Featured Alumna - Mia Ok, ‘20 (12th Grade) 

When Mia Ok joined Silicon Valley International School (INTL) in 2016 as a 9th Grader in the German Program, she quickly found herself immersed in a unique learning environment. A member of INTL’s High School’s first graduating class in 2020, she carries with her memories of a tight-knit community and an education that emphasized both academic rigor and cultural understanding. 

Reflecting on her time at INTL, Mia remembers the closeness of the school community as one of the most defining aspects of her high school years. “It was a smaller school, it was a lot more close knit community, and you got to really know your teachers, and they knew you really well, you got that really well educated kind of feel, and you felt more supported in that way,” she shared.

Language study left a lasting impression on Mia. She credits the school’s requirement to learn a second language as an important foundation for her growth and even allowed her to take on the challenge of studying additional languages such as French and Korean. “Making you learn a language is a really great way to help build those skills and understand other communities and other cultures. Even though I'm not as familiar with the language, I still have components and I can understand things in French, and it helped me expand my way into learning other languages as well. I'm half Korean, and I don't know Korean, and so in my time in university, it helped me take the chance to learn Korean in my courses and study that.”
Along the way, Mia also forged strong relationships with her teachers. One in particular stood out during her time at INTL: “Miss Emily. She was one of my closest teachers. She was a biology teacher, and she was also the coach when I was doing volleyball here, it was amazing. I loved her so much. And she was like a friend, basically, and she really helped out a bunch.”

Mia’s connection to INTL has remained strong even after graduation. She has returned twice as a guest speaker: first at the 2021 Major Donor Dinner and more recently at the 2024 Alumni Panel, where she shared her experiences with both students and community members.

After graduating from INTL, Mia pursued her passion for media at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, earning her degree in 2024 in Media Screen and Sound Production/Arts. She explains how her interest took root at INTL: “When I was in IB I got to do film online at Pamoja, which really helped solidify that I wanted to do something within that world and in production, and that led me to the courses that I chose, it was awesome.”

Since earning her degree, Mia has been working as a Compliance Coordinator at Foxtel Group, one of Australia’s leading broadcasting companies. “Working at FOXTEL has been a whirlwind of learning new skills and developing a deeper understanding of the broadcasting side of television. I've learnt a lot about what I like and dislike and what I would like to further pursue within the Media landscape. I've met many amazing people and I think my time at INTL helped to develop my interpersonal skills.”

Looking ahead, Mia is excited to continue building her career while staying grounded in the joy of everyday life. “I am most looking forward to creating new and lasting memories. Having amazing adventures and enjoying the small things in life. I'm excited to see where my career goes and will continue to push myself to achieve my personal goals in film production. I'm currently working on some short films which have been greatly fulfilling!”