Alumni Interview: Class of 2015
Phnom Penh 2025 Reunion – Andre Edwards, Nadia Fernando, Haruki Fujita, Saskia Hoekx, Leonie Müller, Tabitha Payne, Sarah Woods-Killam
Where are you now, and what brought you there?
Nadia: I work as a junior doctor in Brisbane, Australia. This is where I went to medical school.
Haruki: I am living in Tokyo now. I am originally from Japan, but I moved here for the first time after university.
Tabitha: I am a PhD student in Anthropology at Columbia University in New York. I was brought there by a love of learning!
Leonie: I’m living in Berlin, working at an architecture company and DJ at festivals and clubs in my free time.
What did you do after you left ISPP?
Saskia: I studied Chemical Engineering in Manchester and then moved to Antwerp, Belgium, to do my PhD in Electrochemistry.
Haruki: I interned for a summer at UNDP, working with disability rights before starting my full-time job at an expert network service company called AlphaSights, a company that connects large, corporate, investment and consulting companies to experts in various industries. I then transitioned to a Learning & Development role, leading the strategy and execution of Asia’s L&D. Now I am a Senior Consultant at EY, working mainly on projects related to change management, leadership development and culture.
What do you miss most about your time at the school, Phnom Penh or Cambodia in general?
Nadia: One of the best things about school is the fact that you get to see your friends every day! In hindsight, this is something I definitely took for granted now that we’ve all moved away and are working.
How did it feel coming back to the campus after all these years?
Sarah: It was a very surreal experience, especially going with friends from ISPP and my fiancé – it felt like worlds colliding. The campus has changed a lot, but there were still some areas that felt familiar. I’m really glad we had the opportunity to come back and reconnect with teachers; it was very special that so many of them remembered us!
Tabitha: It was so special to see familiar faces. I didn’t expect so many people to remember us after ten years!
Leonie: It felt so familiar yet so far in my memory and experiences. But seeing familiar staff faces made me feel incredibly welcome!
What is the biggest change at ISPP since you left?
Nadia: We were the first graduating class from the new campus, and back then, there was only the high-school building, the gym and field, and towards the end, the Black Box Theatre. There was also next to nothing surrounding ISPP… so everything has changed.
Leonie: Definitely the campus, having the majority of our school years in the previous small campus, it was wild to see how big the new campus is! Especially for the fact that the students don’t have to travel to “the field” or VIP Pool anymore.
What is one of your favourite memories from your time at the school?
Haruki: Definitely MRISA! I was fortunate to be involved in so many of them. It was such an incredible experience to travel to different countries, meet new people and stay at the homes of the most welcoming families. Scoring and winning the football championship during an intense overtime is definitely a memory I cherish.
Who was the funniest person in your class, and what made them so hilarious?
Haruki: Tabitha and Leonie. They are just incredibly quick, witty, charming and never fail to put a smile on my face.
What was your favourite school event or tradition, and why?
Sarah: The last week of school was always something I looked forward to – spending time with the house teams (Tigers, White Elephants, Sunbears and Dolphins) made it so much fun and memorable. I especially cherish the trivia games we played with Mr Preece, which were always competitive and full of laughs; those moments still bring a smile to my face. Battle of the Bands was another highlight, and it’s heartwarming to know it’s been a tradition for the past 10 years.
Tabitha: Lip sync!!!!!!!
Leonie: Ditto on the Lip sync contest!!
What’s a favourite snack or food you associate with your school days?
Sarah: I miss the Chopsticks shop that served stir-fried noodles and fried rice. Their food was always so tasty, especially with the special orange sauce that’s typically added to mee char – I’d always generously pour it over my noodles!
What’s a song that reminds you of your time at school?
Sarah: I’d have to say “See You Again” because it was the song we performed for graduation, or “The DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love Again” by Usher or “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz, since those were two songs we had for our PE dance units.
