Matteo Andreoni – Valedictorian

“ I hate silence when it is time to speak “

-Saint Kassiane

I do not remember my first day at AAS. I was five years old, confused, and short. Today, I am 17, still confused, and still short. And though at first glance it may seem as though all that has changed during my experience in AAS has been my age, the most profound transformation has occurred within me.
For one, I can now solve integrals. But AAS has given me the tools and the capabilities to understand the world that lives and breathes around us.
It has given me the ability to look upon Nature itself and, while appreciating its mysticism, rationalise it. AAS has given me an unyielding, fiery thirst for truth, and I have nobody to thank for this but my teachers, my friends, and my family.

So if I had to sum up what I learnt from AAS, I would say this: pursue truth, please don’t leave your IAs for the last minute, and go for a walk sometimes.
I find that this last piece of advice is especially important, for it is sometimes good to wander aimlessly, with no idea where you are, much less where you’re headed. I feel like that most of the time, anyhow. Wandering allows us to explore, learn, and liberate our minds. After all, as J.R.R Tolkien once said, not all those who wander are lost.

Floria-Maria Basan

“ What you seek is seeking you “

-Rumi

I do not remember my first day at AAS. I was five years old, confused, and short. Today, I am 17, still confused, and still short. And though at first glance it may seem as though all that has changed during my experience in AAS has been my age, the most profound transformation has occurred within me.
For one, I can now solve integrals. But AAS has given me the tools and the capabilities to understand the world that lives and breathes around us.
It has given me the ability to look upon Nature itself and, while appreciating its mysticism, rationalise it. AAS has given me an unyielding, fiery thirst for truth, and I have nobody to thank for this but my teachers, my friends, and my family.

So if I had to sum up what I learnt from AAS, I would say this: pursue truth, please don’t leave your IAs for the last minute, and go for a walk sometimes.
I find that this last piece of advice is especially important, for it is sometimes good to wander aimlessly, with no idea where you are, much less where you’re headed. I feel like that most of the time, anyhow. Wandering allows us to explore, learn, and liberate our minds. After all, as J.R.R Tolkien once said, not all those who wander are lost.

Daniel Boychev

“ The silly people are silly because they don’t have faith in themselves “

-Dani Boichev

Live life like u live twice
Follow your dreams
Roll the dice
Create your own schemes

Even when you fail,
Fail like a Boss,
Don’t end up in Jail
Don’t let your encounter with sadness end as a loss

Risk it all
So one day you end up in the hall…

Vanda Dotcheva

“ Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. “

-Victor Hugo

Since young, I have always dreamt about the moment in which I would say “I did it”. My graduation leads me to the next chapter of my life. Throughout this journey, I have become a more independent, responsible, and open-minded person. AAS has provided me an unforgettable and unique experience, which I will never forget. I am so thankful to everyone, who supported me and made this journey this journey enjoyable and special.

Alexey Fedyaev

“ It’s a funny thing, ambition. It can take one to sublime heights or harrowing depths. And sometimes they are one and the same. “

-Emily Kaldwin

High school is easy, it’s just like walking. The only issue is that you’re walking on hot coals, barefoot, with a bag of bricks on your back, all while making sure that you look good doing it. Nevertheless, I find it difficult to believe how close I am to the end of this journey that I started almost twelve years ago. During this time I had the pleasure to meet great people and learn many lessons with each one making walking just a little easier.

Salma Feghali

“ To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to do “

-Gibran Khalil Gibran

The last five years at AAS can be described as both the best and most difficult years of my life. It has been a *Wild* ride but I am able to say that I made it out alive. I have made friends that I now consider family, and gone through the most confusing times I hope to ever experience. I have them, my actual family and my teachers, to thank for this. We always tend to get stuck on minor details that seem irrelevant later on. I think that it is once you realise that good things happen in your life when you surround yourself with positive people, you start eliminating the negative things around you pulling you down and can focus on the details that do matter.

