Edward Flaherty, Class of 64'
On Writing a Future in the Face of Adversity
Aléxia Matos, Senior Content Coordinator
People are faced with two choices after a life-changing experience: they can continue living their old lives and do the things they have always done, or they can find new meaning in the world around them. Edward Flaherty, ISB Alum, faced this choice nearly 5 years ago when his life changed completely after suffering a stroke. Suddenly, he found himself a storyteller.
Edward’s connection with ISB travels back more than 60 years. He was part of the third graduating class, in 1964. Similar to other students, he appreciated being part of an international community when the world seemed to be much bigger.
“I lived away from home. Boarding with a French-speaking Walloon family in Boitsfort gave me the confidence to live on my own in strange places.”
Prior to the incident, Edward’s life was always filled with extraordinary experiences and great contributions to the world around him. He studied at international schools, lived in different countries, and became a respected Landscape Architect.
Five years ago, Edward was invited by Anne Brennan, ISB’s former teacher of Business & Economics, to share his knowledge with ISB students. He happily returned to campus to talk about his field of expertise. Sadly, however, on the way back to his home in Switzerland, he had a stroke.
It took Edward several years to recover, both physically and emotionally; things that were considered a normal part of his daily routine were gone. Yet, in the midst of such adversity, step by step, he was able to unveil a new superpower: the power of storytelling.
“It has taken me these years to recover/relearn swallowing, speaking, sitting up, standing up, walking, going up and downstairs, handwriting, etc. I gradually got back on a keyboard and I discovered that I could write sentences, paragraphs, scenes, chapters, and stories.”
Edward wrote a number of stories, including his first book, Tangier Gardens. The book is a fictional story about a university student in a design program who is doing a term abroad in Morocco - a narrative that appears to be as unique as Edward’s life.
There is no doubt that Edward’s ability to embrace new perspectives and cope with his personal challenges is one of the most remarkable things about him. He attributes some of the learnings in life to the experiences he had as a student:
“During my time at ISB, I learned I can exist and thrive in foreign countries. In fact, it gave me the confidence to go to Morocco and live there. I could not have had that confidence except for living in Belgium and attending ISB. Determination and enthusiasm combine to build internal strength that yields external results. It is all rather mystical, magical, metaphysical. Finding that connection that many find with religion to succeed under life’s inevitable challenges.”
In a world where so many things are left uncertain, may all of us be inspired by stories like Edward’s.
“Do it. Time, commitment, patience, determination - you must find these along the way in order to succeed.”
The International School of Brussels is a private school founded in 1951 in Brussels for students grades Pre-K to 12. With over 1350 students from 70 countries, it is this diversity that sets us apart and makes ISB a wonderful home for our families.