International School of Basel

Tala Altahan

I was born in Toronto, Canada, in June 2007, the oldest among my siblings—a younger sister and two brothers. My childhood was filled with the vibrancy of Toronto until 2016 when my family decided to make a life-changing move to Basel. Growing up, I found joy in diverse activities, from football and basketball to tennis and playing the piano. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and my father's hospitalisation sparked a deep interest in medicine within me. These experiences have fueled my passion to contribute to the medical field, blending my love for science with a sincere desire to make a meaningful impact on others' lives.

Mariam Elghareeb

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, in December 2006, I come from a family with one older and one younger brother. My childhood unfolded in Dubai, where I immersed myself in competitive sports, balancing synchronised swimming, ballet, gymnastics, and swimming simultaneously, while also holding a strong academic base. In 2019, I moved to Basel, Switzerland, continuing my passion for synchronised swimming until an unfortunate turn of events. Two torn ACLs and a meniscus marked a difficult journey of misdiagnosis and prolonged recovery. The adversity sparked an interest in biology, redirecting my focus toward understanding the intricacies of the human body, but also a further drive to help people live a better quality of life. Today, I navigate life with resilience, a new found passion for biology and volunteering, as well as the strive to become a doctor.

Swara Savant

Hi! I’m Swara Savant, a 13-year-old from India, now living in Switzerland with my parents and little sister. I love drawing, painting, and filling my sketchbook with new ideas. Cooking and baking are my favorite hobbies, and my chocolate chip cookies are always a hit. I’m a huge bookworm and can spend hours lost in a good story. I also love playing cricket and badminton with friends. My favorite color is blue. I enjoy hanging out with people, but I also like quiet moments to think or doodle. Oh, and I’ll try any food, especially desserts!

I am inspired by the theme of New Horizons because it’s about exploring new opportunities and creating a better future. It makes me think about all the things we can discover and try. New Horizons reminds us that we can always learn and grow, and we have the power to make positive changes. It’s exciting to think about what’s possible and how we can help make the world better.