新少年 · 毕业起航｜对话李子墨Maggie：牛津大学英语语言文学录取背后的成长之路

From the moment you meet Maggie, you feel her remarkable independence and sharp insight—qualities that far exceed her age.

A summer free from digital distractions sparked her love for literature. As the books on her shelf gradually dwindled, her inner world expanded, and her passion for the humanities took root. For Maggie, the liberal arts form a unique framework for understanding the world: history gives her a sense of the times; literature nurtures her sensitivity and depth of feeling; and debate hones her logic. Together, they became the foundation of her confidence—and the key to her acceptance into the world’s top-ranked English Language and Literature program at the University of Oxford.

This confidence comes not only from her extensive reading, but also from the freedom and inclusivity of Sendelta. Since joining in Grade 9, her love for literature has flourished in an environment that encourages curiosity and individuality. In this issue of Young Talk Vol.59, we invite you to step into Maggie’s inner world and explore her journey of growth through literature.

Part.1 About the Oxford application

Q：Why did you apply for this major at Oxford?

A：I chose English as my major because I pictured myself studying something for four years, and the only thing I felt I would truly enjoy is English. I enjoy reading, I enjoy writing, and I enjoy talking about literature. Ultimately, that led me to decide it was probably worth it if I tried for Oxford.

Q：Could you share the writing topic of the Oxford written test? What did you talk about with the professors during the interview? What was the atmosphere like?

A：English at Oxford is a little bit different from other majors in that we don’t have a test div. Instead, we turn in a writing sample. Mine was a piece of classwork under 2,000 words—around 800 words—on King Lear. It was something I did for  Literature class, a mock essay, and that’s what I submitted.

After that, we were either offered an interview or deferred. In my case, I got two interviews from my college.

I chose King Lear to exemplify an unreliable narrator. My essay focused on developing how King Lear’s perspective—even though he isn’t a traditional unreliable narrator, since he’s part of a play and not a first-person narrator—nevertheless guides his fate and thus guides the main themes and plot of the story.

During the interview, the professors asked a few simple questions about the essay. The atmosphere was fine; it was more like a discussion.

Q：Do admissions officers value writing skills more, or the thinking behind the essay?

A：I think it’s the thinking. Because my essay didn’t use any particularly complex techniques.

Q：Oxford’s English Language and Literature program has been ranked No. 1 in the QS World University Rankings for nine consecutive years. What do you know about this program, and what are your expectations for your future studies?

A：Oxford is known for its tutorial system—a system in which you essentially have small one‑on‑two or one‑on‑three classes where you’re able to discuss your coursework or the readings. That’s what drew me to Oxford. I enjoy talking to people, and I enjoy bouncing my ideas off my teachers, mentors, and professors. To be part of that environment and have the opportunity to speak with basically pioneers in the field of literature was ideal for me, and that’s essentially what drew me to Oxford.

Currently, a lot of my reading has been guided by personal interest, and I know that’s very limited—especially if we’re trying to pursue literature as an academic, scholarly path. I think Oxford will give me the opportunity to push me out of my comfort zone, to introduce me to possibly new hobbies, new passions, new areas of interest. I’m looking forward to widening my horizons.

Q：Some people say literature is an unpopular major. What do you think?

A：I think a major, or any area of study, shouldn’t be judged by popularity. I don’t think that’s a sufficient metric to identify the value of a field of study. For me, whether literature is popular or not doesn’t really matter. I think for each individual, academics shouldn’t be something focused solely on utility or something that leads to a certain job title. If you can’t see yourself studying something and enjoying it, then there’s no point in investing so much time, effort, money, and energy into that field if the endpoint is just another office job.

Part.2  About literature

Q：How did your love for literature begin?

A：My love for literature started around 2017. For as long as I can remember, my household wasn’t very big on television. We didn’t have one in the living room, so most of my entertainment was just books. We didn’t have a television, but we did have a library. For a lot of my summers when I wasn’t at school, I just spent my days reading. That’s what developed my interest in storytelling and understanding narratives, and it culminated in English literature.

