Kensington Relived: with Teresa Sepulveda '73

If you could describe Kensington School, how would you describe it?

Kensington prepared us well for high school in the United States, I was a straight A student and so were my brother and sisters. I really credit Kensington for preparing us so well, when we came to the United States we were in great shape.

What is your lasting memory from your time at the school?

I have one vivid memory of a Chemistry experiment going wrong. Something blew up! My whole family remembers and we have laughed about it time and time again (Teresa is laughing about it as we chat). I can’t remember if we were all in the same Chemistry class or whether it was supposed to happen and we all experienced it separately but it still makes me laugh.

What made your family choose Kensington School when you moved to Spain?

My parents did a good job of identifying the school system we should go to. They selected it because it had a good all round programme and we were all sporty, me and my siblings. Not only was Kensington really good academically, we ran track and field, cross country, we played on basketball teams.

We also lived very close by, near to the tennis courts and we walked to school everyday. There were lots of families in the block that also attended Kensington. Again a variety of nationalities, they were from the UK, Columbia, America and I'm sure even more that I don't remember so well.

I just loved the diversity of where everyone was from and it really prepared me so well for life. As my son always says: “A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet.” I met so many different people from different cultures and backgrounds. It shaped me to be curious and open minded about everything.

Are there any of the teachers that really stand out to you after all this time?

The teachers were great, they were always very careful to write in your report cards about your approach to life, if you have a good personality, manners etc. but also the harder side on where you needed to improve. They took it very seriously to look at the whole person as an individual which I vividly remember. I will always remember my Chemistry teacher although I don't remember his name but I can picture him. The classes were always so much fun and we learned so much.

Was Chemistry your favourite subject?

Probably yes, I loved Chemistry because the teacher was really fun! Not just the blow up experience but he made everything really fun and exciting.

Are you still in touch with friends from Kensington?

Unfortunately not, I am looking to reach out to them. I kept in touch when I came to the states but I've lost track. That's what led me to reach out to you, I was tight with those folks and I don't know where they are or what they are doing now.

Where did you go to University after graduating high school?

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago. I then went on to do a Master of Business Administration at Kellogg School of Management - accelerated programme, Northwestern University where I majored in Marketing and Spanish and received a Dean's list award.

What are the most important lessons that Kensington taught you?

Kensington taught us to be well rounded people, to take our academic studies seriously which I think is very important. It taught us to take the spirit of teamwork as that, teamwork. We learned really good academic skills as well as how to work well together, be on a team. Go for the gold. It was just a great experience for a well rounded person.

We were a family of 5 kids who transferred to Spain from the USA. Me, Martha, Anna, Phillip and Laura Sepulveda. We were a tight knit family, we fell in love with the school, everything. I sent you a picture of us (see pictures at the end of the article), my brother died a year and a half ago.

We have incredibly fond memories.

What tools do you think an international school like Kensington equipped you with and how did it prepare you for your future/career?

Kensington taught me how to manage international business. It gave me an advantage in my career to look at the culture first before the business. It taught me well to excel academically as well as in sports and prepared me for being agile and flexible and able to adapt to anything.

Aside from that, the closeness and attention you got at Kensington really prepared me to realise that you should seek out a mentor in a career that can help you and be with you along the way. In those small classes our teachers were our mentors.

The school I moved to in the US had 850 kids, coming from 50 kids at Kensington in what was back then essentially a house to a class alone of 150 people was a big change.

What advice do you have for any students currently at Kensington or considering joining?

I think I would say it's the best choice you can make. I really think that. To succeed there or get the most out of it there.

Embrace all of your fellow students and their lives, what led them there and where they want to go. Almost everyone I met had been transferred more than once and you can gain so much from them. A girl I met had lived in the United Kingdom, United States, France and Spain. You're not going to find that microcosm of people that you can learn from everywhere else.

I’ve travelled all over the world for my business, an advantage I find from Kensington is that most of the Americans I work with have never left America. The reason I sought out my moving countries with work was all because of my experience at Kensington. The culture and the business aspects all over the world are much more interesting and I learned that there to begin with.

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