Driving through Providence, Rhode Island, I marveled at the age-old red buildings and quiet streets half-shaded by trees. Downtown, college students dressed in casual fashion loitered around coffee shops and restaurants that served acai bowls, smoothies, sushi, Italian gourmet, and Chinese tea. It was a refreshing place for a refreshing university – Brown University.

Often cited as the most quirky, liberal, and humble Ivy League University, Brown is stereotypically a school for writers, thinkers, and artists despite its arguably strong STEM, medicine, laws, and finance majors. What really makes Brown unique, however, is its open curriculum and A to C grading system. Open curriculum is practiced entirely or partially by several other liberal arts colleges and universities, such as Amherst College, Hamilton College, and Tufts University, but Brown is the only ivy league university that does it completely.

Open curriculum is when students aren’t required to fulfill certain class distributions such as math, social science, natural science, and language. In simpler words, you can only take classes you like and drop any you hate. People in your class actually want to be there and so do the professors. Brown’s grading system is also conducive to collaboration and frowns upon unhealthy competition. Students are never graded on a curve, and there is no such thing as an A+ or A-, only A, B, and C. Suddenly the weight of grading perfection is lifted off of an ivy league student’s shoulders.

Brown has around 6,000 undergraduate students and 2,000 graduate students, so professors are more than happy to offer undergraduates research opportunities. All it takes is an email and a resumé.

Professors are also required to teach at least one undergraduate class – 96-98% of classes are taught by professors. My tour guide said he had only taken one class taught by a PhD student, and somehow that was the best class he ever took. His rationale was that PhD students were once undergraduates themselves, so they have an insider’s scoop on getting good grades, breaking down course concepts, and stepping over plotted test bombs. The student-to-faculty ratio at Brown is 1:6. Larger introduction courses have around 300-400 students, mid-sized classes have around 60 students, and 69% of classes have fewer than 20 students.

Brown’s campus is also interesting. It is old, mysterious, and beautiful, but strangely welcoming. Large green quads span between buildings, especially the “main green” and “lower green”. Within the student center are huge organs and professional organists. The organ concerts are so popular students line up for miles around campus. Outside of Brown’s main gates is the “college road”, which runs straight to Providence downtown. If the weather is nice, street-side restaurants will fill the pedestrian road with woven chairs, tables, and echoing laughter. The dining halls and campus cafés are just as sweet. Apparently, Brown’s café muffins are infamously good. The food is diverse, with daily classic Italian, American, and some options Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese. Prioritizing first-year bonding, all of Brown’s freshmen live in one residential hall. Although housing is guaranteed for all four years, 80% of seniors prefer to live off of campus in apartments.

Brown’s fun facts:

• Brown has many superstitions; students believe in them, commit to them, and are very specific about them. For example, the main gate has two side gates for passing. Students can only go through the main gates twice, once as a freshman and once as a senior graduate, otherwise, they won’t graduate. The band, performing for each tide of incoming freshmen and outcoming seniors, must enter the Main Gates four times throughout their time at Brown. To bypass the superstition, they try to go through the gate by skipping on one foot, crawling, climbing, or even, getting carried by someone else.
• Brown has an old bell. It strikes on two equally unlikely situations. One, if a world war ended. Trust me, it actually struck in 1945. Two, if Brown wins a football game. Trust me, that never happened.
• Brown’s Rockafella building is a special library with very old books and interesting heritage. For example, there is a collection of a dozen candy soldiers. There are also ancient manuscripts about human anatomy bound by human skin.
• Brown’s science library is considered the ugliest building on campus. While every other erection is distinctly European, this gigantic monster fits into campus as nicely as Jay Gatsby’s gothic monstrosity in a collection of tasteful colonial and Georgian mansions. However, one of the greatest professors, for whom the character Allen in Toy Story is named, resides there for teaching and conducting research. There are shower stalls built for him. Rumors go that a Chinese restaurant is built for him too. Because of this, students ignore the science library’s brutalist style and created an Instagram account – “sexyscili”- to appreciate some of the building’s most aesthetic photographs.
• Unlike some Ivy League schools, Brown actually has early decision.
• Brown is the perfect mixture of discipline/hard work and creativity and artistry. It’s like an aristocratic, honorable artist who devotes his life to beauty.
• Brown’s students are very inclusive and at times, progressive. Anyone can feel at home here.
• Brown has 15% of international students.

