Advice from alumni: Salomon Lupo
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Eugene Tan, current student at EF Academy Torbay, sat down with one of our alumni, Salomon Lupo from Italy, to see what he’s been up to since graduating high school. Here’s his story:
Full name: Salomon Lupo
Age: 22 years old
Home country: Italy
Languages: English, Italian, and a little French
EF Academy campus: Old New York campus in Tarrytown
Program: International Baccalaureate Diploma
Grad year: 2013
Favorite club: Musical Club, Drama Club, and Soccer Club
Favorite subject: Physics Honors Level
University: University of Virginia, McGill University, London School of Economics
Why did you decide to attend EF Academy?
I came from a small island so I felt that going to a boarding school would be the perfect opportunity to broaden my horizons. Just as well, it was a chance for me to learn English along with students from 50 other nationalities in New York and I loved that. It felt like a lot of us were in the same boat, literally and figuratively, because we were embarking on a new chapter in our lives together, away from home, learning a new language.
What is your favorite EF Academy memory?
It would have to be graduation, because it definitely felt like we were in the movies when we threw our graduation caps into the air. You look back at old photos and everyone’s looking up at the ceiling, reaching out for their caps and everyone was generally happy. I still get goosebumps when I look at those photos, especially since we were doing the IB, surviving that felt amazing.
What did you find exciting and challenging about the IB program?
The most exciting part about doing the IB is that I got to meet so many other students through doing the course. However, I did find one aspect of the IB program challenging and it was that lot of unnecessary pressure was put on CAS (Creativity, Action, and Service) which was a little stressful at times.
What advice do you have for current students?
Don’t stress too much about your IAs (Independent Assessments) and EE (Extended Essay) because I know that it didn’t make as much of a difference for me, but don’t slack off either. Plus, make connections through internships and project collaborations, put yourself out there and be entrepreneurial.
How did you choose your university and your program?
I applied to many different schools because I wanted to keep my options open, this was the same for my program as well because I chose a generic program to open up doors for my future. I first went to the University of Virginia for a year then I transferred to McGill University in Montreal. I graduated there with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Management. Now, I am studying Quantitative Methods for Risk Management at the London School of Economics (LSE).
What is one thing you learned at EF Academy that prepared you for university? For your career? For your personal life?
Well, I know for a fact that I never studied as hard as I did when I was studying the IB. Coming from the IB, university was much easier and I feel that I wouldn’t be here at LSE right now if it weren’t for the work ethic I attained from doing the IB.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?
Going to America alone at the age of 15 and learning and mastering an entirely new, foreign language was definitely my greatest accomplishment because I thrived in the environment even though the circumstances weren’t favorable to me. I will always be proud of myself for deciding to do that.
What is your dream for your future?
I’ve always wanted to start my own business and create something innovative but for now, I want to find a job that is in finance or banking to gain experience and industry insight.