Kyra Naylor is a graduate of the Dallas International School class of 2016 and is currently studying at Southern Methodist University. As she finishes up her sophomore year at university, we sat down with her to learn more about her future plans and past successes as a DIS Tigre.
How has school been going? What are you up to?
I am about to enter my junior year at SMU. I am a declared World Languages Major (French & Spanish), Art History Major, an Arts Management minor and photography minor, which keeps me very busy. I also am starting to look at law schools and preparing for the LSAT. I wanted to get involved in the local community so I try to volunteer with SMU’s Not On My Campus group as much as possible, as well as the HPUMC. Growing up and going to DIS, I was very fortunate to have parents who encouraged me to travel internationally, but nowadays I am trying to see more of the United States. So, I have been traveling a lot more locally with friends.
How do you feel like Dallas International School prepared you for your college experience?
As an art history major, I have to write a lot of research papers and DIS definitely prepared me for that. Also, DIS had me memorizing verbatim poems, lessons and other things since first grade, so memorizing and preparing for exams is less stressful and time-consuming.
What is the biggest difference between life at DIS and life at SMU?
At DIS, I was so used to having a very diverse surrounding and a lot of structure, whereas at SMU I feel like I’m at a school with people very similar to me and I definitely have a lot more freedom, which has its pros and cons. I was expecting to be a little overwhelmed going to a school so much larger than DIS, but SMU has such a tight and close-knit community that I can’t go from one class to another without running into friends.
What do you miss most about DIS?
I miss my teachers most of all. Most of my classes now hare pretty large with over 50 students, but every once in a while I have a small class, but even then I don’t have the same close relationship with my professors as I did at DIS.
If you could give a piece of advice to the students at DIS, what would it be?
Just really take advantage of your time at home with your family and friends, because once you get to college life really starts rolling. I’m halfway done with my undergraduate studies, but it feels like I started school yesterday.