Ksenia Protopopova, graduated 2003 from the Natural Science programme
What have you done since you graduated, and what are you doing now?
I started studying at the Karolinska Institute right after Kungsholmen, at a dental hygiene programme. During my studies I went on an exchange programme for 3 months, to the Netherlands, Amsterdam. I loved it so much that I looked for a job as a dental hygienist in Amsterdam after graduation, and found a great one. So here I am now, in Amsterdam, working at an amazing dental practice.
Did Kungsholmen prepare you for university, or was there something you missed?
I started at a Swedish university after being in English speaking schools all my life, so I really struggled with Swedish at first. I managed fine, but I think the Swedish as a second language at Kungsholmen should be on a much higher level. Officially, it's supposed to be enough for university, but practically it's not.
What do you think about your time in Kungsholmen?
I really had a wonderful time there. I loved the international atmosphere and having people around who came from all over the world. For me it was also a very relaxing time with a lot of fun social activities.
What is your best/funniest Kungsholmen-memory?
It was graduation. It was very beautiful and exciting! And I also loved the annual carnival!
Do you have any tips for the students attending the school today?
Enjoy the freedom you have in school, working life is so much harder!
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Nadine Jazzar, graduated 2008 from the Social Science programme
What have you done since you graduated, and what are you doing now?
I took a gap year where I worked with all sorts of weird things (at the dentist, selling shavers, Gröna Lund) and used the money to travel with friends. Right now I’m in Glasgow, Scotland, studying Business & Management, English Literature and TV & Film studies.
What do you think about your time in Kungsholmen when looking back?
I miss Kungsholmen so much! It was probably the best three years of my life, even with all the ups and downs.
Do you think Kungsholmen gave you a good preparation for university?
Yeah, Kungsholmen was very good. All the essays really come in handy now. I did Social Science though, and to be really honest I think that the IB programme would have been the best preparation for university. At least if you’re going to study in the UK, since they have a similar system with exams and everything.
Is there anything special you will always remember about the school?
Oooh, the janitors! I miss the janitors, and the dance room. And... Um... The lunch ladies (and gents). And all the wonderful teachers. Mrs. Ingulfson! And Mr. Lilja, and Mr. Elton and Mr. Olsson. Haha, just wait until you start partying with your teachers in third year - that’s when you really begin to like them.
Do you have any words of wisdom for the students attending Kungsholmen today?
Pay attention in class, kids! And just enjoy Kungsholmen. Because before you know it, your three years are over, and then the real hell begins!
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Anna Vanina, graduated 2007 from the Natural Science programme
What have you done since you graduated from Kungsholmen, and what are you doing now?
I began to study IT at KTH, but dropped out after a year. It had been my dream since I was like 11 years to go to Kungsholmen and then KTH, but once I was at KTH it wasn’t that fun and not really my thing. So now I study economy at Stockholm’s Uni. Although, I definitely don’t regret my year at KTH, it was a great experience and I learned a lot. I don’t think you should be scared to start at an education you feel unsure about. To try doesn’t hurt. You gain so much from trying out different things; it gives you something to compare and contrast with, and makes you grow as a person.
 Many students from the International Section choose to study abroad, why did you choose to study here in Sweden?
Because Sweden is such a good place to start! There are so many opportunities, and most of the educations are free! It is so much more beneficial economically than to go study in the US where it is like three times as expensive. And you shouldn’t be afraid of the study loans, they aren’t that bad. If you really want to study abroad I think you should start at an education here, and then go as an exchange student. It’s safer, cheaper and better – you don’t have to take that many loans. And go to the UK, not the US. The universities there like Kungsholmen students, and it’s way cheaper than the US.
Do you think Kungsholmen gave you a good preparation for university?
Yes, absolutely. I took the Math E course in my third year, and now the math is like a joke to me. We really learned how to write university-like in the third year as well, at first the teachers frightened us to death but it is so useful now. It is a very good school compared to all the others here, and I don’t think there are any bad teachers really. You also learn to think in a “what you start you finish on time”-kind of way, which is very good just in general. There are a lot of old Kungsholmen students in all the universities, and you connect with each other in a very special way.
What do you think about your time in Kungsholmen when looking back?
Super! I didn’t love it when I was there though, but now when it’s gone I miss it so much! Especially English and Drama. I even miss the annoying choir-people singing, haha. You’ll miss all the annoying stuff, just wait! Third year was definitely the best; I had so much fun the last three months with all the parties.
The stress about the grades is very high at Kungsholmen, what is your best tip to tackle it?
Well, Kungsholmen students do tend to become suicidal about their grades! But there is no stress, you don’t have to have 20.0 to be a success in life. So just take it easy. Of course you should think about your grades and so on, but not too much. And at the university I actually think the people with the slightly lower gymnasium-grades get along better because they are more “street-smart”, and connecting with other people and social networking counts so much more in real-life than how good you are at remembering facts for an exam.
And finally, any piece of advice for the students attending Kungsholmen today?
Enjoy it while you can, because you’ll miss it so much! And the drama-course with Mr. Clarke is strongly recommended, as well as the International Relations-course, it’s very interesting.
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Tanya Syed, graduated 2002 from the Natural Science programme
What have you done since you graduated, and what are you doing now?
I study biomedicine, but before I worked as a child caretaker during a year, and also as a administrative assistant.
What is your strongest Kungsholmen-memory?
The carnival actually, we had pretty good carnivals.
Is there something special you will always remember about the school?
It’s strange, I haven’t been here since graduation, but now when I’m back here it feels just like yesterday. It all looks the same, except for the TVs. There were no flat screen TVs when I went here! And during tests, when you sat there and tried to concentrate, while the choir-people were singing outside.
Do you have any advice for the students attending the school today?
Don’t study too hard! You got to have a life also. Go to the graduation parties! And socialize with people from the other section. Our class was almost a bit too tight. If you wanted to find us you could just go to the lunchroom, we always sat all together by one of the long tables. It wasn’t until I had graduated that I started hanging out with people from the other classes. That was something I should’ve done before.
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