10 Questions is a new Newsletter Feature where we introduce you to Alumni by having them answer 10 questions. Not your typical alumni profile, but a nice way to learn a bit more about fellow alumni. We recently met up with Silvia Faldini(‘07) to see what she’s been up to and to ask her 10 questions.
Have you or anyone you’ve known said they’ve seen or met your doppelganger? If so, who did they say was your double?
As far as I know, no one has ever met or seen my doppelganger, at least for now.
What do you take with you everywhere?
Nothing in particular. However, I remember that when I was at university, I always used to take a book with me to read during the subway ride.
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?
Everyone tells me that I look a lot younger than I seem. The fairest answer would be between 25 and 30 years old.
What can you do today that you were incapable of a year ago?
This year I made advanced-level cross-stitch patterns.
If you could choose one book as a mandatory read for high school students, which book would you choose?
I would choose “My Dog Skip” by Willie Morris. It’s a memoir about the author’s childhood with his dog, Skip. The book is appropriate for high school students (although everyone should read it) because it includes themes like growing up and friendship. It is so well written that, while reading it, one person can actually hear the author telling the story of his life as a child. One piece of advice for sensitive people: while reading it, keep a packet of handkerchiefs near you because it brings tears to your eyes!
What’s your number one advice for current Seniors as they approach adulthood?
Life is made both of ups and downs. One thing I recommend to current Seniors is never to give up if you fail something and to surround yourself with people that will be there for you during the ups and, most of all, during the downs.
What was your favorite class in ISKL and why?
In ISKL, I actually liked all classes (except math), but my favorite ones were English as a Second Language (ESL) with Dr. Narsiman and Mrs. Gallagher and Beginners Band with Ms. Davey. The first was because those classes helped me learn English from scratch – every day was a new word. The second one is because I’ve always enjoyed music, and Beginners Band was the right place to start playing the flute.
What is one ISKL memorabilia that you still own?
I still own my uniform t-shirts, my Grade 7 yearbook, the ISKL awards I earned in Grades 6 and 7, a humanities notebook, and most of all, my Malaysia Week notebook.
What was your favorite part of the ISKL campus you attended, be it the Istana, Melawati, and Ampang (Jalan Kolam Air Lama) or Ampang Hilir location?
I attended the Ampang Campus between 2000 and 2002 (Grades 6 and 7). My favorite places were at the Robert B. Gaw Theatre, where I participated in all Middle School (MS) assemblies and concerts with the band, and the swimming pool, where I improved my swimming skills.
What was your first and last day at ISKL like?
My first day at ISKL was exciting. Even though I couldn’t speak English, I wasn’t scared and couldn’t wait to start school. My last day was really sad because I enjoyed going to ISKL. I remember crying on the bus while all the teachers waved us goodbye. I’ll always have very fond memories of those two years at ISKL.
Silvia Faldini (’07) earned her B.A. in Modern Languages and Literature (English and German) in 2011 and her M.A. in Modern Languages (English and German with a focus on language, linguistics, and didactics) in 2014. She lives in a small town in Piemonte (Italy) and does translations and gives language lessons.
If you want to get in touch with Silvia, you can find her on our Alumni Portal at https://www.iskl.edu.my/alumni/.
Do you know alums who should be featured in our 10 Questions series? Want to be featured yourself? See what the latest questions are, and give us your answers here.