Images: Helen Wang

Hot times are ahead of Beijing this time of year, and with the heat comes a wave of fun frozen refreshments to look forward to.

When looking for these frozen treats, you will likely go to a simple convenience store. Luckily, there is plenty of those stores around, one of the more well-known being 7-Eleven! Thus, this article will be reviewing the top 5 ice creams from your local 7-Eleven which you should get and enjoy with your family and friends!

#5 – 葡萄冰 (Grape Ice)

Counting down from #5, we have “Grape Ice”. With an amusing slight mistranslation, ice grapes are not exactly what you think they are. Barely making number five, just beating an anonymous ice cream, ice grapes are grape juice but frozen in spheres. A bag has about eight of these frozen grape juice spheres, making it good for sharing with your friends. The only downside is that consumption is hard as eating it all at once will be uncomfortable due to the cold, and holding the frozen grape juice will make your fingers cold and sticky! It’s not recommended to be added as ice cubes in actual grape juice, as it turns out that all the juice of the Grape Ice will just concentrate at the bottom. It costs ￥12.90 per bag!

#4 – 梦龙 (Magnum)

Magnum, the classic nut flavor ice cream has perfected the art of soft creamy texture and a crunchy chocolate which accents the ice cream. With the additional nuts, it provides extra crunch and taste. It is usually a decent pick, if not anything else. It costs ￥10.00 per magnum!

#3 – Dove 冰淇淋 (Dove Ice cream)

Dove, better known for their chocolate bars, has certainly used its chocolate production to its advantage in the creation of this ice cream. The main part being creamy chocolate that’s coated in another layer of additional chocolate. It gets soft fast, but it makes the texture of the ice cream more enjoyable. It costs ￥14.90 per Dove ice cream!

#2 – 宝可梦精灵球款雪糕 – 草莓牛乳巧克力口味
(Pokemon ball ice cream – Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate flavored)

The Pokemon ball ice cream made by the company named 和路雪 (Helulei) is surprisingly good, with no disturbance in the design and a good mix of flavors. Although the strawberry flavor dominates over the vanilla and chocolate flavor, it is very enjoyable and tasty, and will certainly be a favorite among children considering their standards. It costs ￥17.80 per Pokemon Ball ice cream!

#1 – 鲷鱼烧冰淇淋 (Taiyaki ice cream)

Taiyaki ice cream is based on the actual taiyaki which is a Japanese-style waffle made with a fish-shaped mold, typically filled with a sweet bean paste. Taiyaki ice cream made by Appolo (阿波罗) has taken inspiration and made it better when converting it into ice cream. It is delicious, tasty, filled with smooth blended Oreo ice cream layered with chocolate and Oreo (cooked) dough and the waffle on top. If you enjoy ice cream sandwiches, and hate getting messy from melted ice cream, this is the number one pick for you, as it tastes great and it is difficult to get messy when the melted ice cream is contained within the waffle mold of the fish. It costs ￥10.00 per Taiyaki ice cream!

Images: Lumi A

I enjoyed speaking with Lumi A, a gifted and imaginative youngster who loves science fiction, drawing, and the arts. Lumi has interests outside of the physical world as well. She enjoys designing, sculpting, and animating 3D models. She enjoys playing video games, and she especially enjoys Splatoon 3.

Lumi’s passion for concept art was sparked while she was in the 10th grade and working on her personal project. Her dream is to one day become a concept artist for the video gaming industry. She also enjoys modeling and sculpting, both of which she finds to be incredibly fulfilling. Lumi, who has resided in Beijing for over five years, is presently an intern at Jingkids. She is motivated to share the creative and vibrant world she observes around her in Beijing with others. Because of her infectious enthusiasm and passion for all things creative, she is a valuable asset to the artistic community. She enjoys the musical genres of electro, dubstep, and breakcore.

