Three cheers to the graduating class of 2024! This crop of bright students has put in the hard work, contributed to their school communities, and set themselves on a path toward a promising future. Let's hear from a few students as they reflect on their journeys so far, and their goals as they prepare for the next steps. Congratulations graduates!
Ian Tam
Nationality: Chinese (Hong Kong)
College/University: Berklee College of Music
Intended Major: Music Production and Songwriting
Please tell us why you chose your university and major.
One of the biggest aspects was that Berklee has a big focus on contemporary music. At other universities, like Juilliard or the Curtis Institute of Music, they train students more classically, whereas Berklee is rooted in jazz and is now reaching out into pop music and has different majors, which you don't get in another type of classical conservatory.
What is a goal you hope to accomplish in the future?
I hope to create an EP, or a short collection of songs, by the end of the school year and finish two albums while I'm in college. I also plan to grow a YouTube channel that will have around ten thousand subscribers by the time I have graduated from college.
What class or experience did you find the most valuable, why?
AMIS Choir was the most valuable experience I've ever had. Singing with people from 20 other schools all across Asia at such a high level under Grammy Award-winning conductor Jeffrey Murdock has shown me what skillful musicianship sounds like, and has also allowed me to make so many friends.
What advice would you give your younger self entering high school?
Don’t take yourself too seriously and really enjoy the moment. Be competitive, hard working, and goal oriented as you should be, because those things are very important. But at the same time, make sure to enjoy the moment and let yourself be happy, because you never know when you're going to have those types of memories again.
Hanjing Wang
Nationality: Canadian
College/University: TBD
Major: Comparative Literature/PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics)
Please tell us why you chose your university and major.
I’m interested in comparative literature because I love studying English literature, but I also want to continue learning the stories of my childhood and the complexities of my mother tongue. As for PPE, I’m intrigued by its unique comprehension of the world through exploring intersections between subjects I already love.
What is a goal you hope to accomplish in the future?
In the distant future, a goal I have is to become a person who can bridge the gaps between cultures, encouraging people to speak out, listen, and feel inspired by what others have to say. In the near future, I want to learn how to drive!
What class or experience did you find the most valuable, why?
Atramento, our school’s literary magazine, will always hold a special place in my heart. Being featured in its volumes for the first time motivated my sophomore self to continue pursuing creative writing. Having the honor of reading submissions this year as its Editor-in-Chief made me appreciate Atramento’s vibrant community even more.
What advice would you give your younger self entering high school?
Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. I used to shy away from running for leadership positions, but retrospectively, I think the experience of sharing your passions and goals has been incredibly eye-opening, regardless of outcome. The support and kindness that people are willing to give continues to blow my mind.
Ariel Qi
Nationality: American
University/College: University of Pennsylvania, Wharton
Major: Business
Please tell us why you chose your university and major.
I became interested in business after a set of online business courses I took in eighth grade. This was right after COVID-19 hit, and I was looking for something to do. I continued exploring this after I entered high school by taking related summer programs, competitions, and courses.
What is a goal you hope to accomplish in the future?
I want to mix my business education with another area such as policymaking, ethics, or law. This can provide me with a nuanced understanding of the business realm. With this, I could improve firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, startup my own business, or even earn a law degree.
What class or experience did you find the most valuable and why?
Going into lockdown in 2022 seemed, at first, a curse. Yet it not only forced me to stay disciplined and optimistic, but also made me appreciate everything (and everyone) around me a lot more. It was also an important period for self-improvement and reflection for me.
What advice would you give your younger self entering high school?
Stay true to yourself. There are many external pressures in high school. This is true of both academic pressures – the increasingly competitive mindset towards college, the “race to the top” – and non-academic pressures – the party scene, dating scene. Ultimately, continue to stay grounded in your own beliefs.
Charlie Sun
Nationality:Swedish
College/University:Undecided
Intended Major:Graphic Design/Fine Arts
Please tell us why you chose your university and major.
Just as Georgia O’Keeffe said, “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for,” during the creation and showcase of my artworks, I gradually found that I could make more sense with the world through arts more than anything else.
What is a goal you hope to accomplish in the future?
After university, I wish to continue to create works that inspire people. Not only that, but as I noticed how this fast-paced society has omitted too many sentiments and perspectives from different demographics, I would also want to have arts as mediums where they can connect and speak up for people.