Q：In your opinion, what is the greatest charm of English literature? Is there a work that has deeply influenced you, even shaped part of your personality?

A：I think literature is special in that it’s both a driving force and an archive of human development. In literature, you see not only how history has progressed, but also how human consciousness has grown. For me, it’s because I love humanity and understanding what it means to be alive that literature is special. I think literature is about seeing through a thousand different sets of eyes, being able to see all of these different moments in different times—and that’s what makes it wonderful to me.

My major is in English, but I’d say the author who influenced me the most is Ryūnosuke Akutagawa. He’s a Japanese author. I think it was reading his works and also his literary criticism that made me certain I wanted to pursue literature as a potential career path for the rest of my academic life. It’s his studies on how form—how his short stories are able to manipulate structure and perspective in conveying a mood or theme—and the way he moves beyond language, beyond diction, that really made literature interesting to me. I think it’s the same way a scientist would study a natural phenomenon—that’s what Akutagawa’s work was to me.

Q：What do you usually like to write? What does writing mean to you—is it a release of emotions, or a way to try to influence others?

A：For my writing, I usually just write short stories. A lot of the time it’s because I’m inspired by what I’m reading. When I read short‑form fiction, I tend to write short‑form fiction; when I read nonfiction, my critiques come out in nonfiction. It’s all about what I consume, and that influences what I end up producing.

I think writing is a bit of both [emotional release and influencing others]. To some degree, you’re always writing for an audience—whether that’s yourself or another person. The way I write personally is: I write down my thoughts, I write down my perspective, and I hope that if it’s developed enough, if I think it’s sophisticated, if it’s worth someone’s moment of their time, then I publish it, I show it to someone, and I hope it reaches them.

Part.3 About Sendelta

Q：At school, how has your interest in literature developed through courses, clubs, and personal projects? For example, history class, literature class, or your experience as MUN president?

A：I think the best thing about our school’s curriculum is its flexibility. I’m allowed and given the space to pursue all of my interests—whether that’s in history, world history, European history, art history, or in language or literature. I was given the space, and of course all of my professors and mentors supported me. They were encouraging outside of the classroom and always up for discussions. I could bring my ideas and my questions to them, and when I received feedback, I think that’s the best way anyone can grow. So being part of this environment where we are encouraged to communicate, where we’re encouraged to challenge ideas and ask questions, really helped me develop into who I am today.

In my extracurricular time, the clubs and societies I participated in mainly were Mock Trial, MUN, and the Reading Club. I think the best thing about these clubs is twofold. First is how much support the school gives us to explore these activities. We have mentors who would help us even during night study time. We have funding in case we need to go to competitions that require plane tickets or go out of the city. When we need coaching—for example, in Mock Trial—the school was very helpful and supportive, even looking outside of the staff to give me the resources I needed. That was really helpful.

Secondly, I really appreciate all of the people I’ve met through these clubs. The kids I’ve taught in the Reading Club inspired me just as much as I hope I inspired them. In MUN, the people who had these brilliant ideas and who were passionate about the same things I was put me in an environment where I felt comfortable being myself. Essentially, I’m really grateful for that.

Last year, my younger brother also transferred to Sendelta in Grade 9. He has a strong interest in engineering and will likely choose a computer science path. I believe he too will be able to deepen his passions here and achieve his greatest growth.

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Literature is just one facet of Maggie’s rich and multifaceted personality. Beyond academics and literary pursuits, her high school life has been equally vibrant: on the debate and MUN world stages, she has excelled with her quick thinking and expressive communication; on the water, she has pursued her passion for double sculling, channeling energy and teamwork into every stroke; and in the arts, she has achieved Grade 8 in piano, nurturing her soul through melody. 

Through diverse exploration and dedicated pursuit of her interests, she has grown into a well‑rounded young person—truly embodying Sendelta’s educational philosophy of “Academic excellence, joyful growth, sustainable development.”

With the strength and confidence nurtured at Sendelta, she will undoubtedly continue to push her boundaries at the University of Oxford, embracing new horizons and blossoming into an even more accomplished and fulfilled individual.