From BSB to Oxford: An Interview with Daniel Costache

This is a special interview with Daniel Costache, a shining example of academic excellence and a former British School of Bucharest student. Daniel attended BSB from Reception until Year 11, consistently demonstrating a strong work ethic and exceptional talent in a range of subjects.

In this interview, we talk about Daniel’s time at BSB, the impact the school had on his academic and personal development, and his plans for the future. We are proud to present this interview with Daniel and hope it inspires others to strive for similar achievements.

Interviewer:

How many years did you study here, and when did you graduate from BSB?

Daniel:

I spent most of my life studying at BSB, from reception to Year 11, after which I went to sixth form in the UK.

Interviewer:

Do any particular memories stand out from your BSB years?

Daniel:

I think my most memorable moment at BSB was when I first tested my PVC pipe frame as part of the Project Zephyr CCA, as it was my first time seeing something I designed and built actually work out in the real world. I credit this memory with a lot of the passion and interest I now have for engineering. I particularly cherish the memories and lifelong connections I have made with my friends and classmates, many of whom I still consider my closest friends.

Interviewer:

What was your experience as a BSB student? What does this community mean to you?

Daniel:

My experience as a BSB student was a very positive one. I found BSB to be an institution that does not stifle creativity and curiosity but rather encourages them, allowing its pupils to develop both academically and personally in a way in which they see fit. The wider community at BSB is rather unique.

Interviewer:

How has BSB helped you to develop (academically and personally) for your future?

Daniel:

Academically, BSB offered me the opportunity to broaden my horizons past the borders of Romania and to study in the UK. The extracurricular activities I participated in at BSB have their relevance even now, as the CAD/CAM, technical drawing and designing methods I developed in the Innovation Hub are helping me adapt to studying Engineering at University. On a personal note, I credit much of the confidence I have developed in expressing myself and my ideas to the classroom environment at BSB, as I think that a lot of lessons take the shape of an open forum on which students are free to discuss their ideas with the class and the teacher.

Interviewer:

What skills did you develop being part of Project Zephyr?

Daniel:

Project Zephyr helped me develop hard and soft skills, which are vital in the wider world. The project taught me hard skills such as working with CAD/CAM software, working in a workshop, and using various tools. In my position as team leader, I learned how to work in a team and lead a team, two skills I will use time and again in my future endeavours. I think the most important skill I developed in Project Zephyr was the ability to teach myself.

Interviewer:

When and how did you start to be part of the Project Zephyr Team?

Daniel:

I started Project Zephyr in the second year of its existence.

Interviewer:

What drove you to sign up for this course?

Daniel:

As I always liked maths and physics in school. I was automatically drawn towards an engineering-type field, and Project Zephyr’s promise of electric cars had me sold.

Interviewer:

I know you had multiple university offers. Why did you choose Oxford?

Daniel:

I chose Oxford because I felt that the tutorial system was very well fitted towards my particular style of learning, and due to their general engineering course, which allows me to test out different branches of engineering for two years before deciding on a path to follow. What attracted me most about Oxford is the research taking place as part of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and how much interest is gathering around this department.

Interviewer:

What about Bioengineering – how did you discover this field?

Daniel:

I have always had an interest in medicine, which, when combined with my affinity towards engineering, caused me to search for a path which could satisfy both areas, resulting in my interest in BME.

Interviewer:

What’s your story after BSB?

Daniel:

After leaving BSB, I joined a boarding school in the UK where I studied Maths, Physics, and Chemistry at Higher Level and French, English, and Economics at Standard Level as part of the IB curriculum. During this time, I applied to the University of Oxford, ICL UCL and KCL. After a long process of admissions exams, interviews and my IB exams, I got accepted into and joined the University of Oxford, where I am studying Engineering Science at St. Hugh’s College.