Theodore Brennan

Notable Accomplishments: 2022: earned the Middle School Northern Star Award; 4th place in HIS Reads; 2023: 4th Place in HIS Reads; Publications editor; Student Leader of the Happy Trails Bicycle Club; involved in numerous clubs and sports teams
2023-2024: Publications Chief editor and Student Leader of the SHSxHIS Domestic Global Exchange

1.Nationality

I am half Japanese and half American.

2.Where were you born?

I was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.

3.How long have you been at HIS?

I have been at HIS for 3 years total.

4.What attracted you to come to HIS?

I came to HIS to continue developing my English while I live in Japan.

5.What are your two favorite subjects, and why do you like them?

My two favorite subjects are math and science because I enjoy learning about physics/engineering, and math is considered the base of these sciences. ☝️🤓

6.What do you enjoy most about learning at HIS?

I enjoy the trips for sports teams and other clubs/groups because I get to compete with students from other international schools and get valuable experiences...and they're fun :)

7.What is valuable to you about HIS's emphasis on the outdoors?

The most valuable thing that HIS offers through the emphasis on outdoors is being able to see how breathtaking Hokkaido's nature truly is. Since high school students are very busy with homework and extracurricular clubs/teams/activities, when the school organizes trips on school days we don't fall behind with any work and we get to see Hokkaido's enchanting beauty.

8.What is valuable to you about HIS's emphasis on experiential learning?

Meanwhile, HIS's emphasis on experiential learning really helped me develop public speaking. When I first came to HIS my heart would be pounding and I would feel extremely nervous from just doing a presentation in front of my class. But after all of the presentations, HIS Reads rounds, and other public speaking activities that I've done, I can confidently speak in front of all of the secondary huskies on a stage!

9.What sports, clubs, or activities outside of class are you involved with, and why do you like them?

I am in the HS Boys Basketball team, HS Boys Volleyball team, HS Badminton team, MS & HS Futsal club, Happy Trails Biking club, HS Workout club, MS & HS American Football club, Table Tennis club, SHS x HIS Cultural Exchange club, and Model United Nations club. I love these extracurricular athletic teams/clubs because they let me exercise in a fun way and connect me with different students from different grade levels. I also love the non-sports clubs that I am involved with because they help develop valuable traits such as interacting with new people and how to work with them.

These teams and clubs help push me to become a better HIS student, student athlete, and student leader.

10.How would you describe the HIS community?

The HIS community is a closely-knit community that helps support and grow each other.

11.What's your favorite part about living in Japan? How about living in Sapporo, Hokkaido?

My favorite part about living in Japan is all of the great food that they have!
My favorite part about living in Sapporo is the availability of public transportation. Since our school is nearby a subway station it's easy to go to school and go home!

12.What do you get up to outside of school?

Outside of school I mainly do homework, studying, reading, physical training, and occasionally go play basketball with my friends.

13.What's your favorite book of all time? Alternatively, what's your favorite movie? Why? What do you love about it?

My favorite book of all time is William Golding's Lord of the Flies. This is my favorite book because it was the book that made me interested in reading rather than thinking of reading as "work".

14.If you could interview any past-living historical figure, who would it be, what would you ask them, and what do you think they'd say?

If I could interview any past-living historical figure, I would interview Mahatma Gandhi. I would ask him, "If you had to live by one sentence, what would it be?" And I can imagine him saying something like, "Kindness doesn't cost anything, so why don't we all just give as much of it as we can to each other?"

15.What advice would you give to students considering to join HIS? 

Join extracurricular teams and clubs!