Lumi is a young woman with a promising future. She is talented and motivated. She is a formidable force in the creative industry thanks to her love of digital design and animation and her passion for science fiction, drawing, and art.

Image: Lumi A

Kristina K is a 16 year old high school student who attends the Western Academy of Beijing. Born in Croatia, she has lived in a great number of countries including Japan (though she doesn’t remember much from this early period in her life, as she moved away from Japan at the age of three), Hungary (where she traumatically got stung by a bee), Sweden, and now China. Her lifestyle has strengthened her relationship with her home country, Croatia, and pushed her to become an open-minded and international person.

She’s passionate about film, social studies, social justice, and music.

Growing up, Kristina’s family was heavily invested in watching movies. Ritualistic Friday movie nights helped her develop a deep appreciation for the art of filmmaking. The personal project is a year long self-directed school project that’s submitted and reviewed by the International Baccalaureate system.

For her Personal Project, Kristina created two short films and wrote four scripts. The collaborative student film that she wrote the script for ‘The Girl and the Plant’ was nominated for Best Picture at the Identity Film Festival. Furthermore, she joined an intensive four week film class hosted by the NY Film Academy during the summer which she describes as challenging, but enjoyable. She’s fiercely dedicated to her craft and entertains the possibility of entering the film industry in the future.

In her free time, Kristina listens to country, rock, folk, and pop music. She also enjoys good instrumental music, and music that she can play (on her guitar) or sing to. She revealed that she selects music based on her mood, rather than the genre. Recently, she founded a student band called Rooftop Odyssey which played at Rock in the Park, and at a private graduation celebration for grade 10 students from WAB.

Kristina is diligent, multi-talented and well-informed. She hopes to work on her journalistic skills and work ethic during her internship here.

Images: Kristina K

Hana L is one of Jingkids’ newest interns. Arriving in Beijing four years ago currently in grade 10 and humbly living her life full of friends and opportunities. She is akin to other teenage girls who believe themselves to be boring people, but trust me she is anything but. Speaking all three languages including Korean, Chinese, and English. Originally from Korea and living there for a short period of time, she has found new changes that come with living in Beijing in comparison to living in Korea.

One thing she pointed out was the different costs of public transportation. It being more expensive in Korea she has allowed herself to indulge in little luxuries. Rather than taking the bus or the subway, she has found a solid group in taking Didis, finding her life to be easier. She has also found social achievements during her time at school.

Being best friends with a grade 10 girl named Serah and finding friends with people from other social cliques. When at school you see her walking around always chatting to someone new, never putting a stop to her antics.

She says, “going to an international school there’s more people to learn about.” Finding pleasure in learning about the different cultures she comes in contact with within school. Learning how people behave and why they do so, and about people’s life in general. Her time here at her school has opened opportunities for her to indulge herself in different aspects of different cultures.

She has spent her time going to different museums and taking in the art around her. When asked what a favorite memory of her she went on to talk about the time she and her family went to the Beijing Capital Museum.

She hopes to come out of this internship with developed skills in teamwork and organization. She is learning how to cooperate with different people and how to plan and schedule her life according to a realistic timeline.

For the future, she plans to go to university in Korea in the department of Chinese language. Building up her resume and personal strength to get to where she wants to go.

Images: Hana

You’ve been asking us for weeks, and we’re excited to announce that we are now ready to start accepting applications for this year’s jingkids International Summer Internship!

We’re calling all aspiring writers to work with us this summer to learn the ins and outs of the media industry and have their work published in this year’s jingkids Teen Takeover issue.

Whether you’re looking to break into the media industry, build up your writing portfolio, land an excellent professional recommendation for that college application, become more integrated into the community, or simply something meaningful to do this summer, this internship with Beijing’s top family magazine will offer you just that. It will be demanding and rewarding in equal measure.

