Originally from Germany, Tobias Kausch has lived in Beijing for 13 years. The recent graduate of AISB-Hope International will be attending university in the US to study construction science next year.
What was your favorite memory of high school?
I think my favorite memory has been the senior trip that my class went on this year. We went to Universal Studios here in Beijing and had a great time. The lines were super short and after we finished a ride we could just walk right into another. The rest of the week that was spent having fun in different places with classmates was also really great. Everyone was amused at my utter lack of talent for ice skating. What made it an even better experience was that we had raised all the money for the trip ourselves throughout the school year, selling things ranging from popcorn, to brownies, to milkshakes.
If you could go back and do it all over again, do you wish you could have done anything differently? If so, what and why?
I don’t like to say that I should have done things differently. I can’t think of something that hasn’t developed me in some way, even if it was an unpleasant experience. I am ultimately very happy with where I am now, at the end of my high school career.
Is there one teacher who has truly made a difference in your life? If so, who and why?
The teachers that have made a great difference in my life were those that I could view as role models. I have found many of those at AISB-Hope, because they felt like more than teachers. They let you see who they are as people, and that has helped me to find great character lessons.
What’s your advice for younger students about the college application process?
This is very specific, but start your essays as early as possible and find a good source of feedback for them. The most stress-inducing part of my application process was how I had to keep pushing back my target application submission date because my essays were not ready. Having a good source of feedback, like I had with my counselor, can really speed up the process.
What are you most looking forward to in college next year?
I am most looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life. I want to take on new responsibilities and challenges and grow through them. It feels a little strange how I am excited at challenges like managing my time between studying, working, and socializing. I think I am excited about it because I want to see what I can make out of the new opportunities and constraints I will have.
My Name is Julia Gil. I am from South Korea, and I have been in Beijing since the summer of 2015, so almost seven years now. My application starts this September, so I do not know where I am going and what I will be studying next year.
What was your favorite memory of high school?
My favorite memory of high school is participating in the school’s orchestra and performing in the spring musical. I have been exposed to music since I was young, my mom being a composer. With teachers from different cultures, I encountered and familiarized myself with a variety of music genres.
If you could go back and do it all over again, do you wish you could have done anything differently? If so, what and why?
I would actively seek information regarding high school academics as a Korean studying abroad. There are different routes to university as an international student, and usually each choice requires different things. I’ve learned that good information often yields efficiency.
Is there one teacher who has truly made a difference in your life? If so, who and why?
All the teachers in AISB-Hope challenged me in one way or another. In the AP Research course, Dr. Eplin coordinated his expertise in conducting research in such a way that he allowed for an environment of critical thinking and independent learning throughout my research process.
What’s your advice for younger students about the college application process?
I think the most important thing is to have a sense of who you are throughout high school. I lost myself under the pressures of school exams, standardized tests, essays, and so on. Without being aware of my own uniqueness, I found it hard to demonstrate what kind of person I am in application essays and the extracurriculars I did.
What are you most looking forward to in college next year?
I am most looking forward to the free major system that the university I am most likely going to offers for freshmen.
This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Graduation issue
