Olivia Liu,

Graduate of 2023, 

Admitted to McMaster University, Canada

Author: Olivia Liu

Translator: Naisi

My connection with Farragut began during my high school years.

In junior high school, thanks to relatives living in Canada, I had the opportunity to study there. However, an unexpected pandemic forced us to change our minds and return to our home country to find an international high school that suits me and could perfectly dovetail with overseas courses.

We turned our eyes back to my hometown: Tianjin. Although there are many international schools here, we finally chose Farragut because it is a school with strong comprehensive strength and good teaching quality. This is the beginning of my connection with Farragut.

Farragut has a strong faculty, many of whom have rich experience in international education.

Farragut offers a diverse range of courses and activities, which made us believe that it can help me realize my dreams and better demonstrate my abilities on the international stage in the future.

My first impression of Farragut was that the campus was very beautiful, the school was located in the city center, and it had a very vintage architectural style. At the same time, the school atmosphere is excellent: full of freedom, innovation, and diversity.

In this environment, I feel that I can have more freedom to try new things and pursue my dreams. This is also the part that I value most.

In terms of art, I love music very much. Music brings me a lot of joy and satisfaction, and it can also help me relieve the pressure of study and applications. During high school, I always adhered to this talent and was fortunate to join the school's music club. I found that the process of dealing with music made me more confident and played a positive role in university applications.

Academically, I have learned many new knowledge and skills. The teachers at the school are very professional and responsible. They not only focus on academic achievements, but also pay attention to cultivating our learning abilities and expertise, and provide us with many supports and guidance. With the help of the teachers, I have learned how to use time better, plan, improve thinking and innovation abilities, etc.

During my time at school, I participated in many school and off-campus activities and received some honors. I entered the student union of the school for two consecutive years, as a member of the cultural and sports department, I organized and participated in many activities.

In addition, because I am very interested in biology, under the guidance of the teacher, I participated in the HOSA competition and won the silver award in the North China region, and finally entered the global competition through the national competition. I also participated in the 21st Century Speech Contest and entered the finals.

I have made many good friends at school. We have spent our growing years together and experienced countless joys and sorrows. They accompanied me through this unforgettable youth.

Whether it's mutual assistance in classroom learning or courageous efforts on the playground, my friends and I have always supported each other and made progress together. Even though our future paths may diverge, we will continue to stay in touch, sharing our growth and experiences.

At the end of the term, our teachers held a surprise coming-of-age ceremony for our entire class. It was a precious memory left by the teachers for my classmates and me on the eve of graduation. We were all very reluctant to part with them.

I am very grateful to my homeroom and biochemistry teacher, Ms. Xie. She is a very responsible and attentive teacher, always keeping an eye on our well-being and academic performance, while encouraging us to actively participate in various activities to improve our comprehensive quality.

As a biochemistry teacher, she is very professional academically and is a responsible and dedicated teacher. Thanks to her, I developed an interest in biology. It was she who gave me the confidence to choose a biology major during university application.

Director Jiao has poured endless care and effort into our growth and development. She would use her rest time to carefully review our assignments, providing detailed guidance and suggestions to ensure everyone gets personalized academic support. She patiently listens to our questions and confusions and offers encouragement and support, fostering our ability to think independently.

We are all very grateful for Director Jiao's dedication and care; she made our school life more enriching and meaningful.

Not only these two teachers, but every teacher in the class is very responsible and attentive to every student.

I believe that with the help of these teachers, I was able to achieve good results in both learning and life. I express my heartfelt gratitude and respect for all the hard work of the teachers.

Looking back at the past three years, my heart is filled with endless emotion and deep reluctance to let go. This campus has witnessed my growth, effort, and struggle, giving us endless knowledge and wisdom.

I have a harmonious relationship with my family. This harmony not only provides me with stability and a sense of security but also gives me confidence in facing the challenges of life.

On the occasion of my 18th birthday, my parents held a coming-of-age ceremony for me. This small-scale family celebration symbolizes my official entry into adulthood, starting to pursue dreams and responsibilities.

The feeling of impending independence is both exciting and nerve-racking. Leaving my family and independently facing various challenges and decisions in life fills me with anticipation. Even though I am about to leave the familiar environment and the care of my parents, I believe that I can overcome any difficulty!

So far, I have received four admission letters, each representing the fruits of my efforts and the realization of my dreams.

During the application process, I also read each school's official website and recruitment materials, and participated in recruitment activities organized by the schools as much as possible. In the end, I decided to go to McMaster University to study biology.

For me, firstly, this university located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, is one of Canada's top universities. Secondly, it's a top choice for many local students who want to study biology in Canada. I look forward to the opportunity to receive a high-quality education in an innovative teaching environment and actively participate in academic research and practical projects.

To prepare for university, I have already actively established contact with some seniors. They have given me valuable advice and shared experiences, helping me to adapt to university life in advance.

I am full of anticipation and aspiration for the future. I hope to continue learning and growing during my university years, broadening my horizons and abilities, and pursuing my academic interests and passions.

Lastly, I want to thank my alma mater, teachers, and family for their support and education, as well as my classmates for their company. May my alma mater prosper even more in the future, nurturing more outstanding students!