I recently attended a high school graduation for a few players I coach in flag football. It was one of those nostalgic, feel-good moments, watching students celebrate their achievement as they prepare to enter universities across the world.

As I sat there, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own transition from high school to college – and how completely unprepared I was. I submitted college applications late, had no real plan, and didn’t even know if I’d been accepted anywhere until after graduation. It got so bad that my mom and I had to drive to the college just to pick up my acceptance letter in person. That experience taught me one of the most important lessons of my life: Educational transition matters.

Right now, as the school year winds down, it’s the perfect time for parents to begin thinking about what’s next. Maybe your child is moving from kindergarten to first grade, from primary school to middle school, or from high school to college. Each of these transitions can bring both academic and social challenges. The question is: Are you prepared? Is your child?

Whether you’re enrolling in a new school or simply moving up a grade level, it’s important to understand what the school has in place to support students during times of change. Some children struggle with adjusting to unfamiliar routines or building new friendships. Others may feel overwhelmed by increased academic demands. That’s why it’s so important to ask the right questions and get clear answers.

Support systems make all the difference. Schools that take transition seriously often provide orientation programs, buddy systems, counseling support, and early communication about academic expectations. These tools can help your child feel secure, welcomed, and confident in their new environment.

As a parent, you can also take steps to ease the transition. Attend orientation events, encourage your child to visit the campus ahead of time, and, if possible, connect them with future classmates. The more familiar they are with the school environment before day one, the better they’ll adapt socially and academically.

To bring this closer to home, here’s something I often ask parents during conferences: “What does your child know about where they’re going next?” In my experience, the students who feel the most comfortable on day one are the ones who’ve already seen the halls, met the teachers, and pictured themselves there.

Here are five key questions to support your child’s educational transition:

1. What transition programs or orientation events does the school offer to help new students adjust?
2. How does the school support students socially and emotionally during times of transition?
3. Are there opportunities for my child to visit the school and meet teachers or future classmates before the school year begins?
4. What academic expectations or changes should I prepare my child for at the next level?
5. How does the school communicate with parents during the transition process, and who can I contact for support?

Educational transitions don’t have to be overwhelming – for you or your child. With the right preparation and support, these moments can become exciting opportunities for growth.

More practical guidance like this can be found in my book, Choosing the Best International School for Your Child.

Check out Malcolm Solomon’s book Choosing the Best International School for Your Child, where he dives into the world of international education in China and how to find the school that’s the perfect fit for your child.

Images: Malcolm Solomon, Freepik

Beijing’s international school kids grow up in a unique melting pot. Many are third culture kids while others are expats who’ve made Beijing their home, and yet everyone fits together in Beijing like a puzzle. 

One school that’s the epitome of the city’s melting pot culture is Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB). Located in the center of Beijing, it gives its students that big city experience in a safe and protected environment. CISB cultivates young minds from as young as 18 months old to high school. CISB is a three-program IB World School: Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. Graduates obtain a Canadian (New Brunswick) High School Diploma and the opportunity to complete the full IB Diploma. The current 900+ student body represents over 50 nationalities.

As the class of 2023 leave high school behind and go off into the world, let’s take a look at some of their fondest memories.

One of my meaningful memories in CISB would be the recent experience of performing in front of the entire school with my friend Sam and two great teachers: Mr. Hambrook and Mr. O’Hare. Through several rehearsals and quite successful collaboration, we have managed to carry out a good show for the audience. This performance will always be kept as a good memory that I have for my high school life.

Leo Xiu

My favorite memory over the course of my grade 12 and previous years at CISB has been joining our sports teams. Over my two DP years, I joined the volleyball, basketball, and soccer teams. Joining these activities helped me maintain a healthy balance between hobbies and schoolwork, and allowed me to lead a healthier lifestyle. It also provided me with stronger friendships with other students that I otherwise would not have formed.

Emily Woodburn

My favorite memory from high school will be sitting in the lounge at lunch with my classmates and friends, lots of memories were made in that space including debates competition and support.

Nelson Tsui

My favorite memory from school was playing and learning volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Not only was I challenged physically, but I also learned how to overcome failure and become more resilient. I was also able to build new friendships and go on trips with my team.

