Maria Rozanova ’25 from Ukraine has chosen to study Environmental Studies with a potential double major in Business Administration at the University of Southern California, selecting this prestigious institution over multiple other top universities including UCLA, UC San Diego, and Northeastern University. Her career aspirations are firmly rooted in consulting within environmental sustainability, policy, and entrepreneurship. During her two years at TASIS, Maria distinguished herself as an exceptional student, achieving the remarkable feat of being the top IB scorer in her class with an impressive 44 points on her assessments. Her academic excellence was further recognized when she received the Cynthia Whisenant Award for Excellence in English Literature at the Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony and was inducted into the TASIS Cum Laude Society chapter. Beyond her academic achievements, Maria demonstrated remarkable versatility and leadership across multiple domains. She served as a prefect in a High School dormitory, providing guidance and support to fellow students, while simultaneously captaining the Varsity Cross Country team and competing for both the Varsity Swimming and Track & Field teams. Her commitment to community engagement extended to her participation in the Journalism Fellowship, where she authored numerous articles about student life, and her active membership in several clubs including the Environmental Club, DECA Business Club, Cooking Club, and Bake Sale Club. This multifaceted involvement showcases her ability to balance rigorous academic demands with extensive extracurricular engagement, a skill set that will undoubtedly serve her well in her university career and beyond. Maria's trilingual abilities in Russian, English, and Spanish further enhanced her international educational experience, allowing her to fully immerse herself in the diverse community that characterizes TASIS.
Reflecting on her educational journey, Maria emphasizes that TASIS was instrumental in preparing her for college, particularly through the challenging International Baccalaureate diploma program which she pursued within an institution that masterfully balances academics with enriching experiences. She highlights the value of receiving personalized attention and support from teachers throughout the rigorous course, noting that this individualized approach was crucial to her success. Beyond academic preparation, Maria credits TASIS with teaching her the importance of community engagement—building meaningful bonds with peers and teachers, actively participating in activities, and embracing opportunities to meet new people from diverse backgrounds. The College Counseling Office played a pivotal role in her university selection process, helping her clarify her values and aspirations to choose the institution that would best support her goals. She particularly appreciated the essay writing support from Mr. Wickham and the moral support from the entire counseling team. Maria identifies her Global Service Program trip to Kenya as her most inspiring experience, where she learned profound lessons about gratitude, community, and resilience while working with the WISER girls organization. Academically, she fondly remembers her English Language and Literature class with Ms. Cohen, whose passion for literature and engaging teaching style fostered a deeper appreciation for the subject. Her Mathematics AI HL course with Ms. Nijssen and Biology with Mr. Schlesinger also left lasting impressions, with teachers who combined academic rigor with memorable teaching methods and genuine support. When asked what she will miss most about her time at TASIS, Maria immediately points to the stunning surroundings of Lugano and the tight-knit community that made her educational experience so unique and meaningful. The environmental setting provided not just beautiful scenery but also opportunities for travel, outdoor study sessions, and mind-clearing hikes that complemented her academic pursuits perfectly.