What class or experience did you find the most valuable, why?
In summer, I took an internship job in a specialized creative agency Yaean Design as a graphic designer. Being assigned with a variety of design tasks that are different from what I was used to, I came to understand art’s functional role in real life and how to make works that are for diverse purposes and audience groups.
What advice would you give your younger self entering high school?
I have a whole list: be braver, change your hair, train vertical jump so that you can dunk, join the volleyball team earlier, apologize to people when there’s still a chance, don’t judge people at first glance, think more before choosing Math AA HL, and eat more cheeseburgers.
Lucas Dominguez
Nationality: Brazilian
University/College: HKUST
Major: Economics
Please tell us why you chose your university and major.
After learning about Behavioral Economics, my understanding of how us humans make decisions completely changed. I was fascinated about how theory learned in class was applicable even in places such as a grocery store. I thus decided to pursue an Economics university programme in Hong Kong, Asia’s financial hub, at HKUST.
What is a goal you hope to accomplish in the future?
I can envision myself as an economic consultant or policy analyst for a private firm, helping to analyze trends and make predictions based on a series of economic data. Working within the economics sector is a goal of mine that with great dedication will hopefully be realized in the future.
What class or experience did you find most valuable, why?
I personally found writing an Extended Essay in Economics to be a rather valuable experience. This is because, not only did it teach me more about researching and data compiling, but for the first time I gathered, broke down and analyzed economic data for a research project of my choice.
What advice would you give your younger self entering high school?
I would tell myself to reserve a small space each day to revise and study additional subject areas, even if only for half an hour per day, as I believe that if you start earlier it is easier to adapt. With hard work comes great remunerations in the future!
Mimi Pang
Nationality: Chinese (Taiwan)
University/College: New York University
Major: Undecided/pre-law track in the College of Arts and Sciences
Please tell us why you chose your university and major.
From its bustling streets to its renowned faculty, NYU intrigues me with its blend of academic excellence and unparalleled diversity. As for law, I’ve always been beyond excited, unraveling the mysteries of justice and wielding the power of the written word within our complex society.
What is a goal you hope to accomplish in the future?
I hope to become a lawyer, always critically thinking and putting together indestructible arguments to advocate for justice and defend the rights of those individuals and communities close to me. I’d love to give my expertise to different people and get in touch with all kinds of careers.
What class or experience did you find the most valuable, why?
Being the Head of House has to be one-designing events that sparked students. I’ll never forget when sports day was a whirlwind of cheers, sweat, and victory dances and the lunchtime chess competitions that were a battle of minds, where checkmates were celebrated with triumphant fist pumps.
What advice would you give your younger self entering high school?
I wish to say dream bigger because you can achieve more than you think. Enjoy the present because every moment is worth cherishing. Have fun while you’re young, and most importantly surround yourself with positivity and those who will always make you laugh and grow.
Selena Keats
Nationality: British and French
University/College: Dual degree with Science Po Paris (Le Havre campus ) France and the University of Sydney
Major: Political science, Social sciences
Please tell us why you chose your university and major.
I chose to apply for this dual degree between Science Po Paris and the university of Sydney because the curriculum is in English and it is halfway between the very demanding French ‘’classe prépa’’ and a more classic university.
Science Po is also rated as the 3rd best university in the world for social sciences and it offers a comprehensive curriculum covering subjects such as Economics, Law, History, Humanities, Political Science and also allows me to carry on studying Chinese at a high level.
What is a goal you hope to accomplish in the future?
I would love to work in diplomacy as I am fluent in four languages and devote my time to the conservation of seas and oceans.
What class or experience did you find the most valuable and why?
I loved being at LFS and although all classes are both valuable and demanding, I particularly like my HLP class (Humanities, Literature and Philosophy) and History and Geopolitics class.
These two classes are complementary and have allowed me to tremendously develop my knowledge and analysis of both French and world literature and have given me the tools to analyse and understand the contemporary world.
In terms of experience, I loved our trip to Australia to represent my school in the Asia Pacific swimming championship.
What advice would you give your younger self entering high school?
Listen to your teachers’ and parents’ advice. Anticipate so as not to be overwhelmed with work because the expectations and workload is heavy especially when studying in the international section. Also set a time limit on your phone and get as much sleep as you can!
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