Rita Gao

My favorite memory was the entire 2019 Week Without Walls trip. We went zip-lining, rock-climbing, and biking, but I enjoyed caving the most. It was pitch dark, my flashlight kept dying out, and we were wading in water up to our knees. Someone spread a rumor that they saw a snake. Some areas were claustrophobically tight, others were like wide caverns. It was the most fun I had on that trip. I wish I could go back.

Maira Malikova

My favorite memory is when I hosted the CANMUN 2023 conference at CISB. It was the perfect send-off for me because this is my seventh year of participating in MUN. Since joining CISB in grade 7, I have grown from a delegate to a student officer, then a director and finally the secretary general of CANMUN. This conference represents my journey, and I hope CANMUN can continue for years.

Henry Han

My favorite memory in school is from me and my friends always talking and learning out of school stuff since I believe that the more you learn and know there more you can experience and enjoy.

Millan Sanchez Valer

One of my fondest memories at CISB was joining sports teams such as the ski club, the soccer team, the volleyball team, etc. Joining these teams strengthened my friendships, as we were able to share a common interest and play together. Furthermore, it was meaningful to me to be able to provide guidance and support for younger students that were new to playing the sport or required help in school subjects. Thus, these experiences allowed me to meet new people I may not have otherwise due to age differences and these teams and environments will definitely be something I will miss in the future.

Kayla Woodburn

This article appeared in the jingkids 2023 Graduation Issue

By the time you walk across the stage in your cap and gown, you’ve officially moved on to the next chapter of your life. For those taking the more conventional post-high school path and starting at their dream colleges in the fall, it’s an exciting time to be planning who you’ll be.

College will be a time when you’ll have the freedom to do everything you’ve ever wanted to and when you’ll be shaping the person you’ll be for the rest of your life. One piece of advice that I always give to students going off to college is to try everything. 

Although it might sound cliché, it’s important to make a list of all the possibilities in college and to actively make the effort to check them all off your list.  You’ll be discovering new hobbies and making friendships that’ll last a lifetime.

College Bucket List

•   Attend a sporting event
•   Live on campus
•   Organize an event on campus
•   Apply for internships at companies you’ve always admired
•   Join clubs 
•   Attend a lecture on a topic you know nothing about
•   Travel around with your classmates
•   Get to know your professors and advisor

 

And of course, before you leave college and head off into the real world there are a few essential skills that will help you present yourself more professionally and give you a step up in your future career. 

Event organizing is often overlooked as an essential life skill. The ability to plan ahead and foresee the needs, potential problems, and to promote your event comes in handy in all aspects of life from professional to personal and it all comes from experience. 

Work with your school’s student council, sports teams, or simply plan fun events for your friends. This is a skill that only comes from experience so the more you do it, the better you’ll be.

One of the most essential skills to hone is your ability to communicate your thoughts efficiently and convincingly. It might sound like a no brainer, but there’s a difference between talking with a friend and pitching an idea.

Taking advantage of Model United Nations, Mock Trials, Debate Clubs, Toast Masters, or Ted-X would all be great places to work on your public speaking skills. There you’ll be able to work on your diction, your physical presence, and how your thought process is structured. 

College is an exciting time in your life. As you go on to the next chapter keep an open mind try your best to pick up as many life lessons as you can. After all, not all learning can be done in classrooms. 

Images: Pexels

This article appeared in the jingkids 2023 Graduation Issue

They made it – after 12 years of formal schooling; or 2,160 days at the modest approximation of 180 school days per annum – they graduated high school. The end of high school is a major milestone for kids. For one thing, they’re legally recognized as young adults now. And for most, it’s the first time that they will leave the protective nest of their parents’ home and venture out into the world on their own. 

So what can we gift to our children to celebrate this achievement and maybe also prepare them for what lies ahead? Before I set off to interview Beijing’s international student community and get answers, my guess would have been a car or a new tech device, but after speaking with graduating students and parents of former graduates, I discovered I was wrong. 

In addition to a poll conducted across our online readers, we distilled the following top five gifts that graduates these days would appreciate. 

