DIS Profile

It’s been a busy past few months for DIS alumna Paula Barona. Since walking across the stage to receive her International Baccalaureate diploma in June, the native of Madrid has found her way back to Spain to study global business at top-ranked Icade School of Business and Economics at prestigious Comillas Pontifical University - and also sister school Dublin City University (DCU) in Ireland. But then, globe hopping is nothing new to Paula, who has been on the move with her family since age five, living and studying in places as far away as Sydney, Australia and even a prior multi-year stay in Austin, Texas.

“I’ve just always loved the idea of seeing and living in new places and learning all about the people,” she says, pointing to the subtle differences she’s noticed about how societies and cultures can differ around the world. “It’s not that things are better or worse in one place over the other, but people think and act differently depending on where they live.”

She points to the differences she sees in the way students approach problem-solving at Icade and DCU, as an example. “Students in Spain may be more willing to take a more creative approach to tackling an economics issue,” she says. “While students in Ireland may tend to take a more cautious approach to stepping outside the lines to come up with something new and different.” It is these nuanced approaches to education that Paula sees as the key benefit to an international education - both in high school and now at the university level. “The common thread is studying global business, which means people coming from everywhere with their own views and backgrounds. And that’s what makes it really awesome.”

Building on her IB diploma from Dallas International School, Paula’s initial thought was to study Economics, perhaps eyeing a career in investment banking. “I have uncles who do that and I always thought it was really interesting,” she says. “But I opened it up to explore global business more broadly, because there is just so much more to it than economics. It’s really problem-solving that requires a well-rounded set of skills.”

The set of skills Paula acquired over the course of her K-12 academic career are serving her well in her current studies. “While at DIS, I chose subjects that I was really interested in, particularly the humanities - art and history - on top of economics. We did a lot of presentations in those subjects, which prepared me well for the work I’m doing now.”

She also feels that the rigor and practical application of subjects in the IB program at DIS are key assets now. “My teachers showed us real-world problems - things like gauging production costs for products in China, that sort of thing - instead of just theory. I study things like Keynesian economics theories now, but understanding how economics really works in global commerce and trade is much more practical.”

And what about the IB diploma program at DIS stands out in Paula’s world right now? “It’s the small class sizes and personal attention I enjoyed,” she says. “The teachers were right there with me for everything, always knowing where I was in learning and where I might need a little help. Classes in college aren’t like that, but the foundation I received at DIS stays with me. I feel like I have so much more confidence than many of my peers.”

But Paula did much more than classroom learning during her time with us. The inductee into both the Spanish and English honor societies also enjoyed the fun and camaraderie of traveling to away games with the DIS soccer team, which she supported as manager. On top of that, she mentored younger students, particularly in math and languages. “Helping others out with math was an amazing way for me to solidify my own learning, which wasn’t always easy,” she adds.

What’s next for Paula? “I want to get a master’s degree, probably in a broad field like Marketing, and get a lot of experience with a big multinational company that will let me experience much more of the world,” she says. “It’s an exciting time and I want to be in the middle of it all - and then maybe find something entrepreneurial to do.”

Her advice to others who might want to consider the benefits of an international school like DIS? “In high school, many students just want to get through it, for it to be over. But the benefits of all the rigor and hard work really are a great advantage once you’re in college - I feel like I’m in charge of everything I’m doing, and I owe that to the education I received at DIS.”