We are looking for teens to write for both our website, WeChat account, and magazine while making valuable contributions to the day-to-day running of jingkids. This is an internship where you’ll be treated as an equal member of our team.

You will:
– Pitch, research, and write articles for the magazine
– Blog regularly for the jingkids website and WeChat account
– Receive training on interview techniques, editing, and essential aspects of journalism
– Help plan and execute events for our community
– Interact with professionals in marketing, sales, finance, design, and editorial

You should be:
– A fluent English speaker with strong writing and editing skills
– Web-savvy and fluent in social media
– Self-motivated and enthusiastic, and keen to build community connections
– Able to manage your own time well and be a dependable member of the team

You do not need to be:
– Fluent in Chinese, though it will certainly help
– Good at making tea/coffee (except for fixing your own!)

You will walk away with:
– Professional media experience
– A collection of published works (both online and in print)
– A professional recommendation letter for your college application
– New friendships and a deeper understanding of Beijing

This year’s summer internship will take place online and offline:
 Covid restrictions have lifted and we can finally travel again, so we’re not under any assumption that Beijing’s go-getter teens are planning on spending the summer lounging around Beijing. We know you’ve got places to see and college tours to go on, so we’re creating an internship that fits your needs.

You’ll be starting your internship in our office from June 26 to 30. During these days you’ll be meeting the team and receiving your orientation, as well as training on news values, how to write an attention-grabbing headline, and the basics of media law. We’ll use these 5 days to get you fully accustomed to how we run things at jingkids, then you’ll get to continue the rest of your internship with us online.

For the month of July, you’ll be working remotely on daily articles as well as your print publication articles. All of our daily meetings, story pitches, writing, and feedback will be conducted online. Remember those great online learning days? Yeah, it’ll be similar to that… but with the fun-loving team at jingkids!

To apply, send your CV with at least two writing samples to minayan@beijing-kids.com or Wilhelmina87 on WeChat by Jun 30. We can’t wait to work on this issue with you!

FAQ:
Is there a minimum age requirement?
Yes. You’ll need to be at least 15 years old to apply.

Can I attend the entire internship remotely?
No. While the majority of the internship will be conducted online, you must be present in person for the initial week of training from June 26 to 30.

What are the standards of behavior?
We need to clarify that signing up doesn’t automatically guarantee a spot for you to intern with us. As with any actual job opportunity, you’ll be interviewed being selected to join this year’s summer internship. jingkids supports creativity, differences of opinion, and respects each person’s individuality. It’s a free and safe space for anyone to pitch their ideas. That said, we will not tolerate poor behavior among our interns. Any bullying, excessive cursing, fighting, lying, etc. will be dealt with by the company’s HR team and may result in early termination from the internship.

Images: Uni You, Pexels

Unless you have been living under a rock, you’re probably aware of the recent efforts of countries and organizations to change the state of environmental issues.

If you look at the 17 Sustainable Development Goals advocated by the United Nations, it can be argued that half of the 17 goals are, in some way, associated with environmental issues. Phrases such as regulating emissions and renewable energy probably jump out to you instantly. These phrases are used so often that they have become some of the clichés of the 21st century – in a good way of course. Often the solution to tackling climate change that gets the most publicity is using electric vehicles (or other vehicles utilizing renewable energy) and taking more public transportation. While it’s important to look at climate change on a macro scale, it’s also crucial to remember that micro actions yield macro results.

When someone says the word “recycling,” the first things that probably come to mind are plastic bottles and cardboard boxes. You are right to think this. Plastic, cardboard, and paper are some of the most used and recycled materials. If you look at paper alone, 66 percent of the paper generated in 2017 was recycled. Plastic, on the other hand, is an odd one. Unlike cardboard and paper, plastic is a synthetic material, and all plastics have a different compound structure, which means they require different recycling processes.

The plastic used to make plastic bottles is recyclable, but what about polystyrene, which is used to make Styrofoam boxes?