Money

This comes as no surprise. Money is freedom. Money allows the user to spend it however they see fit. But how much money would be considered appropriate to gift to a newly independent fresh graduate out of high school? Most respondents indicated “Between RMB 3,000-RMB 5,000” if it was just a cash gift and nothing else. But 20% of respondents said that money was best as a supplement to another gift, and in that case, the appropriate amount would be “Between RMB 1,000-RMB 2,000” depending on the value of the other gift. 

Personalized gifts

This covers a broad range of gifts. One parent gave her son a white platinum necklace so that “he would always have something of me close to his heart,” while another consented to spend RMB 10,000 on a name-brand folding scooter that her son had requested. The idea is that it is something special only you and your child might know that they need/want. A great gift idea for travel would be monogrammed suitcases that would also signify to your child your eagerness for them to see the world and make their mark upon it.

A fully paid-for vacation

What better way to get away from school, exams, and all that, than to escape into a different world? Be it the tropical beach paradises of Thailand, or the ski slopes of Japan, a fully paid-for vacation is a great way to celebrate our children’s accomplishments and let them take a break before they have to hit the books again in college. However, hold off on buying your own ticket because the graduates we interviewed said they wanted this gift contingent on their parents not joining them, but having their friends instead. Whether this makes you sad or happy depends on you, but if that’s the vacation you’re paying for, be sure to remind them that additional charges on the hotel room mini bar are their own to bear! 

A big, celebratory meal

It’s just part of the human experience to celebrate important occasions with food, and this is no exception. As part of honoring their growth, let the fresh graduate decide on the restaurant and just go with it! Some popular recommendations we received were Iberico by TRB, Pebbles, and Jumbo Seafood Restaurant. For more Beijing recommendations, check out our interview with soon-to-be restaurateur and BCIS alumnus Michael Sun (p 45). 

No gifts necessary

Can not gifting be considered a gift? Apparently so! Some fresh graduates we spoke to said that they didn’t need anything from their parents because “they’ve already given me so much and I couldn’t have done it without them.” Ah, it looks like they’re finally growing up… 

Other gift ideas that didn’t make the cut to the top five included new tech devices like the latest mobile phones, tablets, or laptops and also a car. The reason these didn’t rank high enough is that the former items were too pragmatic and not special enough, while the latter was not feasible for most kids who were moving to another country to go to college. 

Images: Pexels

This article appeared in the jingkids 2023 Graduation Issue

High school graduation is one of the most important milestones in a person’s life. Whether you partied your way through school or dedicated every waking moment to your education, walking across that stage and receiving your diploma is worth remembering for the rest of your life. And being an international school student, you deserve graduation photos that are as unique as your education experience has been.

You don’t want to move on to the next chapter with generic graduation photos that look like they could be taken at any ol’ school anywhere in the world. You want something uniquely Beijing, just like your education experience has been. Jingkids has been working with Dave Hanssen from Dave’s Studio on our outstanding magazine covers for years, and we’ve taken the chance to chat with him about his top 5 recommendations for uniquely Beijing graduation photos that every high school senior should check out.

Confucius Temple

Originally dating from 1302, the Confucius Temple is one of Beijing’s main temples honoring the great sage, from the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), and the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The grounds of the temple house hundreds of inscribed stele, recording the names of successful candidates for the examinations for the imperial bureaucracy. And locals believe it’s good luck to come visit and pay respect to Confucius before major academic exams.

It’s only fitting that you move on to the next chapter of your academic career with a visit to the country’s most famous sage.

Temple of Heaven

Known for its rigorous symbolic layout, peculiar structure, and magnificent decoration, it is the most representative example of Chinese ritual architecture. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (from 1420 to 1900) worshiped the god of heaven and prayed for good harvests there. The large grounds are ideal for large group photoshoots, and you’ll definitely be able to find some beautiful spots without getting a ton of tourists photobombing your graduation photo.

Chaoyang Park

You don’t need to go to the most touristy places in Beijing to capture something meaningful. Chaoyang Park is ideal for photos where you want lots of greenery. It’s a favorite picnic and strolling destination for expats living in Beijing, so having some non-touristy graduation photos is very fitting to commemorate your time in the city.

