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My name is Jacklyn Bausista Aledia, and I have worked at BIS Abu Dhabi as a Bus Monitor and Clinic Assistant for three years.
I was born in the capital of Manila Philippines in 1980. I love the colour purple and one of my favourite hobbies is cooking; I especially enjoy making Filipino dishes. I have two siblings, and I am also a proud and happy mother of three; two sons and one daughter.
I studied Computer Science before deciding to move to the UAE. When I first arrived, I worked in an office for five years, where my tasks included assisting with paperwork, cleaning, and making tea and coffee.
I went on to become a teaching assistant at another school for two years. I then joined BIS Abu Dhabi. I was thankful to have got the job, and being here has given me the opportunity to enhance my abilities and realise what I am capable of.
I am forever grateful for all the blessings I have been given, and being part of the BIS Abu Dhabi family is one of the biggest blessing that I have received.
There is this saying that I always believe; "Do everything with a good heart, expect nothing in return and you will never be disappointed..."
Jacklyn Aledia
A few weeks ago, as part of our IB DP Language programme, Year 12 students in the French Ab Initio and French B classes united to celebrate Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday). Originally a catholic event welcoming the ritual fasting of Lent, Mardi Gras is celebrated in France with festive parades and sumptuous public celebrations.
At BIS Abu Dhabi, students came together to not only recognize the festivity but rejoice at the opportunity to share and learn about the international traditions fostered within our community. With the help of Monsieur Depose and Mademoiselle Merchadier, the French DP classes baked tasty treats, including crepes, waffles, brownies, and traditional beignets!
As a teacher at BIS Abu Dhabi, I have the privilege of watching students grow — not just academically, but as young people finding their path in a complex world. One thing I’ve learned time and again is this: success doesn’t come from rare moments of brilliance — it comes from the quiet power of habits.
Research tells us that up to 40% of what we do each day is driven by habit, not active decision-making. That means the routines our students form — the way they begin their morning, how they handle a setback, whether they choose to read or scroll — are shaping who they become.
I was really touched by Áine’s newsletter piece last week, posing the question: ‘What would I tell my younger self?’
I spent some time afterwards thinking about my own parenting journey, and what it’s all been about, now that my two are adults and have ‘flown the nest’. Parenting isn’t easy for any of us, and that’s true even if you’re an experienced school leader – at home, I’m just Dad.
You might have seen the trend going around - “If I could tell my younger self one thing…” - a moment to reflect, to offer advice we wish we’d heard earlier, or to remind ourselves of what truly matters.
As students prepare to cross some of the biggest milestones in school life, it feels like the perfect time to pause and join in that conversation. But it’s not just our students who are preparing — so are we, as parents. These milestones don’t just belong to them. We’re living every part of it too: the anticipation, the pride, the nerves, and the quiet hopes. Sometimes, it’s the hardest thing in the world — to watch them take these big steps, to stay strong when they wobble, to let go just a little more. It’s a milestone for us as much as it is for them — and we’re walking it together.
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