What do you do after taking your IB Math Analysis and Approaches HL exams? For most students, it is time to relax. For Julia Gluschuk ’26, it meant stepping onto one of the world’s biggest stages for young dancers: the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) finals, akin to the Olympics for ballet. The international competition draws top young dancers from around the world.

Finding balance between IB and ballet

Balancing both commitments was no easy task, but Julia said her experience in the IB program helped shape her mindset.

“The IB Program has taught me to always persevere and continue doing what I am passionate about. I think there was a mutual relationship between my journey in ballet and my journey with IB; as IB taught me perseverance, ballet strengthened that and allowed me to apply it outside of my academics.”

That perspective also influenced her growth as a dancer.

"Although ballet strives for perfection, my view of it sometimes limited my freedom as an artist. Through IB, I learned to trust my foundation and build from it. That same mindset has helped me find more freedom in ballet, and with support from IB and my teachers, I’m already seeing growth in my performance.”

Julia credits her IB HL Economics class as a turning point in how she approached learning. “It was not simply memorization, but also application and the ability to think through questions creatively to find answers,” she shared.

On the day of her performance, that preparation paid off. “That day, I just needed to give it everything I had, which is exactly what I did,” Julia said. “I was grateful to have my teachers, my mom and family back home, and all my friends supporting me at the theater and keeping me grounded before I went on stage. After I performed, I felt one of the strongest senses of fulfillment I have ever experienced.”

Because the YAGP is an international competition, IB Coodinator Kim McGlynn secured approval from the IB for Julia to take some of her exams at an alternate location in Houston, where the competition was held. "The IB Coordinator at Bellaire High School, Ann Linsley, was very accommodating, and Julia’s mother reported that everything went smoothly, allowing Julia to perform at her best," said Kim.

Reaching the YAGP finals was the culmination of years of dedication. “Dancing at the YAGP finals has been my dream ever since I started ballet, especially since I began competing,” Julia recalled. She began dancing at age 12, considered late in the ballet world.

“I always felt behind my classmates and was trying to catch up. Even after I did, I kept pushing myself to improve. Being invited to YAGP finals as a soloist made me realize how much my hard work had paid off. The journey was demanding, both physically and mentally, but deeply rewarding throughout the process and at the competition itself.”

At the finals, she also found a sense of community.

“There were times when I had to convince myself that I belonged there,” Julia said. “But there were also moments when I felt part of something bigger than just my school or even the United States. At YAGP, it felt like the dancers became one big family, supporting one another in every way.”

“It was an incredibly eye-opening experience and one I have dreamed of for a long time,” she added. “I am so grateful to my ballet teachers for helping me reach this goal and for believing in me since my first trial class. I cannot imagine where I would be, both as a dancer and as a person, without their love, guidance and support.”

Looking ahead, Julia said her experiences at George School and in the IB program have prepared her for what comes next. She will attend Columbia University in New York City this fall. “Although I am nervous, especially about the academic workload, I have faith that what I have learned through IB and at George School will help me find my footing and keep up,” she said.

She also credits several teachers — Heather Mooney (history), Travis Ortogero (math), and Hamilton Davis (math) — for reinforcing the value of learning from mistakes.

“I think this is an essential mindset for success in college and beyond. I hope to carry that with me and continue learning, rather than trying to be perfect the first time.”

Julia also expressed gratitude for IB Coordinator Kim McGlynn. “I am so grateful for Kim and the work she does for the entire IB cohort,” she said. “When I first reached out, she was immediately supportive and helped me find ways to make both YAGP finals and my IB exams possible. I am so grateful to her and to the George School faculty and staff for supporting students both in and beyond the classroom.”

With discipline, passion and purpose, Julia is ready for whatever stage comes next — this achievement is not a finish line, but a launching point.