--- title: When Preparation Meets Opportunity description: When Preparation Meets Opportunity image: https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Philippes-Blog-___When-Preparation-Meets-Opportunity.jpg --- [![Silicon Valley International School](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/Logos/INTL_Logo_RGB_2024.png)](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/) ![](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/search.png) [![](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/hamb.png)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/blog/2010/09/03/when-preparation-meets-opportunity-2#sidr-main) - [admissionstour and variable tuition](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/admissions) - [early yearspreschool and pre k](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/page/education/early-years) - [elementary school kindergarten–5th grade](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/page/education/elementary) - [middle school 6–8th grade](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/page/education/middle-school) - [high school9–12th grade](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/page/education/high-school) **Locations** [Palo Alto and Menlo Park, CA](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/about/contact-us) **Email** [admissions@svintl.org](mailto:%20admissions@svintl.org) **Social** - [![facebook](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417421_134652.png)](http://www.facebook.com/svintlschool) - [![Instagram](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417426_134654.png)](http://www.instagram.com/svintlschool) - [![Twitter](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417432_134655.png)](http://www.twitter.com/svintlschool) - [![LinkedIn](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417433_134656.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/svintlschool) - [![YouTube](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417434_134657.png)](https://www.youtube.com/user/istpnet) [All](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog) Bilingual Education Early Years Program Elementary School [Middle School](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/middle-school) [High School](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/high-school) Design Thinking ![german_french_chinese_INTL](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design-1.png "german_french_chinese_INTL") ##### [merger](https://blog.istp.org/topic/merger)   [international baccalaureate](https://blog.istp.org/topic/international-baccalaureate) # [Together: INTL and Alto Announce Merger](https://blog.istp.org/together-silicon-valley-international-school-alto-announce-full-merger) ###### AUG 17, 2020 The Board of Directors for Silicon Valley International School (INTL) of Palo Alto, CA and the Board of Trustees of Alto International School (Alto) of Menlo Park, CA are excited to announce a full merger of our two schools, to be known as [**Silicon Valley International School.**](https://www.istp.org/about/istp-changes-its-name) # When Preparation Meets Opportunity Sep 3, 2010 ![](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Philippes-Blog-___When-Preparation-Meets-Opportunity.jpg?width=320&height=219&name=Philippes-Blog-___When-Preparation-Meets-Opportunity.jpg) You may have heard the following adage, but since “luck” and “success” can be synonymous, I’m going to start it differently: “success is when preparation meets opportunity.” At [INTL\*](https://istp.org), we strive to prepare our students for the evolving 21st century work world. This preparation is not something that you start in high school. In fact, the earlier you prepare your child, the better. One of the ways we do that is to impart a life-long love of learning. I believe that learning should be dynamic, rigorous, and engaging. As an added benefit, [INTL](https://istp.org) provides a [bilingual](https://istp.org) immersion education, which stimulates the brain in ways that will impact our students for the rest of their lives. Last year, I read “Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School” by John Medina. Although we have known the importance of cognitive growth and have been able to explain at what ages different things occur developmentally, it is only in recent years that there has been significant research that has helped us better understand how the brain really works. We know that as we have evolved as people and have needed different abilities, our brain has developed accordingly. Medina explains, “what you do and learn in life physically changes what your brain looks like — it literally rewires it; the various regions of the brain develop at different rates in different people, and we have a great number of ways of being intelligent, many of which don’t show up on IQ tests.” As I think about Medina and his work, I realize that what the author is saying reinforces our own mission here at [INTL](https://istp.org). As we strive for educational excellence, we must teach our students in ways that will help them to develop and use their brains to maximum effect. Our students need to think, not only critically, but also creatively. We do all of this, so that when the opportunity arises, our students are more than prepared to take advantage of it.  \*In 2020, the International School of the Peninsula (ISTP) formally changed its name to Silicon Valley International School (INTL) to better reflect its bilingual programs, location, and international values. - Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [Middle School (79)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/middle-school) - [Community (66)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/community) - [Social Emotional Learning (37)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/social-emotional-learning) - [Culture (28)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/culture) - [High School (19)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/high-school) - [Inquiry Learning (12)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/inquiry-learning) ![INTL](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/crop%20INTL.jpg?width=1120&height=331&name=crop%20INTL.jpg "INTL") ### Fostering bilingual leaders with boundless futures. Learn more about our school. #### An International Baccalaureate education from preschool to high school. [![contact us](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/2564279/3c112494-75f6-4e4f-95f3-be54b76926b2.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/2564279/3c112494-75f6-4e4f-95f3-be54b76926b2) ![svINTL-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/INTL_Logo_RGB_2024.png?upscale=true&width=300&name=INTL_Logo_RGB_2024.png) Silicon Valley International School. 151 Laura Lane Palo Alto CA 94303 United States [admissions@svintl.org](mailto:admissions@svintl.org) [https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org) [![istp-email-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sv_pdd_email/facebook.png?upscale=true&width=24&name=facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/SVINTLSchool/)  [![istp-email-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sv_pdd_email/instagram.png?upscale=true&width=24&name=instagram.png)](https://www.instagram.com/SVINTLschool/)  [![istp-email-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sv_pdd_email/linkedin-in.png?upscale=true&width=24&name=linkedin-in.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/?about=&gid=3678595)  [![istp-email-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sv_pdd_email/youtube.png?upscale=true&width=24&name=youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoCumv__A7wzB86YH0q8u7A) © 2026 All rights reserved.