«My middle school teacher is my role model»

Ivana: «I always liked going to school, I didn't like missing it. I first heard about grammar school from a friend whose cousin went there. It became relevant for me in fifth grade. My teacher said I was a candidate for grammar school.»

Slaven: «He asked us for a chat - Ivana's grades spoke for themselves and she absolutely had to take the exam. That made us happy.»

Sanela: «In Croatia, it's a matter of course for good pupils to go to grammar school.»

Slaven: «I came to Switzerland when I was nine, enjoyed going to school and even attempted the Gymi exam. But my German wasn't good enough back then. I did an apprenticeship as a mechanical draughtsman.»

A dedicated teacher

Sanela: «I studied in Croatia for two years, then I came to Switzerland 16 years ago. I practised German and wanted to be able to communicate well when Ivana started kindergarten. There I realised that almost none of the children spoke German. That was a shock. I was worried: how was my child supposed to learn anything?»

Slaven: «I didn't see it so dramatically. Ivana had a good time at the neighbourhood school, she had a good class in middle school and a dedicated teacher.»

Ivana: «Mr Haussmann, my class teacher, offered a preparatory course. Practically no one from our primary school used to go to the gymnasium. Eight of our class made it - a sensation. But first I got a negative decision.»

Slaven: «Because the experts had made a mistake in the scoring of the maths exam.»

Ivana: «I cried with relief. Today I'm in my third grammar school. I have decided to specialise in Latin. I can imagine teaching it later. I've always known that I want to be a teacher. My middle school teacher is my role model. He stood up for us and encouraged us. I went to see him straight away on my first free afternoon at grammar school.»