me up. However, after this long journey, I’d like to admit that the AAS community has become my family. The journey at AAS has allowed me to experience a diverse range of cultures and, most importantly, has made me who I am. Throughout my experience at AAS for 13 years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet new people that have become a family and probably know me better than I know myself. Although the last two years have been a crazy journey with COVID being a part of our lives, I’ve learned how important it is to work as a team. As this journey comes to an end, I feel honored to be surrounded by such people and can’t wait to see all of my friends grow and pursue their futures. I want to thank all of my teachers and friends who were a part of this long journey, and I hope to see you soon.

Ana Stoeva

“ Hannah Montana says that nobody is perfect, but yet, here I am. “

When I went to AAS when I was just eight years old, by the time that I am leaving it, eighteen. These ten years have been full of different emotions, and my senior year was the most dynamic. I can still remember walking through the door for the very first time ten years ago. I cannot express how grateful I am to have this opportunity to graduate from this school. The time has passed so quickly that I still feel like it was yesterday when I was playing with my friends in the elementary school playground.

I am grateful for everything that I have learned and gained from being a part of this school and community. I am thankful for the friends that I have made, the times they have stuck with me, and all the memories we have created together. I would like to thank my teachers for helping me with my education and preparing me for the next step.

I am extremely grateful for having the opportunity to continue my education in Switzerland. It is time that we continue in our own paths. The memories which I have created will forever stay with me. I wish everyone luck with everything they want to succeed in life. Thank you all for this great experience and opportunity to be a part of this community.

Sztela Sztanev

“ Sacrifice, the future has its price, and today is only yesterday’s tomorrow “

– Ken Hensley

“Never stop learning because life never stops teaching” – Kirill Korshikov.

Life is beautiful, and I am so fortunate to have my family and my dear friends along the way. No matter what you do, I advise you to stay true to yourself. Be honest to yourself about what you want and why. Life is what you make out of it.

Yoana Borislavova Todorova

“ I don’t know what my future holds, but the world is wide and I want to make some memories. “

– Donna, Mamma Mia

When I was younger, I dreamed of graduating. Having done the IB, I still think it’s just a dream, but somehow I made it. My time at AAS is coming to end after 12 years and I have made so many amazing friends and memories that I will cherish forever, from throwing chairs at my classmates in kindergarten to having deep conversations on the swings in 12th grade. I gained a lot of valuable experiences and a few tattoos along the way (sorry mom and dad). I have witnessed myself and my peers grow up and overcome many obstacles, spending nearly half of our high school years behind screens. Nevertheless, I had fun and managed to wrap my head around calculus and quantum mechanics. I want to thank my family and my friends for their unwavering support throughout this journey, especially through long nights spent on IAs, and for helping me become the person am I today. I would like to also thank my classmates for making my experience here both unbearable and extremely enjoyable.

The title “”Graduating Class of 2022″” seemed so far away and yet school passed by in the blink of an eye. Somewhere along the way, I discovered my passion for the arts and soon I will be pursuing my dream to study animation. While I will look back fondly at my time at AAS, I am grateful and excited to start this new chapter of my life.

Stefan Tzvetkov

“ Don’t follow your dreams !
Follow my instagram -@stefantzvetkov “

– S.Tzvetkov

All I can say about the 4 years that I had in AAS is that it was one hell of a ride. It was a immensely fun experience that had occupied the entirety of my high school years and you know what , I wouldn’t want to change any minute of it or be anywhere else . The community was very welcoming , the people were chill and some of the teachers were like mentors to me . I’ve amassed so many fond memories at AAS , some that I cannot say because this book is meant to be PG13 . Its a time in my life thats gonna stick with me for a long time , thats for sure .
Also for the future AAS students – If I can do it you can do it .

Strahinja Velagic

“ Not everyone is meant to make a difference. But for me, the choice to lead an ordinary life is no longer an option. “

– Spiderman

For some reason the brightest memory of my 1st grade year at AAS was walking into the classroom and feeling like an alien. The other kids glaring up at me and whispering as if I wasn’t from this planet. My teacher Ms. Brown asked me something in English which I couldn’t comprehend until another boy stood up and spoke to me, “Здраво, како си?” the last thing I remember was screaming out of fright of what just occurred, that was the first time I heard Serbian in Bulgaria outside of my household. Growing up at AAS was an unusual experience filled with ups and downs and unforgettable memories with friends and family. This school has taught me many different things. From integral calculus which I am still attempting to understand, to the study of neural pruning in laboratory mice. My time here has surpassed the active recall stage because AAS has taught me how to be a better and more understanding person. I would like to thank my family for being there for me in the difficult times and endlessly giving me support “све вас волим” and thank my friends with whom I will be finishing 12 unforgettable years here at this school “Good luck to all of you”. Now, standing practically toe to toe with the rest of the world in front of me, the only thing left to do is to take that “leap of faith” into my future, because that’s all life is…a leap of faith.