The Hutongs

There’s nothing more iconic about Beijing life than a visit to the hutongs. Although, to be fair, finding a hutong that’ll accommodate a large group of teens in caps and gowns is going to be a challenge. But if you’re looking for a place to do photos by yourself or even with a small intimate group, having an iconic Beijing hutong be your backdrop can turn out some epic photos that’ll wow people for years to come.

On Campus

Last but not least, you definitely need to take photos somewhere on campus that show the name of your school. Whether you had a great high school experience or not, it’s something that you should capture in photos to remember for the rest of your life. Trust me, you’ll inevitably refer to your high school years later on in your life, and it’ll be an even more meaningful trip down memory lane with some photos from your high school.

To make sure you get the most amazing graduation photos that truly capture the moment, get in touch with Dave Hanssen from Dave’s Studio by scanning the QR code below.

Images: Pexels, jingkids, Uni You

As a recent high school graduate, the most common question I receive is “Where are you going for university?” When asked, I give the most uncommon answer: “Oh, I’m not going to university this fall. I’m taking a gap year!” 

When met with the initial shock of my answer I always give my explanations as to why, where, what, and how.

WHY?

In China specifically, gap years are not the norm. This is particularly due to the belief that it is a student’s “job” to study, and thus they must continue studying after each qualification. Therefore, it is only natural for people to assume that taking a gap year equals unsuccessful exams and/or university applications. 

Because of this, when I said I wanted to take a gap year, many looked at me with pity in their eyes, thinking that I didn’t get a single offer or failed my exams. I am not trying to invalidate those who might need an extra year to reapply for some better outcomes, because taking a year to improve oneself is a symbol of strength, not weakness. As the adage goes, taking one step back might help you advance three steps forward. It’s a year of opportunities, discoveries, reconnecting with oneself, and growth. 

So, why am I taking a gap year? Back when I entered the university application season (around Fall 2021), my family asked me if I wanted to take a gap year like my older sister. I said no and was wholeheartedly against the idea, because ever since I first watched a few movies set in universities, I had begun to fantasize about my future university life. With that dream so near, I didn’t want to delay it any further. 

Another reason was that I couldn’t wait to dive into further studies. My fingers yearned to gloss over the pages of gargantuan textbooks while my nose was voracious for their smell. At the same time, I didn’t want to leave my younger sister during one of the most critical stages of her life: becoming a teenager. In the end, it’s a combination of responsibilities and a desire to complete the things I’ve always wanted to during my high school time but which I never had the chance to that propelled me to gap. 

WHERE?

I would love to travel and write some travel journals. I would even utilize what I’ve learned in IB English A Literature HL about travel writing. Although I’ll most likely be in China for the majority of the year, I may travel outside of Beijing, depending on my plans. 

WHAT & HOW?

After creating the Gap Year Plan when I finished the IBDP in May, I embarked immediately by signing up for my first boxing class. Now I train three times a week, and am full of energy and self-love. I then enrolled in the Lingoda Super Sprint for C1 German, and around mid-June I began my internship at Jingkids. Last summer I was a teen intern, writing numerous WeChat articles every week. However, I came back as an editor this year!  

In university I will likely be studying modern languages along with philosophy. To aid my studies, I’ve enrolled in the Lingoda Super Sprint (which is also on my Gap Year Plan). The Super Sprint is two months of an hour of a Zoom language class every day. There are a bunch of rules trying to catch you out, but if you succeed and attend all classes, you get 100% cash back! Lastly, along with grinding through workbooks and continuing my 1150+ day Duolingo streak, I’m translating some of my poems into German. This is also a great practice for university, because translations are a big aspect to the modern languages course. 

Last summer on Children’s Day, my sister and I published a collaborative poetry book titled Nectare (in honor of our “metamorphosis” into adulthood). This summer, I plan to publish my own poetry anthology on a very personal but important topic ‒ mental and physical health. I’m currently planning on publishing my poems first online via social media and a website blog, mainly because my aim is to raise awareness and spread the message. If the demand is there, then I’ll publish it traditionally and physically via a book format. 

WHO SHOULD TAKE A GAP YEAR?

