Ingrid-Anamaria Dorgan, from Romania has just began her 2-year A-level course at Kings Bournemouth.
Hi Ingrid. What course are you studying here at Kings?
I am studying an A-level course.
Why did you choose this course?
I chose this course because I think that it gives students the chance to specialise in the subjects they are interested in and because it makes it easier to apply to universities in the UK.
What subjects are you studying?
I am studying Art, Economics, and History.
Is there one subject that you’re enjoying the most?
I enjoy art a lot because of the flexibility of choices we can take regarding coursework and because our Art teacher, James, is encouraging and helpful all the time.
How would you describe your experience at Kings Bournemouth so far? What are the best things about the school?
My experience at Kings Bournemouth has exceeded my expectations. Everything is amazing. The teachers are all great and the students are really friendly. I think that choosing to study here is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Have you adapted well to school life with social distancing, masks, etc.?
I can’t say that social distancing or wearing masks are my favourite things to do, but I understand that’s it’s a necessity in this period. I think everyone from Kings Bournemouth is successful in following the rules regarding protection from Coronavirus.
Do you feel safe at school?
I always feel safe at school. I didn’t encounter any problems, like bullying at Kings.
Have you joined any clubs or attended any activities yet? How were they?
I joined the Books Club and by far I had a lot of fun and learned a lot more about literature in general, as our teacher, Ben, always includes interesting facts about writers and books during the class.
Have you made any of friends? Where are they from?
I have made friends, most of them being from Hong Kong, Albania, Ukraine, and Greece, but everyone is nice at school, so I never feel lonely.
How is the experience of being in an international school? Do you like that aspect of things?
Studying at an international school is an amazing opportunity to improve your English, make friends from all around the world, but most importantly, it helps you become more independent.
What accommodation are you in? How are you finding it?
I live in Kings Charminster Residence. From the day in which I arrived, I felt comfortable and got used to living without my family, mostly because of the houseparents. They always tried to keep us all entertained, especially during the 14-day quarantine.
Is Bournemouth how you imagined it? What do you like about the local area?
Bournemouth is a vibrant city, with a really nice town centre, but I think what makes it stand out is the beach, as it’s a perfect place to come and hang out with your friends and just relax for a while. I love living here, especially because the city is not really big and you can get almost anywhere without having to use public transport and I think this is important during a pandemic.
What are you most looking forward to in the coming months?
I am looking forward to all the activities the school prepared for the following months, as they’re always fun and engaging.
Are you happy that you decided to come to Kings and study in the UK, rather than studying online from home?
The decision to come to the UK to study was definitely a good one. I think that by attending the classes in person you learn more effectively than online. Social interactions are also important for me and I think that if I would have studied online it would have been a lot harder to make friends from the school.