I have gotten to know my classmates in greater depth over the years, and I can admit they have gotten to know me pretty well in return. A common struggle I have noticed in many of us is coping with the idea of knowing whether we have done enough at our age, even though we have all completed high school, which for some of us is our biggest achievement yet. And like my quote mentions, what you have already accomplished is not as important as what your goals and ambitions for the future are. That is what determines who you really are as a person. So there is no reason to worry, and as Nike always says “just do it”, and I guess that’s the best advice I can give to my fellow peers who dream big.

Kincaid Fries

“ I’ve finally decided my future lies beyond the yellow brick road “

-Bernie Taupin/Elton John

7 years ago I got my first AAS yearbook. Looking at the senior pages, I tried to imagine what it was like to be so grown up. Although it is a cliche, it feels like just yesterday I got that yearbook. Everything has happened so fast I honestly can’t believe in a few months the people who’ve been my classmates for nearly a decade will be scattered around the world.

If you look at my pictures on the bottom, there’s one of me on my first day of kindergarten, 13 years ago, and one of me on my first day of this year. Between that time incredible growth has happened, but if you look closely you’d notice that in both pictures I have the exact same stance. Believe it or not, that wasn’t intentional–regardless of how much I’ve changed, that 5-year-old boy is still a part of me, and always will be. Still, seeing that change is scary–senior pages always seemed like such a distant future, but now are right in front of me. At the same time, growing up is an adventure. Leaving home will never be easy, but my classmates and I are prepared. It’s time to put what we’ve learned to the test and figure out what kind of people we want to become.

On that note, I want to thank AAS. I have learned everything I could possibly need, and more importantly, I’ve made many friends who I’m proud are becoming adults with me. Thank you to my family, I owe everything to you, and to my friends; the family I’ve chosen. Though it still feels surreal to be writing this, thanks for everything AAS, I’ll miss you.

It has given me the ability to look upon Nature itself and, while appreciating its mysticism, rationalise it. AAS has given me an unyielding, fiery thirst for truth, and I have nobody to thank for this but my teachers, my friends, and my family.

So if I had to sum up what I learnt from AAS, I would say this: pursue truth, please don’t leave your IAs for the last minute, and go for a walk sometimes.
I find that this last piece of advice is especially important, for it is sometimes good to wander aimlessly, with no idea where you are, much less where you’re headed. I feel like that most of the time, anyhow. Wandering allows us to explore, learn, and liberate our minds. After all, as J.R.R Tolkien once said, not all those who wander are lost.

Lyuba Georgieva

“ The devil is in the details “

-Friedrich Nietzsche

Who would have thought that this day will come so soon? The day that we look at each other and count as loud as we can up to 12. The day that we say goodbye to everything we know. The day that we say ‘thank you’ to our teachers. The day that one part of our lives is over and we are headed to the next one.

From day one, each one of us has worked hard to become the best possible version of ourselves. We have laughed, cried, learned, and grew together, throughout this journey, trying to achieve our goals and move forward.

Although I can’t wait to see how I conquer the world, AAS will always hold a special place in my heart, as well as all the unforgettable memories we have created.

Now it is our time to celebrate! И кой каза…

Shon Golod

“ Destiny is a gift. Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor, that to strive and triumph in the face of fear, is what it means to be a hero. Don’t think, Become! “

-Jim Lake

As Master Oogway once said “Quit, don’t quit. Noodles, don’t noodles… You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There’s a saying by Eleanor Roosevelt “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” If you want to do something, do it now, because life isn’t infinite and you might not get that opportunity again. If you want change to happen, you make it happen, don’t wait for anyone else to do it for you, if everyone waits for someone else to do it then there will be no change. If AAS has taught me one thing it’s that you should never stop fighting for what you believe in. Always strive to be good to the world, because that’s the only way the world will be good to you.