On social media, the notion of a gap year is usually romanticized. I’m guilty as charged, as I watched some gap year travel vlogs online. This is another factor behind why I want to start a blog/vlog: to show my gap year. But everyone’s experiences and reasons are different, so please don’t think of my year as “the” gap year. Instead, find and plan your own! So, who should take a gap year? 

The most common reason to take a gap year is if you aren’t satisfied with your university applications or final exams, which is also the “norm” in China. However, after talking to some university friends and watching some gap year vlogs, I realized that that’s not the case for those abroad, who mainly gap to travel, intern, or work. For me it’s a combination of the latter, reconnecting with myself (mind, body, and soul), and wanting to spending more time with family. 

If you’re interested in my journey, you can check out my social media accounts. I’ll also be starting a blog and vlog! Search for “Helenaslpom” to find all my social media accounts and blogs.

This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Teen Takeover issue

If there is one thing families in Beijing never cease to talk about, it is choosing the right universities and colleges for students. 

In the SAT prep classes, the parent rendezvous, and the graduation ceremonies, you can hear two polarizing views on higher education. Some think “big name” universities are the only means to gain an advantage in any career. Others find it useless beyond their first job after graduation. Once a student becomes a worker, no employer gives university titles a second glance. 

Nevertheless, both views have one thing in common: The university experience itself is important. It can be life-changing, bland, miserable, or magical. The question really is, how should students choose universities? 

Five high schoolers share their own university selection experience: From the midnight essays, the draining extracurriculars, the coffee-scented interviews… they have been through it all. 

Helena Zhao is a recent graduate from the Dulwich International School Beijing (DCB). Despite her Canadian nationality, she applied to universities in the UK and US. Eventually, England won over her heart. Her two dream schools, Oxford and University College London (UCL) are in London (obviously), a city Helena described to be a “melting pop of cultures and opportunities” with everything “at your fingertips”.  

Oxford and UCL have a traditional focus on liberal arts, which flatters Helena’s major of interest: philosophy. They also offer “tutorials”, which is a small circle of students led by a tutor to build individualized education. Moreover, Oxford has a “collegiate system” that locates students into smaller colleges, so they can connect easily with other likeminded classmates. Such luxuries are expected from one of the top tier institutions in the world, but ranking was not why Helena chose her schools. It was because she could “picture” herself “studying there for the next three years”. 

Pro Tip: Research, research, and research! Helena urges everyone to attend virtual college fairs, tours, and panels. This way. students can follow their own “mind, heart, and soul”. The worst thing is succumbing to peer, parental, or societal pressure. Applicants are choosing their own lives, and therefore they know best.

Qinglan Du, a recent graduate from Beijing City International School (BCIS) is also headed to England. At four years old she had loved Cambridge because of its beautiful autumn leaves. Now at 18, she still loves Cambridge, but this time because of its excellent law program. 

According to Qinglan, Cambridge is one of the few schools that offer law as an undergraduate program. If she chose a university in America, she would have to “choose an alternative major similar to law” before studying law in graduate school. 

Pro Tip: Have a “there’s no harm in trying” mindset in applications. Safety schools should be taken seriously because it is important to “prepare for the worst”. Dream schools also need variety and diversity because one can have many dreams! In total, ten to fifteen schools is a good number.

Chris Lu is a junior at Bates College in Maine, Massachusetts. He also graduated from BCIS, with an interest in history, education, and Japanese. These majors did not remind anyone of any career field, so Chris chose to go to a liberal arts college. Unlike most universities, liberal art colleges focus on undergraduate instead of graduate school. This is for curious and clever souls who need more time to decide on a career path. 

Bates College is a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference, which is the Ivy League equivalent for liberal arts colleges. With a “less than 2,000 population”, the bond between students and professors is close, just like a precious family. This was exactly what Chris wanted, and worked hard to get. 

He began to research since the end of grade 10 and finished TOEFL and SAT in grade 11. That is his first piece of advice: Plan early. Secondly, focus on GPA instead of standardized tests. “GPA is much more important than SATs”, Chris remarked, and this is especially true for IB students. Admission officers “love how difficult DP is, but not how watered-down SATs are”. 