Gerald Bruce Whitfield III

“ Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one. “

– Marcus Aurelius

As I write this, I’m preparing to move over 8,400 kilometers away to the University of Hong Kong during the summer. This marks the end of my 14 years in Bulgaria, but also marks the beginning of a new chapter. I can’t say I know what to expect, but that doesn’t make me any less excited. And although this year has been challenging, I wouldn’t have it any other way. As the saying goes, “Hard times create strong men”, and I am truly grateful for the hard times that I have had to overcome. I’ve also learned to put things in perspective, which has made me far happier. As Big K.R.I.T. said “Food is food, water is water, air is air, the rest is mental.” When it all boils down, some of my biggest worries revolve around getting good grades or getting girls. While these issues certainly feel important, they’re not life or death problems like not having food or clean water. This exercise in perspective has been life changing for me and I urge everyone to do the same and realize how blessed we all are in the grand scheme of things.

Regardless of everything above, my most important advice is this: Stop waiting for your life to start, it already has. You are young and have so much time, so take risks and try new things.

P.S. For those of you that want to keep up with my music career – it’s “Bruce The Third” on everything.

Donggun Yoon

“ You must be a U.S. citizen in order to work for NASA. “

– NASA Hiring Policy

We were on the same sinking boat and we were barely able to save this ship by working together and pumping the cold water out to stay afloat. Graduation is like a port where we can be safe. Now that we have reached safety, we are able to repair and set sail to the next chapters of our lives. As a class, I think it is safe to say that we have been through much hardship together. The adversities that we faced together have bonded us together in a way that I have never seen before. I am certain that the friendships that we made here in AAS will be long lasting.

I have only been in AAS and Bulgaria for 3 years. However, it has arguably played the biggest role in my future not because I attended the most critical stages of my education here, but because of the friends that I made here. My friends and classmates were the best people that I could have hoped for. After the hardships we have gone through together as a class, I am certain that we are well-prepared for our future whatever life can throw at us.

Alice Zarcone

“ “Ogni lassata e persa.” which means “Each thing you leave is lost.” “

– My Mom

I came to AAS in ninth grade thinking it was just going to be just high school and be over in a blink of an eye. I was only right about one of those things though, because it was so much more than just high school. With all honesty, these four years contain some of the best and worst memories of my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I met people that I hope will be in my life for a very very long time, and can confidently say I love all my classmates. And strangely it’s over now. I didn’t think it would end and I don’t know why. I can’t tell why I thought the five minute breaks in between classes would be a forever thing. I just forgot it wasn’t. But it’s ok that it is, because I know those memories will still be alive, and I don’t have to forget anything I don’t want to. I don’t want to forget it at all.

Victor Zayakov

“ I have not failed. I’ve just found 10000 ways that won’t work. “

– Thomas A. Edison

From a three-year long pandemic and countless quarantines, to the horrors of the IB diploma, the class of 2022 has been through many hardships (and now a war too). Nevertheless, we showed courage in the face of adversity and persevered through all of the challenges that the last three years have thrown at us.

I have been at AAS for 12 years, and my time here has been a defining part of my life. I have met my best friends, and had some of my best childhood experiences. My greatest takeaway however, is not from these amazing experiences, but from my failures–they are what provoke me to try and better myself. Success is rarely possible unless you seek it actively, overcoming every failure along the way. Far too common is the case where one gives up on the final stretch, not knowing how close they had come to succeeding.

Our shared challenges over the last three years have taught me to be tenacious, persevering and remaining determined to achieve and better myself in these adverse circumstances. My best thoughts and ideas in high school were preceded by moments of uncertainty and doubt in myself. As I learned to be tenacious however, I discovered that if I just held on to those thoughts and developed them for a little longer, I could come up with a truly great idea. I take this tenacity with me to all of my future endeavors at university and beyond, carrying the key to success.