What was your favourite class or subject, what drew you to it and what made it special?
Haruki: Art class was always so therapeutic. Mr Matt gave us creative freedom to express ourselves, along with the theoretical knowledge to connect with the art on a deeper level. He valued, respected and cared for every student – I think it was a safe space for us all. Thank you Mr Matt.
Which teacher had the most significant impact on you, and why?
Nadia: Mr Thompson – he taught science and chemistry! He is probably one of the reasons why I loved science and studying it. He had this energy and sense of humour that was unlike any other. We talked about his iconic lip sync performances during the reunion.
Haruki: Mr Preece! Learning Language and Literature completely changed the way I understand communication – he treated us students as people, not kids. Presentation skills also come in extremely handy in the working world. Mr Thompson is also an incredible teacher whom I’ve known back from when I went to UNIS, Hanoi. He makes learning so fun, and I was always excited to attend his class.
How did your school experiences shape your friendships, and do you still keep in touch with your classmates?
Nadia: Graduating with such a small class and with so many students having been together for more than three years, it was so easy to make and hold on to long-lasting friendships. We have grown together, and it has become easy to keep in touch – whether it’s a catch-up every birthday or a FaceTime call when schedules align or chance meet-ups in overlapping cities. I think a good number of us have been able to keep in touch.
What skills or lessons learned in school do you find most valuable in your current life?
Saskia: I love that ISPP and the IB made us such well-rounded people! We didn’t just have to take classes, we had to do an extended essay and CAS, and we had MRISA and MUN! To an extent, this taught me to have a work-life balance, to be engaged in my community and is the reason I probably have so many hobbies today! I originally started swing dancing for CAS, and it’s still my favourite pastime today! We started doing research early with the extended essay. I did mine in electrochemistry, which ended up being the topic of my PhD!
Haruki: Having the opportunity to volunteer has shaped who I am today; it taught me to be grateful for all that I have and to be humble.
If you could teach a class today, what subject would it be?
Saskia: Maths! Ms Zane was a super passionate teacher, and she passed that down to me, and now I still love maths! She taught me how beautiful it is! I studied engineering, but I sometimes wish I’d just done pure mathematics!
What advice would you give to current students at the school as they prepare for their futures?
Haruki: Cherish the time that you have with your family and friends. Be present and enjoy the moment.
Sarah: Your time at ISPP will fly by, even if it doesn’t feel that way now, so soak it all in. Share how you feel, laugh loudly, make memories that matter and don’t rush to have it all figured out. Life has a beautiful way of unfolding when you stay present, curious and kind. Trust yourself, and enjoy the journey ahead.
Tabitha: Don’t put so much pressure on yourself! Life is long. Enjoy your friends and being young while you can.
This interview was first published in the ISPP Pulse Magazine (May – July 2025)
See more photos here: ISPP Class of 2015 10th Anniversary Reunion | 2025
More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:
- Sarah Woods-Killam (2009 – 2015)
- Mugabi Byenkya (2001 – 2005)
- Clara Kim (2012 – 2014)
- Victor Byenkya (2001 – 2005)
- Joseph Surivong (2002 – 2014)
- Visakha Som (1991 – 1996)
- Yoobin Kim (2012 – 2015)
- Gaurav Raul (2005 – 2007)
- Meghan McMurray (2015 – 2017)
- Enya Pangilinan (2009 – 2012)
- Vimuolea Hang (2006 – 2013)
- Frank van Zoggel (1991 – 1993)
- Sharlynn Ng (2005 – 2010)
- Brian Webster (2002 – 2016)
- Thida Leiper (1991 – 2005)
- Luca Fleschler, Fraya Fleschler, Ximena Herrera (2011 – 2017)
- Dany, Soriya and Kalyane Warren (1996 – 2001)
- Nadia Fernando (1999 – 2015)
- Lotta Urban (1998 – 1999)
- Sreyneath Poole (2000 – 2005)
