Six years ago, Sisi arrived at MIS in Shenzhen barely able to speak a word of English.
Now, she holds offers from top universities – HKU Law, UCL Arts and Sciences, and Manchester Law. When she talks about the future, she says calmly: “Maybe I’ll become a lawyer in Hong Kong, or maybe work in government.”
△Sisi during the interview
She makes it sound as if it all happened effortlessly.
But only she knows how much it took to get here, step by step, over those six years.
A slow start, gently held
At first, the biggest obstacle was language. She didn’t understand, didn’t dare speak, didn’t know how to ask. What stayed with her, though, was this: not once did a teacher judge her by a single test result.
“They never lower their expectations just because you’re not good enough yet. They keep giving you chances to try, to find your confidence, to slowly shine.”
At MIS, Sisi learned that teachers don’t give up on you. They stay with you. They let you find your own pace.
“They taught me how to think, not just how to answer”
She credits her love of learning to the classroom environment. Her favourite teachers – Ms. Katie (Humanities) and Mr. Richard (School Counsellor) – never just fed her facts. They taught her to question, debate, and express herself.
△Sisi loves music and is especially skilled at playing the violin.
“Before, I thought whatever was in the textbook or said by the teacher must be right. At MIS, I started asking myself: what’s the evidence? Does the logic hold? Is there another way?”
That shift – from memorising to thinking – is what drew her towards law. “Law isn’t about memorising statutes.
It’s a way of understanding how the world works.” Her eyes light up when she says it.
Honest advice for younger students: start early
When asked for advice, Sisi doesn’t use big words. She says it straight: “If your course requires an admissions test, start preparing early – much earlier than you think.”
“For UK applications, especially competitive courses, your test score can decide 80% or even 90% of your chances. Don’t leave everything to your predicted grades or personal statement.”
This isn’t scaremongering. It’s what she learned the hard way. She recommends Year 12 students start systematic preparation at least six months ahead.
The real foundation of education: belief
Looking back, Sisi says: “The teachers here always believed in me – even when I didn’t believe in myself. The atmosphere is genuinely kind.”
It sounds simple, but it points to MIS’s core philosophy: every child starts somewhere different, and every child blooms at a different time. The school’s job is not to rush or select, but to hold steady and never let go.
That is how a girl who couldn’t speak English six years ago now holds offers from HKU, UCL and Manchester. It didn’t happen by chance. It happened because day after day, in a school that believes in love and care, someone kept believing in her.
Sisi’s story continues. And at MIS, many more like her are being seen, supported, and gently guided towards their own light.
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