Ekaterina Gounaropoulou

“Абе мен “

–Фънки (Димитър Ковачев) 

Пичове имам идея, да се промъкна и да открадна фотьойла”. These were wise words by Dimitur Kovachev (Funki) while hanging with his friends in the Big Brother house. If it wasn’t for Funki I probably wouldn’t have survived High School. His wisdom and attitude carried me through my last 2 years doing the IBDP. Additionally, I would like to give a shout out to the amazing cast of Етажна Собственост! I have been in this school for 13 years and I finally did it, I’m outta here. HAHA, told y’all.

Kristofar Kavdanski

“ If you do not believe in yourself, no one will do it for you. “

-Kobe Bryant

Character growth is a result of acquiring knowledge and experience over time that alters the way in which one perceives itself and the external environment. When life pushes you down, it forcefully teaches you how to rise back up and fight harder. My experience at AAS has helped me learn how to be resilient, tenacious, self-sufficient, and responsible. Hard and rigorous days during the final stretch of my senior year not only made me strong, but thought me to believe in myself in times when others don’t. I am confident to say that I am ready to take on the challenges that life will present to me, and I want to thank every teacher and student at AAS who helped me get here. Will be truly missed, but never forgotten.

Antoni Konieczny

“ I was never really insane, except on occasions when my heart was touched. “

-Edgar Allan Poe

I was freaking out on my first day of tenth grade—I was somewhere in the Balkans and my friends were 1074 kilometers away. It was not just that I was alone and had little English—after ten years at an aggressively mono national, tiny, and city-centre-located school, I was at a loss wandering about AAS, a fine international institution. It had a properly sized football pitch! At least the cinemas downtown looked somewhat familiar. Except for the delightful folding chairs—those were an upgrade.

Three years later and I am leaving Sofia with the same melancholia I felt while waiting for my Bulgaria-bound flight. I have made a few good memories here, after all. I got a kick out of the days I spent with the lot of you on a film set, our fine editorial work, and the everyday history-geekiness-filled buffoonery.

I can hardly complain much about my teachers either. They carried us through these crazy last few months. Plus they were patient with me. Some would resort merely to a slap on the wrist after I figured I would investigate slasher films under the socially responsible veil of the Student Council Newsletter. Others would refrain from wringing their hands in mortification over my confused and nongrammatical scribbles. The boldest among them even encouraged me to write. Very bold indeed.

Our class has proven to everyone that we are resilient. Now let us shake up some other part of the world.

Love you all and I wish you good fortune in the wars to come.

Nikola Kyptová

“ I don’t exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it. “

-J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

Entering high school was like being thrown off a cliff, falling into an ocean and hitting the rocks on the bottom. After some time I finally reached the surface and was able to let the gentle waves cradle me. That was until the middle of the third year came and with it a tsunami. Now I am laying on the shore and gasping for air after a long struggle. I am ready to enjoy the warm sun for a while before the next wave comes.
Little advice: Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill (or don’t compare high school to tsunami ;)) and everything is going to be alright.

Martin Marinov

“ If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan, but never the goal. “

-Unknown

In the decade since I’ve met many new people and formed long-lasting friendships for which I am very grateful. Besides academics, AAS has taught me many valuable lessons and virtues that I will be able to make use of in the future and that have shaped my current self.

A decade later, I am here writing this and thinking about my memorable journey that has made me into who I am today. Thank you to everybody who has been a part of this!

P.S. Cherish every minute because that’s how long my time here seemed to last.

A decade ago, I had the privilege of attending this school.

In the decade since I’ve met many new people and formed long-lasting friendships for which I am very grateful. Besides academics, AAS has taught me many valuable lessons and virtues that I will be able to make use of in the future and that have shaped my current self.

A decade later, I am here writing this and thinking about my memorable journey that has made me into who I am today. Thank you to everybody who has been a part of this!

P.S. Cherish every minute because that’s how long my time here seemed to last.

