My Centennial Moment: Cristiana Pinciroli Pascual P ‘21 ‘23 ‘31
Cristiana Pinciroli Pascual P ‘21 ‘23 ‘31
Parent, 2014-present
My Centennial Moment
When our family arrived in Miami in 2014, we believed Gulliver would be part of our lives for just two years. Instead, it became our home away from home.
The Story
Originally from Brazil, my husband Luis and I came to the U.S. hoping to give our daughters Alissa, Giorgia, and Olivia a rich, international experience. From the moment we stepped onto campus, Gulliver welcomed us with open arms. What stood out immediately was not only the academic excellence, but the way families were invited into meaningful conversations about the future of education and how to prepare children for a rapidly changing world.
Each of our daughters found their own paths to success at Gulliver. Alissa joined in sixth grade and quickly discovered she was a kinesthetic learner. Rather than simply identifying this, her teachers equipped her with strategies to thrive, encouraging movement to help her focus and learn more effectively. That self-awareness transformed her academic journey and, alongside her passion for athletics, helped her grow into a student-athlete at Stanford University. Today, she is beginning her graduate studies at Stanford Medical School, pursuing the intersection of medicine, business, and technology.
Giorgia embraced Gulliver’s academic rigor through the MYP program, developing discipline and a deep commitment to excellence. Balancing academics with ballet, swimming, and water polo, she learned how to thrive in high-performance environments and is now studying Economics and Business at the University of Michigan.
Our youngest, Olivia, has spent her entire educational journey at Gulliver. She learned to read and write in English here and continues to grow within a community that values curiosity, confidence, and character. Now in seventh grade, she proudly shares Gulliver’s values with family and friends around the world.
As a former national team water polo player and co-author of Sport: A Stage for Life, I have long believed that athletics and academics together create powerful lessons in resilience, teamwork, and purpose. At Gulliver, I’ve seen that philosophy come to life. The school doesn’t just educate students; it develops global citizens prepared to lead with kindness, creativity, and confidence.
Community Connections
Our family’s journey was shaped by extraordinary educators and mentors, including Coach Carroll, who coached both Alissa and Giorgia in water polo, Frank Steel, and the remarkable leadership of Mrs. Pacheco and Donna Fong-Yee.
In your own words, what does success mean to you, and how has Gulliver shaped that?
Success means thriving not only in the pursuit of meaningful goals, but in who you become along the way. It is about balancing academic excellence, athletics, and personal growth to build resilience, purpose, and happiness, and preparing to make a positive impact locally and globally.
Looking Ahead
As Gulliver celebrates its Centennial, I am grateful to be part of a community that shapes leaders the world needs. In our family’s story, Gulliver helped do exactly that.
Fast Facts
Role: Parent
Years at Gulliver: 2014–present
Campuses: Multiple divisions
One word to describe Gulliver: Transformational