Though the valiant effort of all countries and organizations to impose regulations and advocate for recycling is to be commended, something seems to be left out. If you or your family have ever had some delicious and fresh fish delivered to your door, you have probably noticed the lightweight white containers used. These are most probably Styrofoam boxes. They are light, cheap, and they do a great job maintaining the internal temperature to keep the food inside fresh.

During the Covid lockdowns in Beijing last year, many people purchased food online, which generated a lot of wasted Styrofoam boxes. As delivery businesses are advancing by leaps and bounds, Styrofoam products are dumped all over the globe. Unlike paper, which biodegrades completely in less than five months, or tin cans in less than 100 years, Styrofoam lasts 500 years physically, but chemically it lasts forever.

So, can Styrofoam be recycled? The answer is yes and no.

The reason plastic bottles are recycled all the time isn’t just because of what is scientifically true about the material, but it is also because of the fact that there is a market for it. People use countless plastic bottles every day, and of course there will be demands for technologies to make recycling bottles more effective.

You may argue that we produce and use countless Styrofoam objects too, so there must be a market for it. The problem with Styrofoam recycling is its “yield” and the profits involved. Styrofoam’s advantage of being lightweight is negative in terms of recycling because the material is 90 percent air. When it’s compressed and broken into smaller pieces, it is very inefficient to do so. Additionally, unlike cardboard boxes that can be folded, Styrofoam boxes are bulky and strong. They take up too much space to transport, and subsequently this becomes a reason for them not being recycled.

I recently interviewed two “waste dealers” close to my residential area to understand more about why recycling middlemen who buy recyclables and sell them to the recycling station don’t even consider this “untouched money-making method.” Both dealers claim that transporting and dealing with Styrofoam is just unprofitable. A mid-sized truck can carry at most 200-300 kilograms of Styrofoam, and the profit is not comparable to the profit from cardboard and plastic bottles. This has resulted in kilotons of Styrofoam being littered around and dumped into landfills. Based on statistics, 30 percent of the current waste in landfills around the globe is Styrofoam!

However, it is impossible to provide any unrealistic solutions to this problem, such as completely abandoning the use of Styrofoam. Reducing the use of the material is currently the most realistic solution. Delivery companies can choose cold boxes that can be dropped off and reused instead of Styrofoam boxes.

Locally, restaurants can choose biodegradable paper plates and utensils, or, even better, reusable ones, instead of Styrofoam ones that can pose health issues. Even though reducing the usage is the better solution currently, recycling Styrofoam is not a complete fairytale. With efforts from all sides, reusing Styrofoam is possible and it can also be transformed into other goods. You can do your part as well, by suppressing your craving to tear open the Styrofoam box and keeping it intact for the deliveryman to pick up and reuse.

About the author:
My name is Ethan Hu, I am an eighth-grader at BWYA (Beijing World Youth Academy). I enjoy playing soccer and clarinet. I am very passionate about learning more about our environment. I attend a club at school called Waste Magician, in which we made a composite from the leftovers from the dining hall.

Images: Ethan Hu, Pexels

Living and studying in Beijing, as a teenager, it can be hard to let your everyday life go when it is gets time to leave. You get used to the environment, your social circle and your habits. Even the cultural part inevitably sticks to you. You get close to people and they become a big part of your life. So it can be a substantial change not only for you, but for them as well. 

This year, a lot of my friends are leaving Beijing forever. Some are still staying in China and are just changing cities, but some are going back to their home countries. 

It can be scary to lose in-person contact with people you once were close with. It was a big hit to find out that my friends will not be by my side in the future. I knew them for too long to let them go without sadness.

Change can be scary, but it is part of our lives. We all go through them differently and cope with them in our own ways. To understand these feelings better, I interviewed a few students going through this process and as well a professional psychologist to help you understand that you are not alone!

Shanalee Diop

(Grade 11 student from the French International School of Beijing)

How do you think this change will affect you?

I already knew that my friends were leaving Beijing, but it was still incredibly sad, thinking of having a life without them. But I was still happy for them.

You grow from the sadness, and as a result become more mature; first comes pain, then the gains. It can be tough to go back to being on your own – it is as if you are thrown in the forest, and you must survive all by yourself. 