Blagovesta Mesheva – Valedictorian

“ If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way “

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Wrapping up this last school year, which was full of uncertainty, challenges, and long phone calls among wistful friends, I prefer to look at it with positivity. It was this year when I truly challenged my limits and learned to appreciate the little things in life even more. Going into the future, I will always remember the life lessons that Grade 12 taught me as well as the long afternoon walks during which the wind was making me squint and was messing up my hair; I will always remember to ask myself why the wind blows. “It blows to move on, not to stay. The wind needs to keep moving for [us] to fly” (Yoon Se-Ri)

Lora Natcheva

“ The way I see it you should live every day like it’s your birthday “

-Paris Hilton

Nine years ago, on my first day at AAS, I remember looking at the golden plaques of all the previous graduating classes. To me, 2021 seemed so far away and I truly believed that time would pass so slow until it was my turn to graduate.
Now I’m here.
In the last years I had the opportunity to meet so many people; people who I watched grow and mature into the individuals they are today, people, which I’ve shared so many memories with and people with whom I walked the graduation podium.
I still can’t believe how with a blink of an eye, I grew up and now my name is on one of these plaques. I still can’t believe how in a few short months we will all take on our separate ways and will never be able to take back what we shared here at AAS. Walking around the campus I still see fourth grade me jumping off the swings, playing Grounders, running around, and laughing. But now, after a good nine years, it is time to say goodbye. It is time for each of us to take everything we’ve learned together and use it out in the real world. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us, and I can only wish the best to everyone.
Catch me on the front of Forbes in the next few years, don’t forget my name, and as Paris Hilton would say “That’s hot!”

Presian Nikolov

“ A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. “

-John G. Shedd

For more than a decade, my whole life revolved around AAS and its supportive, welcoming, and expert community. Hopefully, in these eleven years, I was able to make a difference, at least a slim one, in supporting other students or making a positive impact on campus. As I look back at my high school years, one thing sticks out to me the most: the desire to finish school and begin my independent journey, wherever this is. As I currently am at this point in my life, I realize that finishing the high school adventure is just the foundation and beginning of one’s conscious life. A very sweet, light-hearted, and carefree journey, gone in a matter of seconds. That is how I would describe my life in high school, at least a very great part of it. Thus, my advice would be to certainly chase your goals, but enjoy this process, profoundly. Enjoy your time in high school, don’t rush to complete it, because life gets tougher and tougher, year in and year out. Enjoy!

Alex Keith Parker

“ Pressure is what turns a lump of coal into diamonds, but also turns diamonds into dust. Which one will it be? “

With great certainty, I can claim our grade to be the most sophisticated and united to have had the privilege of receiving education at AAS. For the 14 years I’ve been at AAS, I have with pleasure witnessed my peers and I grow and develop as individuals. I am confident that the memories and experiences gathered and created throughout the past two years will serve as an invaluable basis for our upcoming and inevitable successes.
The sadness in this greatness is approaching quicker and quicker; the separation and dispersion of our cohort, separating us from the very peers we gained these invaluable experiences.
Regardless, it is time for us to embark on a novel journey, one unrelenting challenge and unmapped territory. We’ve learned to scale and overcome these obstacles, growing us as individuals.
Whatever it is one chooses to pursue, I am unequivocal about the imminent accomplishments in their chosen career. I am in vexed anticipation for the forthcoming opportunities, ripe for seizing.

Ori Perets

“ Wake up determined. Go to bed satisfied “

–Dwayne Johnson 

AAS has been my “home away from home” for the past 10 years. It has been one of the best experiences in my life studying in such a school and I am really honored and grateful to have had this opportunity and to be surrounded by so many different people from different backgrounds who have shaped me to be the person that I am today. I can’t help but think about all the amazing times that I have had in this school and all the lifelong memories and experiences that I have built. I have failed over and over several times in my time here but what is important is that I have learned from my mistakes and from my failures and I will turn them into successes. I believe that every person who has the opportunity to study in AAS leaves with something that no other person in the world will ever have and this is what differentiates our community from any other community in the world. No matter where I go in the next stages of my life and the new memories and experiences that I will create AAS will always be a part of me. To my classmates with who I have shared my final year in school with I wish you all luck and success no matter what you do in life.

