Written by: Janelle Garrett (Lower Secondary Coordinator) and Ann Huang ’21
Ann Huang ’21 joined YCIS Pudong half-way through Year 6, as a shy, but determined and hard-working EAL student. Through her time at YCIS, Ann has found ways to connect her learning in both English and Chinese to tackle complex global issues, extending her sphere of influence, and expanding her network of friends all over the world. Currently in Year 13, Ann reflects on her different experiences at YCIS Pudong and how they connect and come together to make her who she is today as she prepares her university applications and considers creative ways to connect her passions in the future.
When Ann was asked, “what words do you think of when you think of your experience at YCIS?” she claimed a few words weren’t enough, because all of it is connected and makes her who she is today. Here are some of her takes on the connections she’s made in her learning journey at YCIS Pudong and why it matters.
Belonging Matters.
YCIS is inclusive, safe and friendly. It is a happy environment. Teachers push you here, but because you’re safe, you’re more comfortable taking risks that you need to learn and grow. I think this is taken for granted by many students. But if you’re in a learning environment where you don’t feel included and safe, you won’t develop the relationships that nurture and extend you or connect with passions that define you. There is a lot of power in feeling like you belong.
Inquire more.
I love that my curiosity and inquiry is continuously encouraged by teachers and classmates. The curriculum itself (especially the IB) is hard and makes you think, wonder, question and helps you develop research skills to go deeper. Also, being an international community, we are exposed and encouraged to consider so many other perspectives, it makes ideas that much more fascinating, and helps you see how knowledge is connected in different ways.
Public Speaking and presentation are skills that can and should be improved with practice.
At YCIS, in a class we present regularly to our classmates and others. We learn how to make our case and be challenged. Through this, I was able to develop my speaking, get feedback on presentations, and became a much better public speaker than I would have if left to my own introverted comfort zone. Now, I’m confident speaking up, whether it is approaching a teacher or someone I don’t know, or addressing groups of people in class, in assemblies, or on webinars, in workshops, etc.
Fun with friends makes the learning journey more meaningful.
My favorite times at YCIS have been the fun moments with friends, classmates, and teachers outside of class that made school matter that much more. I loved our EOTC trips each year from Xi’an in Year 7 to Thailand last year before the lockdown. Each of these deepened our connection as we shared experiences and became more real with each other. I’ve also loved the fun moments I’ve had being part of clubs and teams—hiking, camping and being outdoors with Duke of Edinburgh trips, exploring Shanghai with the Photography Club, and even playing Touch Rugby a few years ago. Even though I’m not much of an athlete, I’m glad I had the fun of a team sports experience and getting to compete with other schools.
Do more of what makes you happy.
Making music at YCIS has been part of my happy place since I sheepishly joined Sinfonia after getting a very late start playing violin in Year 7 (most of my friends had been playing since they were much younger). But Mr. Adgemis and other musicians always make me feel welcome and like I have a place. I’m not the best musician, but I love making music with others and the connection I feel when we play together. Everyone should get a chance to be in a band!
Pursue your passion.
The community at YCIS has provided opportunities and encouraged me as I’ve tried to address environmental issues—my passion. As a result, I’ve been able to raise awareness and advocate for meaningful changes, and make an impact, even if it is small. I became passionate about environmental issues in Year 9 as a class representative on the Eco-Committee. In Year 10, with Global Issues Network (GIN), together with several classmates, we created the Stop Single Use Shanghai Project, something we could do in our daily lives and in our school to make a significant impact. It was great to gain momentum to see something actually happen. From presenting to the School Leadership Team to getting a beverage dispenser in the cafeteria to make our campus single use plastic free to leading workshops and collaborating with students from other international schools through the GIN Asia and One Voice conferences and networks, it has been a powerful lesson in advocacy and connection.
Be inspired by and inspire others.
As a student prefect in charge of the Climate Action portfolio, I’ve implemented a project groups model that is much more efficient to empower others to maximize our impact and develop leaders. I was inspired by my participation in World Youth Talks—an environmental forum with students from international schools all over the world—Brazil, Spain, Mexico, India, China, US, Ghana, Colombia, Switzerland, and more. Ms. Garrett introduced me to the group and helped me connect during e-Learning in March 2020. It was so exciting to be CONNECTED and collaborating with people that have the same passions that I do. It was great to see how interlinked all of our situations are, despite different unique situations in each country. It was even more amazing that I could do this during lockdown from my apartment in Shanghai—when so many of my projects, plans, and passions had been put on hold.
Connection is powerful.
There is power in connecting and being able to work together towards a common purpose. During the Covid19 lockdown, I was not coping really well. I felt I was falling down a bottomless chasm, despite trying all of my coping strategies, even reaching out to the school counselor. Being part of the World Youth Talks helped me and showed me the power of connecting with others, especially in difficult times. I realized how even if you’re an introvert like me, you still need that human connection. I also realized I wasn’t alone in my struggles—others were struggling with mental health in quarantine as well.
Speak up.It’s not just about you, it’s about us.
I ‘ve thought a lot about the stigma around certain issues, like mental health, and why like many others, I don’t want to talk about it publicly. Stigma contributes to more people suffering in silence, so I’m trying to be purposeful to try to talk about it more openly. It is important to let other people know that they aren’t alone. In fact, through the One Voice network, I’m now connecting with other international students in Shanghai collaborating on issues around mental health.
Languages connect learning.
I love reading in both English and Chinese. Through books I’ve traveled to places I’ve never been and think and see the world in ways I wouldn’t. When I was learning English in EAL, it was reading that made me interested and made me want to have a deeper understanding of the context, and eventually made things click. I love studying Chinese Literature and Language too, understanding the historical and cultural context, analysing the richness of language and devices used to communicate, understanding the background of the writer, it is really cool. As a Chinese person, I think it is important to continue learning and thinking intellectually in my language. It helps me feel fully Chinese, while still also feeling fully international. Thinking about ideas in different languages helps allows you to know and understand things differently, making connections from perspectives.
Knowledge is interconnected and so is our future.
One thing this year taught us is that the future is uncertain. One thing I’m sure of is that my future lies somewhere in connecting all of this knowledge and doing something for the common good. I’m applying to universities both in the US and the UK. At YCIS, I’ve focused a lot of my studies on business and economics and environmental science. In university, I want to pursue an interdisciplinary degree like Global Studies or International Relations because I want to have a more holistic understanding of complex global issues. I’m interested in how political and social factors impact markets, because this can help determine informed social entrepreneurship and creative solutions around sustainability. I’m interested in the interconnectedness of it all.
Tackling global problems from Covid-19 to Climate Change requires connecting knowledge and harnessing the power of our connections with each other so we can all act together. Ann wants us all to keep in mind, “Small actions make an impact when they are connected with others.”