Finally, there is Linda Huang, another recent graduate from BCIS. Many would know her as a recurring Jingkids intern, and now she is setting off to Tufts University in Boston. Linda sees Boston as the perfect balance of urban life and rural quietude. Some of her family and friends already settled there, making it a safe environment for the 18-year-old who’s no longer a child but not yet an adult. 

Linda is also a politics and international relations major. She chose Tufts because of its civic engagement and social justice groups. Students there are “open-minded, globally engaged, and passionate about things beyond personal wellbeing”. Building powerful social connections and meaningful friendships will not be a problem for Linda. 

Pro Tip: Do not rely 100% on agencies. Many Chinese families use “agencies” to apply for colleges, hence the term “manufacturing kids”. Agencies run a highly capitalized market, cashing in on worried parents and ambitious students. They write essays, personal statements, and resumés for anyone who pays, and also help with prep, choosing extracurriculars, subjects, and career consulting.

Images: Courtesy of students, Pexels

This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Teen Takeover issue

How should I spend my time after finishing high-school? Should I apply for college straight away? Or should I rather take a break from the education system to do something entirely different – a gap year?

A lot of students are asking themselves these questions, and you will be surprised how many don’t know – even if they are already going to graduate next year – what exactly they want to do after school. In order to offer you some help with your decision, here are the sometimes vague and sometimes more concrete plans of thirteen international students here in Beijing that might inspire you:

After graduating, I want to stay here in China for one year and learn Chinese. Then I will probably go to university.

(Alicia Schwarz, 17)

My plan is to visit an acting school in New York for one year. Or maybe, I will go to Spain and learn Spanish.

(Ayisha Wangsun, 17)

I plan on studying Arts or Design directly after my graduation. Therefore, I will probably go to Germany or somewhere else in Europe.

(Chantal Adam, 17)

My parents want me to travel around here in China for one year, so that I can improve my Chinese skills. But after that, I have no idea what I want to do yet.

(Justus Boewer, 17)

For half a year, I will participate in a cultural exchange and help building a village in Africa. After that, for the second half of the year, I want to work as a lifeguard in Germany. If everything works out like that, I will be a happy man.

(Lorenz Hoffmann, 17)

I already know what I will do after graduating: I will study Chinese at a Beijing University.

(Luna Jursch, 19)

I will probably travel around in Europe or the USA. While I am doing that, I will have enough time to think about where and what I want to study afterwards.

(Maxi Ulrich, 16)

I’m not exactly sure what to do directly after graduating, but I want to study Physics.

(Paul Hilgers, 16)

After the Covid pandemic, I really want to travel around. If possible, I would like to combine that with studying Chinese. I see university quite relaxed, because I already roughly know which subjects I want to study and finding that out is the hardest part, in my opinion.

(Ben Aurel Gstattenbauer, 17)

I have already applied for three university’s courses in International Business, but only because my older brother did the same. Work and Travel is also an opportunity that I have considered if I don’t get accepted by these universities.

(Lena Jahn, 16)

After graduation, I will travel around Europe or the United States. I am planning to study Politics in Paris at SciencesPo subsequently and hoping to get a degree in International Governance and Politics, because later, I want to attain a job in the German Federal Foreign Office.

(Gianluca Kropf, 17)

I will go to college straight away after school or do something called “prépa” in France. The “prépa” – two years before college – enables you to get access to very good universities in France.

(Emma Sortais, 15) 

I plan on taking a gap year before going to college. I will play volleyball for the entire gap year.

(Dino Liu, 16)

Out of the twenty-five people asked about their plans after finishing high-school for this article, fourteen are already relatively sure about what to do after graduating, while eleven of them still don’t have a concrete plan and only tend in a certain direction or are torn over two or more options.

But only nine of the twenty-five students want to go to college directly after graduation. The other sixteen all prefer a gap year instead – some of them simply want to travel around, others want to learn languages or engage in social projects.

So, as you see, there are tons of possibilities to spend your time after finishing high-school. The difficulty is, of course, to choose the right option that suits you best. But oftentimes, the decision comes naturally: Since twelve or thirteen years of schooling are quite a lot, many students are ready to take a break before diving into the world of education again, but if school is something you enjoy, then continuing to study at the university directly after school might be the right thing for you.

Images: Unsplash