Victoria Popova

“ Work hard, have fun and make history. “

-Jeff Bezos

Throughout our time in AAS, our senior class has done nothing short of just that. Worked hard in order to thrive, reach our goals, and achieve greatness. Had fun, collected memories, and helped build each other up into the people we’ve grown up to become. Now it is time to say goodbye and leave our mark in the heart of AAS.
It is time for each one of us to start following our own path and I personally could not be more excited to build my own empire and enjoy the journey along the way of accomplishing my goals.
Surely, we will look back at everything we’ve experienced, everything we’ve learned, all the teachers that have supported us, the friendships we’ve built and the children we used to be. We will look back and smile, knowing that despite never being able to get this time back it has given us the strength and the building blocks of becoming truly great. And we will always hold the excitement of waiting to see what the future has in store for us.
It has been a crazy ride. Now on to the next one.

Noah Proulx

“ Don’t Dream of Winning, Train for It. “

-Mo Farah

When looking forward to my senior year of high school, it is safe to say this was not how I imagined it to be. Nobody did. Nonetheless, priceless memories were made with my family and friends. I truly believe that due to the circumstances faced by our graduating class, we will be one of the most resilient generations of students. Whether it was through online learning, or battling collective stages of anxiety and depression we managed to make it through the hardest time to be a senior. I would like to show my appreciation to my family and friends (you know who you are) who truly made this year one I will cherish forever. I would also like to thank the AAS administration for being actively engaged in our learning and ensuring that we receive the best education possible under the current circumstances.

Kristofer Rombaut

“ Can I please stay another year? “

-said no one

Looking back at this experience it was overall a fun and stressful one. I met a lot of new people that I have become close to and have learned many new things. I hope to keep in contact with the friends I’ve made throughout these years. High school has definitely helped me realize that I should not leave my assignments till the last few days and I will keep this in mind in university.

Mason Rose

“ You can’t read about push-ups. You gotta do them. “

-Gary Vaynerchuck

This quote has been a mindset which I have had for a long time and which has been developed throughout my years in AAS. It made me realize that everything is irrelevant if you don’t apply it to your life. Whether that is knowledge or passion, if you do not execute on it and use what you have learned then you have a lot of unused potential. During my years in this school, I am thankful for how self-aware I have become which has allowed me to know what matters most to me and what I want to do in my life. Most importantly, I have been able to enjoy the whole experience and create unforgettable memories.

Nora Sharaf

“ In the air of today is tomorrow’s dust. “

-Tame Impala

I’ve made the most of my senior year despite the fact that it didn’t unfold the way I had imagined it would. Completing high school during these unusual times has given everyone an opportunity to reflect. I have gained a greater appreciation for the little things and recognized the beauty that we are surrounded by every moment of the day. Noticing these moments has been essential for me this past year. I cannot express how thankful I am for my friends and family who have supported me through the ups and downs of the IB diploma. The friendships I’ve formed at AAS are forever unbreakable. I will reminisce on memories like: the crispy fries, Salma’s birthday in Greece, Sunday basketball, Bob and the thunderstorm, car rides with Kate and Rebecca, and online school at Janset’s. I would also like to express my gratitude for this beautiful country that has become my home over the past 7 years. Sending everyone love and happiness always. I’m excited to see where life takes us <3

Jeongbyn Son

“ If You Don’t Walk Today, You Will Have To Run Tomorrow. “

-Korean Proverb

At last, our school days are over, I still remember the first day of our school. Everything was new, and I barely spoke English. Honestly, I was scared back then. Now, after 3 years, I’m graduating with genuine friends. And as I write this, good and countless memories pass through my head. Cultural trips, CEESA tournaments, parties — they are all unforgettable memories

Sadly, it is time for us to bid our farewells and continue our own paths. Yet, we will see once again in the future. I cannot guarantee when or where, but I know that we will. Until then, goodbye, friends.

