Sissi Wang,
A-level program graduate,
Class of 2023.
Planning to attend the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Article by: Sissi Wang
Edited by: Lu
Translated by: Naisi
Unlike many others, I finally chose the international course because of the much "hated" online classes.
I was still in the last year of middle school when online classes began. The online teaching method did not make me feel annoyed, but rather, being able to learn from home helped me rediscover the long-lost joy of being able to manage my time.
For this reason, after the middle school examination, my mother proposed, and our family decided together, that I should attend a high school that allows for more flexible time management.
When I first enrolled, the A-level program at Farragut was still located in the former residence of Na Tong. In the campus, as tranquil and beautiful as a painting, you could often hear the sound of hearty laughter and the cheering from basketball games. This made my mother and me fall in love with the place during our first visit.
Then, my father chose to visit the school on an open day, meeting and asking teachers like Cathy, Andy, and Ms. Li Jie about many questions related to school life. The first thing he said when he came home was praise for the teachers, expressing his trust in them.
The professional, serious, and humble faculty, the beautiful campus environment, and the decade-long experience in program operation all helped my family and me make the quick decision to complete my three years of high school here.
Every class here is very interesting, be it mathematics, physics, chemistry, economics, biology, history, English...
The classroom atmosphere here is not about anxiety and grades comparison, but about a relaxed and harmonious environment and equal discussions with the teachers. Each teacher is not only knowledgeable but also has an interesting soul, inspiring us with their wisdom and actions. What the teachers give us is not only the knowledge from textbooks but also wisdom beyond them.
Last winter, a loved one left me. For the first time, I felt so lost and helpless, even full of fear of death. I tried to erase the grief and fear by reading, running, meditating... But none of these helped until I attended Mr. Harvey's astronomy class.
In Mr. Harvey's physics class
Mr. Harvey is our physics teacher, and from the first class, I was amazed at how intriguing physics could be.
In that memorable astronomy class, we discussed the formation of the universe and the Big Bang theory. I still remember what Mr. Harvey said in class—
"From the formation of stars in our solar system to every organism on Earth, they are all essentially the accidental combination of elements scattered throughout the universe during the Big Bang. Thinking about it, the occurrence of life is such a low-probability event, while death seems like a return to the normal state of disorder from a random event."
This statement gave me a tremendous shock. It helped me to re-examine the meaning of life from a scientific and broader perspective, let me understand the impermanence and insignificance of life, and helped me overcome my grief and fear.
Respecting my family's education
As mentioned earlier, after the middle school exam, my mother asked me whether I would like to attend an international school. In fact, they are very understanding and open-minded, not just in this matter. I must admit: I have enviable parents.
Their education for me is quite unique: in practice, starting from elementary school, they never pressured me about grades, they were against staying up late, they never forced me to attend extra-curricular tutoring classes I didn't like, and they supported me in having my own hobbies, doing things I love, reading books I enjoy, etc. In terms of mindset, they supported me in holding my own opinions, even those that were not mainstream.
I still remember the second half of my AS year. Because I was preparing for the subjects required to apply for a history major at university, I was under a lot of stress. I often had to complete four to five 800-word essays a week, so I frequently stayed up late. Fortunately, I was taking online classes at home at that time, which allowed me the chance to confide in my mom at any time and even vent my frustration and cry when I couldn't see results despite working hard.
I believe that if it wasn't for their consistent listening and support, I may have given up my favorite major during the toughest time of my AS preparation.
In these three years, my child has gained a lot. From our perspective, the most precious gain is happiness and inclusivity. She received happiness and learned to bring happiness to others; she received tolerance and learned to tolerate others.
——Sissi's parents
Choosing Because of Passion
Unlike many people, the major I chose for university is history, and I am fortunate enough to have received an admission offer from my desired university, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Although history is not as popular as economics or business among Chinese students, I am very glad that I listened to my heart.
The idea of choosing history as my major in university can be said to stem from my interest in Chinese historical stories and dramas. My two years of
A-Level history studies in high school deepened my understanding of the subject and made me believe that I was suited to it.
In high school, I completed two professional essays: one was an EPQ essay on the imperial examination system and the psychology of ancient examinees, and the other was on the impact of the 1857 Dred Scott verdict by the U.S. Supreme Court on the American Civil War.
Writing essays is not a pleasant process, but when I see the finished product and have the chance to delve into the long history of China and the world during the process of searching for materials, it allows me to deepen my understanding of history, transitioning from a vague interest to a clear, rational understanding. I am grateful that the tedious process did not diminish my interest in the history major, but instead made me realize that studying history is not just about storytelling. It's about immersing oneself in historical context and conducting in-depth analyses of the subjects within that context.
Through these two challenging essays, I learned to abandon preconceptions in studying history, to avoid rushing to conclusions, and to weigh the pros and cons of an event from the perspective of each member of society. I once worried that studying the humanities would make me subjective, but my two years of history study proved the objectivity of the discipline to me and strengthened my resolve to choose it.
Three years of life at Farragut, at times, felt like a long journey: especially after experiencing some changes in life and the pain of writing essays, among other things. I thought the pain would freeze time, or even magnify and prolong it indefinitely.
But fortunately, behind each difficulty, there was happiness: kind teachers who helped me overcome difficulties, friendly classmates with whom I played in the courtyard. When this happened, I felt time was really short, so short that I didn't even have time to properly say goodbye or bid farewell.
Three years have passed,
and I have never doubted my choice,
because my trust in Farragut is 100%!
In the days leading up to graduation,
I wish my teachers and classmates,
that we will meet again at the peak after years have passed!
