Continuing on from last week, we are highlighting the achievements of all applicants for the 30th Anniversary - Profiles of WAB Alumni Award. Congratulations to each of our student applicants and we are so proud of their achievements.

This week, we will spotlight four student applicants:

Claire – Grade 10 

Claire uses storytelling and examples to showcase how she embodies the domains of a WAB Alumni.  As an inspired and future-ready learner, Claire shared her participation in the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition, which combines biology and engineering, and focuses on global challenges. For this competition, she worked with 19 students from across the globe to create a risk-screening sanitary pad for gynecological diseases using a point-of-care biosensor integrated into the pad.  In addition to the hardware, they also designed merchandise that promotes female menstrual awareness. 

Claire also co-founded a club called "Poetical China" that strengthens intercultural ties and learns about the underlying connection between English and Chinese scripts and their relationship to the Phoenician alphabet. As an agent for change, she launched the United 2 Beat Malaria" project to address malaria in Uganda and Zambia, raising awareness and funds for mosquito repellent.  Together with her band, she composed an original song, "Stars," to express the pressures faced by Chinese teenagers, and as a balanced learner she has managed the intense training required for varsity volleyball and basketball with her academic responsibilities. 

She shared, "I've been to three different schools prior to arriving at WAB in Grade 3. Stepping into a new, unfamiliar environment alone is never easy, and I remember those first few weeks at WAB being particularly challenging. I struggled to navigate the school and make friends immediately. Feeling frustrated, I shared my experience with peers and teachers, bracing myself for sheer judgment. Instead, they responded with warmth and support, making me feel that WAB is not only unique but a genuinely caring and compassionate community."

Claire further expressed, "This welcoming experience has left a lasting impact on me. WAB gave me a sense of belonging, guided me in discovering my passions and identity, and helped me build confidence. Currently, it’s my eighth year at WAB. Because WAB has given me so much, I hope to give something in return by contributing to this community that has encouraged me to connect, inspire, and make a difference in the world. This application process enabled me to reflect upon the major components of my identity and my core values. It also helped me recognize and appreciate my journey so far while clarifying the next steps ahead. Altogether, it was a deeply valuable experience."

Lorraine – Grade 11 

Lorraine shares a range of examples and activities to showcase her embodiment of the WAB Alumni Profile. As a learner, she challenges herself and uses her accomplishments in ALP Chinese and sports as examples of setting and achieving personal success. She has also taken on leadership roles, including teaching tennis to younger students and supporting teammates during tournaments. Lorraine shows her adaptive problem-solving through her personal project. Over the course of the project, she overcame logistical challenges and adapted her plans to teach tennis to middle school students. 

Lorraine has participated in international tennis tournaments, taking on roles in coordinating court usage and translating for hotel check-ins. She has initiated and organized cross-school badminton workshops, providing middle school students with more opportunities to play and learn from high school players, and fostering skill transfer and collaboration between different age groups. 

She commented, "Tennis is a game where you experience both wins and losses. I've been fortunate to win titles like Tri-cities, APAC, and the Shunyi U15 open championship. Each victory encourages me to keep training hard and strive for improvement."

Lucas – Grade 9 

Lucas' application demonstrated his embodiment of the competencies of WAB alumni in a very systematic manner. He used his development of public speaking skills as an example of how he challenges himself as a learner. He demonstrates his skills as a future-ready innovator through his research skills, perseverance in solving technical difficulties, and how he uses technology to enhance his learning.  

Lucas highlighted how his participation in activities like Model United Nations supports his profile as a connected China-global citizen. He has also taken ethical and sustainable actions by working with others in a club “Change Makers”. Together they planned and designed actions to take to help the environment as well as the community. His skills as a collaborative communicator were illustrated through the development of his opening speech for the Grade 8 celebration, where he worked with teachers and students, organized deadlines, managed documents, and clarified individual and team roles.  

He mentioned, "My motivation for applying for this award was to see what my learnings and growth have amounted to and to find another opportunity to challenge myself. Applying for this award has been very meaningful for me, providing me with a chance to evaluate my past achievements, as well as developing a newfound resolve for me to improve and embody more of the values of a model WAB Alumni."

Trinity – Grade 12

Trinity's application used her involvement in dance to tell the story of how she embodies the Profile of a WAB Alumni.  As an inspired and successful learner, she started her dance journey outside of WAB, later joining the APAC dance team, and then taking on a leadership role in the APAC Dance team. Trinity has choreographed group dances, taught and led the HS dance club, and performed at biannual showcases. During the pandemic, she showed her future readiness by adapting to challenges using WeChat video calls for dance classes finding creative solutions for missing equipment, and maintaining a sense of normality and social interaction.

Trinity's bicultural identity fueled her interest in culture and language, leading her to create a documentary on Tibetan folk dance and songs, found the Tibetan Culture Club, and lead various cultural activities to promote cultural awareness and understanding within the WAB community. As a co-leader of the HS Dance Club, she has transformed the club's atmosphere by encouraging a more inclusive and supportive environment, expanding the club's repertoire to include various dance styles, and increasing participation from students of diverse backgrounds.

She emphasized, "You never know what could happen if you don't try."

In total, 27 applications were submitted for the Profiles of WAB Alumni Award. The remarkable stories and powerful evidence of the learning journeys of all applicants will be highlighted in this series.