Thank you all for making a wonderful high school experience. Good luck and see you.

Rebecca Stoyanova

“ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. “

-Maya Angelou

When I was five years old, I walked through the doors of AAS as a shy first grader and now, thirteen years later, I am walking out through those same doors as a mature graduate. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to grow up in AAS’s diverse and open-minded community. It has shaped me into the person I am today and made me part of one big family that will last a lifetime. AAS’s continuously shifting environment, with friends and teachers coming and going each year, made saying goodbye one of the most difficult things to do. Now, as my turn to be the one saying goodbye approaches, I face the unknown with motivation and hope for what this new and exciting chapter of my life will bring. Cherishing every memory that AAS has gifted me with, I stride into tomorrow breathing in the beauty of life.

Tomás Avilés Tamariz

“ They can’t afford not to listen to this music; it will save them heartbreak, it will save them trauma, it will save them, period. “

-Robert Levin lecturing on Beethoven

Maude Powell advised her students to “Keep the fires of enthusiasm burning”. As high school comes to a close for me, I can’t think of better advice than that. In that spirit, I’d like to thank everyone: friends, family, and teachers who have helped me keep my enthusiasm burning through thick and thin.

To my friends, thank you for giving me the right to boast that I belonged to the best, most legendary senior class anywhere ever. Without you all, writing this farewell would definitely bring less nostalgia.

To my family, my DNA homies, thank you for being so supportive and generous throughout my high school years. I love you. To my teachers, thank you for inspiring me and putting up with my mannerisms through all these years (I’m looking at you, Mr. Altmann). “Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien

Eva Weisert

“ When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it. “

-Amanda Gorman

My time at AAS, though cut short by the pandemic, was filled with incredible memories and immense growth. These short three years have strengthened my understanding of who I am and my role in the world. I learned what it means to have a true passion and how it feels to be surrounded by people that support me. I have also created a deep love for the country I’ve been lucky enough to call my home, as the pandemic allowed plenty of time to explore it. I will always remember the beautiful hikes with friends and relaxing beach trips with classmates. Like Bulgaria, the travel opportunities all around Europe have opened my eyes to a whole new world with rich new cultures. I am beyond grateful to have experienced what these past three years have given me, and cannot wait to come back again in the future.

Lola Whiteman

“ Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. “

-Mark Twain

The ending of this era of AAS comes with a plethora of different emotions. My earliest memory of this school is my first day as a shy kindergartener, overwhelmed by the fact that I could no longer avoid socializing with other 5-year-olds. To reach today, I have made friends from all over the world, lived in a different country for two years, and have a myriad of unforgettable memories. The kind, supportive, and welcoming nature of AAS was what helped me break out of my shell and grow into the (supposedly) adult that I am today. It seems surreal to me that I will soon be an AAS alumni and that my friends will be scattered around the world, but it also excites me to imagine the experiences that lie ahead of us. I am extremely grateful for the countless teachers that have taught and inspired me throughout my years in this school. I also owe my survival of the IB and Covid-19 to my friends and family who managed to make even the most difficult moments fun. До скоро! 😉

Janset Yenisen

“ Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive. “

-Hafez

My experience at AAS started five years ago and it has been an exciting and emotional journey. We are always told that life throws obstacles our way once we grow older, but we were all thrown a huge one recently that shaped us radically.

I learnt to adapt to the new “normal” and had my wonderful teachers, amazing friends and loving family to help me do so. My teachers have been a huge support for me throughout my years here, and their speeches on time management really did pay off once the Extended Essay deadline approached.

My friends and family acted as my rocks throughout my whole high school experience. They were able to ground me when I got stressed about whether I should resubmit an assignment because I missed a comma, but also were able to laugh and chat with me for hours on end (even though last year it was mainly on the phone).

I am so grateful for the community of people that have surrounded me at AAS throughout these last few years! Thank you to everyone and I can’t wait to see the amazing things that we all get to do in the future!