Losing someone is hard, really hard, but you’ll get stronger as you grow. Instead of looking at the staircase, just take one step at a time. Don’t concentrate on missing them but continue enjoying your life. You may still see them again in future. In the meantime, you can still stay in contact! 

Louise Henriquet 

(Grade 11 student from French International School of Beijing who will for France to attend Ermitage International School)

What are your ways of coping with leaving?

Instead of feeling sad, think of it as a new beginning, like starting a new life, while still remembering the old life. I was born in Beijing, so I have been here all my life. Now I’m going to France near Paris to a boarding school. You should think of it as a twice the experience, in addition to your current life, now you also have a new life in France. So, think of it not as a loss but a gain. 

It is pretty easy to stay in contact with everyone since we all have social media, so finding people online is easy. You can always talk with everyone. A genuinely strong relationship can survive all the kilometres, and I believe that people with whom you lose touch are the relationships that are just not meant to be.

Even though I am afraid of adapting to the new school, and making new friends, I am excited to discover a new city and a new way of living.

I always try to think about the positive aspects, and focus on the new opportunities I will have. It also helps to keep in mind the reason why I am leaving, so I am mentally prepared. 

Yolanda Zhou 

(Former Tsinghua University High School International student who’s currently a grade 11 student at St. Mark’s school, Southborough MA)

What kind of advice can you give people who are also leaving their old life?

Do not get stuck in the past but think about the opportunities that lie ahead of you. Try to make friends and step out of your comfort zone as well. 

At first, I was really nervous to adapt to a completely different culture. I also had a fear of not being able to fit in or make new friends. But at the same time, I was excited to meet new people, teachers, and peers. I really wanted to socialize with everyone after an entire year of online leaning.

Also, I called my parents almost every day for the first few months after I left Beijing, so I guess staying connected to family is important. I think that communicating with your parents can help. It worked for me, and it keeps you from getting too homesick.

What does a professional have to say about this subject? Rachel George is a therapist and life coach who’s currently working at Western Academy of Beijing as a school counselor. 

According to Rachel, change is difficult even when there is excitement behind it. Especially when it comes to watching our friends come and go, or when it is time for us to be the ones leaving. It’s important to remember that transitioning is a process.

It’s completely normal to have an array of feelings. Excitement and frustration. Sadness and disappointment. You may even find yourself arguing with a friend that’s leaving or becoming frustrated. That’s all normal! When our friends move it feels like an ending of sorts and sometimes, we experience our emotions in a cycle. We can be in denial, thinking the move will not happen or we try not to think about it. We can be angry and frustrated. We can definitely feel sad and upset.

When transitioning to a new place Rachel suggests allowing yourself to feel your feelings. Oftentimes when our feelings are a little uncomfortable, we try to ignore them. However, we want to allow ourselves time to navigate through the process. If you’re feeling sad, allow yourself to feel that way. Angry? That’s ok too. When transitioning it’s also important to make sure you end well so you can begin well. Ensure you say goodbye to the people and even places that you held dear. This can be a face-to-face goodbye or virtually. You also want to make sure to make amends. Other words, say sorry. Try not to let your friends leave, or you leave, on a bad note. You want to make it nice with those you leave behind. Also, while you’re making memories be sure to talk about/create a plan for how you’ll remain connected. Maybe it’s a virtual hangout once a week, or a phone call every other week. Try to make a plan on how you’re going to stay connected.

This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Teen Takeover issue

Olivia Xiao is in grade 12 at the International School of Beijing (ISB). She is Chinese American and has been living in Beijing since 2013.

What will you miss the most about Beijing once you leave for college?

I’m definitely going to miss my family the most. Most of my extended family lives in Beijing, and we have family reunions and trips every year. I might not get the chance to visit often because of the pandemic and travel restrictions, so I’ll miss experiencing these traditions.

How do you de-stress when the school workload becomes heavy?  

I like listening to music when I work, which makes studying and writing assignments more fun. When I feel too overwhelmed, I will do other activities to take my mind off things (e.g., taking a walk, playing piano, etc.).

