For Sian Felsovanyi, language has always been about much more than words. It has been a way to build relationships, cross cultural boundaries, and connect with people whose experiences may be very different from her own.
Growing up in a tricultural and multilingual family, Sian was surrounded by languages from an early age. “My dad spoke to me in English, and my mom spoke to me in French,” she recalled. “And both of my parents wanted me to hear these languages and really get a feel for them.”
That foundation made Silicon Valley International School a natural environment for Sian, who attended INTL from Kindergarten through 8th Grade. Immersed in a community where different languages and cultures were part of everyday life, she developed a comfort with navigating the spaces between them.
“At INTL, you’re thrown into this incredible mix of languages and cultures, and it really sticks with you,” Sian said.
Years later, Sian remains an example of the multicultural and bilingual values at the heart of the INTL experience. Now trilingual, she has carried that international perspective into both her personal and professional life. After graduating from INTL, Sian went on to study International Relations at the University of California, Davis. For the past five years, she has worked at ICONIQ Capital, where she currently serves as an Executive Assistant.
A Community That Felt Like Family
When Sian looks back on her years at INTL, some of her strongest memories are not simply of what she learned in the classroom, but of the community that surrounded her.
“It definitely felt like a family,” she shared. “It felt like the parents and the teachers were all in cahoots with each other and protected each other and made sure that everything was running smoothly. If somebody needed a little help or a little boost, it was definitely there.”
That sense of belonging extended to the relationships she developed with her teachers and school leaders. Reflecting on the influence of current Head of School Barbara Greiner, Sian said simply, “She just made it honestly one of the best periods of my life.”
The supportive environment also gave Sian the confidence to discover her own voice. She remembers being encouraged to experiment, innovate, and communicate freely without worrying about whether everything was perfect.
“The school really pushed us to be creative, to express ourselves,” she said. “Perfection didn’t matter as long as you were having fun and you’re giving it your best. And I think that really came from this environment.”
Finding Connection Through Language
That willingness to experiment also became an important part of how Sian approaches language.
For Sian, multilingualism is not about speaking every language perfectly. Instead, it is about having the confidence to communicate, make mistakes, and find common ground.
She recalled one childhood experience that has stayed with her for years. While visiting family friends, Sian found herself spending time with children who spoke Italian while she spoke English. Rather than allowing the language barrier to separate them, they found their own way to communicate.
“And we cobbled together a little bit of Italian, a little bit of English, a little bit of French, and a little bit of Spanish,” she recalled. “And I think we ended up talking the whole night. And it's one of my favorite memories.”
The experience captured something Sian learned early at INTL: meaningful communication does not always require perfect vocabulary or grammar. Sometimes, the willingness to try is enough to open a door that otherwise might remain closed.
Returning to INTL
Although Sian graduated from INTL years ago, the community that helped shape her remains an important part of her life.
This summer, she returned to campus multiple times to reconnect with the school from a new perspective. In June, Sian joined fellow alumni and former teachers at INTL’s Alumni Summer Gathering, an opportunity to revisit familiar connections and celebrate the community they continue to share.
Then, in August, Sian returned as a guest speaker for INTL Connect, the school’s annual networking event. This year’s discussion explored how connections across languages and disciplines can lead to deeper learning, stronger relationships, and new opportunities.
With her tricultural upbringing, multilingual background, international education, and professional experiences, Sian was a natural fit for the conversation. She offered attendees a firsthand perspective on how language can open doors, not simply to academic or professional opportunities, but to relationships and experiences that might otherwise remain inaccessible.
Her return to INTL also brought her story full circle. The Kindergarten student who once entered a community filled with different languages and cultures came back years later to share how those experiences have continued to shape the way she moves through the world.
For Sian, some of the most important lessons from INTL have proven to be enduring: be curious about the people around you, have the confidence to express yourself, and don't be afraid to make a mistake.
Because sometimes, all it takes to form a life-long connection is the willingness to try.