Elementary School
I Want to Be a Sculptor
Jeffrey Stephen Miller is a sculptor from Rhode Island in the US. This globetrotting artist has exhibited his work in the US, France, Latvia, Estonia, and China. For almost a year, Miller has taught art at schools around Beijing. He also gives classes at Miller/Reis Art Studios, the center he co-opened with fellow artist Filipa Reis. Besides teaching at his studio, he is currently working on an exhibition at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA). Miller spoke to students at the International School of Beijing about two of his recent projects: a series of giant needle sculptures made up of many tiny parts, and hutong roof tiles made of reclaimed ceramic plates.
I Want to Be a Fashion Designer
California native Candy Lin considers herself extremely fortunate to be doing something she loves: being a fashion designer. She created her own clothing line, candy & caviar in January 2009 and since then she has collaborated with many renowned designers and stylists. Her line has been recognized by distinguished publications and worn by local and international celebrities, like Wang Leehom and The Black-Eyed Peas. She is looking forward to expanding her brand to children’s clothing. As she spoke with Yew Chung International School of Beijing students, we can’t wait to see where her work will take her next.
I Want to Be an Architect
Upon graduation, New York native Edwin Lam was Beijing-bound for the architecture firm Studio Pei-Zhu. In the past ten months, Lam has contributed to various museum concepts and helped design a church in Ningbo. At Beijing BISS International School, the architect presented his ongoing work in Beijing, including two contemporary art museums, one of which was inspired by the art of Chinese painting and another, a proposal to convert an old television factory. He is also working on a series of schools in the Changping district of Beijing. Armed with photos, a 3-D animation flythrough and scaled models, Lam demonstrated the process an architect goes through, encouraging students to look at buildings in a different light.
I Want to Be a Heyrobics Instructor
Developed in 1978 by Swedish Johan Holmsäter, Heyrobics is a full-body cardio workout set to the beat of fun music – none of your typical thumping aerobics tunes here. Managed by Linus Holmsäter, the son of Heyrobics founder Johan, this Swedish style of aerobics has taken Beijing by storm. Holmsäter left his day job with a Swedish investment company in China to promote his family’s unique brand of fitness. Led by Holmsäter and a team of pink short-wearing instructors, Heyrobics classes are open to all ages and are offered for a small fee across multiple locations in Beijing, including Chaoyang Park, British School of Beijing (Sanlitun campus) and Jianwai Soho. The organization also provides team-building exercises to clients such as ricsson China and Li-Ning. When he’s not instructing a Heyrobics session, Holmsäter is an active marathon runner, having finished 15 international marathons.
I Want to Be an Ice Skater
Swedish-born Camilla Ojansivu Underhill has been on the ice since she was 4 years old, competing in singles and synchronized skating on the national and international stage. After completing high school, she joined "Holiday On Ice," touring with the performance group to South America, Europe and SoutheastAsia. Following the tour, she hung up her skates long enough to earn a law degree from Lund University in Sweden and the University of London. After a year withPricewaterhouseCoopers in Vietnam, the lure of the ice was too strong and she decided to dedicate herself to her true calling. Now a part-time lawyer in Beijing, Underhill spends the majority of her time on the ice, coaching children and adults at All Star Champion Skating Club and Ice Zone. Underhill is also the founder of Ice Breakers, a company that provides team-building exercises on the ice for companies and organizations. Before skating off to her next class, this part-time lawyer, ice skating coach and full-time mother spoke with students at The British School of Beijing about finding balance and following her passion.
I Want to Be a Kung Fu Master
Liu Xiaoyun's passion for martial arts began at a young age. Surrounded by martial arts practioners in his hometown of Dangshan in Anhui province, Liu began practicing wushu at the Shaolin Kung Fu School at the age of 7. At the age of 11, he moved to Shaolin Temple, where he lived for three years. Afterwards, he went to the Shaolin Tagou Kung Fu School, continuing his kung fu studies and learning sanda (Chinese boxing). After years of disciplined studying, Liu spent a few years in the entertainment side of martial arts, touring the world with the Shaolin Tagou International Kung Fu School. He has since returned to traditional training and has appeared on national television in the US, the UK, Japan, South Korea and Italy. Currently based in Beijing, Liu runs kung fu classes through Jinghua Wushu at various international schools and clubhouses. Bitten by the travel bug, Liu also makes regular overseas trips, teaching fung fu to students all over the world.
I Want to Be a Make-Up Artist
Professional make-up artist MeiLi Autumn hails from tropical Hawaii in the US. Since moving to Beijing in 2007, she has kept herself busy, touching up faces and giving make-up lessons. While studying East Asian Studies at Brown University, Autumn developed her stage make-up and hairstyling skills in the school's theater department. Later, she trained at MAC cosmetics, where she worked for two years. Models, actors, brides, fashion shoots, runway shows and films fill her lengthy resume. But it's not all glitter and lipstick. Autumn is also trained in special effects make-up. Creating blood, cuts, bruises and all things icky is just another day in office. Autumn demonstrated both her glam and gore make-up talents to the students of Harrow International School Beijing.
