From IB to AFC: Alumni Returns to Inspire the Next Generation
We were thrilled to welcome back one of our old ISA students, Maddie Finnie, from our graduating class of 2024. Maddie has traded her IB lessons for a pair of cleats and a spot on the Aberdeen Women’s Football Club and the Scotland Under-19 squad. Joining her was her colleague from Aberdeen FC Community Trust, Murray Collie, to help our students navigate the high-stakes world of sportsmanship with a focus on kindness both on and off the pitch.
It feels like only yesterday Maddie was walking these halls, balancing the demands of the IB Diploma with her high school career. Now, she’s tackling a degree in Applied Sport and Exercise Science while simultaneously tackling opponents on the professional football pitch. During their visit, they didn't just talk about football goals; they shared pro-level strategies on how to reset when things go sideways. They spoke candidly about kindness and inclusion, and how to shake off a mistake; whether it’s a missed pass in a match or a tough grade on a report; how to ensure you learn from that and get back into the flow. These are the kinds of grit and emotional regulation skills that we know transfer directly from the astroturf to the classroom, helping our students handle pressure with integrity, care and kindness.
This visit was the centerpiece of our Grade 9 Community Time, which is a cornerstone of the ISA experience every Wednesday. Heads of Grade and our advisory teams are very intentional in their approach to this mid-week session, tailoring the content to the specific developmental and social-emotional needs of each age group. The goal is always to build a sense of belonging and to provide a space for growth outside of traditional academics. The fantastic questions being asked by our grade 9 students was a real highlight. By bringing Maddie back, we were able to demonstrate to our students a tangible example of our mission in action: a reflective global citizen in North East Scotland who is positively contributing to her community.
Maddie and Murray also dove into the art of dealing with conflict. They shared that negative talk is out and teammate support is in, explaining that how you communicate in the heat of a match is no different than how you should advocate for yourself and others during a group project. It was a powerful reminder that being a well-rounded individual means leading with kindness, even when the clock is ticking and the pressure is on.
We are so thankful to Maddie for coming back to pay it forward and for showing our students that the lessons learned at ISA stay with you long after you have put your school books away. She is living proof that there are multiple pathways to success, and sometimes, those pathways lead right back home to inspire the next generation. Once a Wolf, always a Wolf! And as Maddie said, follow your dreams and work as hard as you can to get there. She stresses the importance of having a plan B and ensuring that she has her educational experience in her back pocket. It's not always easy balancing the work and the play, but it is worth it in the end.
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