What advice do you have for underclassmen starting the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP)?

Make sure to pick classes on a topic that you genuinely enjoy (and plan to pursue in college, if you have a general idea), especially for your higher levels. This way, you have a better chance of getting good grades, and being interested in your lessons also makes the work easier and even fun. It’s also a good idea to start creating study and organization habits before you start IB. This way, you can balance your extracurriculars and classes more effectively without spending extra time figuring it out.

How will your parents react if they find out you’re dating someone?

My parents would probably be cool with it because they know I know how to prioritize my time. But they would also remind me that education is the number one most important thing right now!

To what extent do you think fixed plans work out? Do you have a fixed plan for yourself?

Though I have goals for further studies and future jobs, I do not have a fixed plan. I still have a lot of growing and maturing to do, and I will be figuring things out along the way. Fixed plans can work out if you keep working towards them but can also be limiting in certain ways. I would like more freedom when it comes to doing something I will spend the rest of my life on. Having a goal in mind is good, but you should also consider other opportunities if they show up or interests as you develop them.

What do you think is the ideal profession for a happy life?

An ideal profession for a happy life is something you enjoy but also gives you a steady income. Of course, this will vary from person to person as everyone has different passions and interests in life. This “perfect job” can be challenging to find, but there are more factors to a happy life than just your profession.

Kannika Mehrotra is currently a rising senior at International School of Beijing (ISB). She’s originally from India and has been living in Beijing for the past 1.5 years. 

What will you miss the most about Beijing once you leave for college?

After I leave for college, I will miss staying with my family, the home-cooked meals, the constant fights with my twin, the dinner table gossip, and most importantly, I will miss irritating my family!

How do you de-stress when the school workload becomes heavy?  

When the school workload is too much, I always prefer talking to my friends and family. Interacting with my friends and family is always fun because they motivate me and push me forward to get done with the work. Sometimes I feel bad for my family because I make them listen to all the trivial problems in my life.

What advice do you have for underclassmen starting IBDP?

My advice for an underclassman would be to stop overestimating themselves by the grades that they are getting right now because IB is a different adventure altogether. Please don’t choose courses based on the subjects you score the highest; instead, choose subjects you’re genuinely interested in studying. For example, if you might be getting a perfect score in science, but that’s not something you enjoy, then my advice is to avoid pursuing science. Another recommendation would be to stay flexible with your choices, a lot of times, you don’t know what you’re getting into, and it’s alright to make changes, for example, you can try out the courses for one month to test if it suits your caliber. If you’re struggling in the first month, be ready to make changes; don’t be afraid to switch courses before it is too late.

How will your parents react if they find out you’re dating someone?

My parents will be in a state of shock if I directly go and tell them that I have a boyfriend. However, to an extent, I feel it will be easy for me to convince my mom, but my dad’s first reaction would be “disappointment,” especially if he finds out that I have a boyfriend before an established career. I am sure he will give me a long lecture about how I should focus more on my career rather than having a “distraction,” aka a boyfriend. But I think they will accept it with time if the boy is decent enough.

To what extent do you think fixed plans work out? Do you have a fixed plan for yourself?

Within the past year, one thing that I learned is that fixed plans do not always work out. Life is very unpredictable, and the best you can do is embrace the present and go with the flow. Growing up, I always had specific fixed plans about myself, but within the past year after moving to China, I realized everything is very spontaneous, and you meet different versions of yourself as time progresses. We sometimes arbitrarily contradict the plans and choose a different path altogether. I think one should have fixed short-term goals than fixed long-term plans because you never know what destiny has for you.

What do you think is the ideal profession for a happy life?

My definition of an ideal profession would be something that gives me satisfaction, something that I am genuinely passionate about and motivated enough to push myself for a new challenge. I think my ideal profession would be where I wake up in the morning every day with peace of mind and end my day without complaining about my work. I think it’s too idealistic to be realistic, but that’s how I view an ideal profession.

Images: Uni You

This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Teen Takeover issue