CRC

I joined ISF in Grade 5, a strange time to join when all of us were looking forward to “adulthood” (by which I mean joining Secondary and finally having access to our own lockers). To say the process of integrating into the Class of 2024 was easy would be a false claim, but if there was anything I really wanted to share about my takeaways at ISF, it would be the words “support” and “being infinite”.

Let’s talk first about support.

In Grade 5, as the only transfer student that year to the Class of 2024, as someone who grew up mainly in mainland China (English being a slight barrier), my beginning at ISF was rough. I faced many obstacles, such as working up the courage to even speak to my peers and my teachers, as a result feeling alone in a new unfamiliar environment. Here is where the word “support” comes in. My Grade 5 Chinese teacher (Ms. Shek) stood by my side when I felt alone. Perhaps the most influential thing was: she was the first person to discover my love for writing and pushed me to submit my essays for publication, even when I wondered who would, truly, be interested in my words. Her presence made the process of grappling with my tweens so much easier, her lessons and love something I will forever be grateful for.

At ISF, support is always around you, whenever you need it. Only here, had I grown to understand the importance of a well-refined support system.

My peers, my dearest friends, are always there to lend an ear when I feel the need to talk and always there to lend a shoulder when I feel my tears brimming. The journey can be so, so stressful – the late hours, the lack of sleep, the coffee chugs – but with them, because of them, you really start to feel unstoppable and undefeated. In friendship, “support” is knowing you can choose acceptance, even when I feel myself to be unacceptable.

Beyond the peers around me, my teachers. I am so grateful to say that my teachers, truly, have been the kindest and most caring people I’ve met. Many of them have their convictions and what others may view as strange and eccentric (is that not what makes us human?), that is for sure, but I have never grown more as a student and as a person under their guidance. From knowing Mr. Darwin (our amazing Grade Level Leader)’s office door will always be open if we need to chat, to speaking to the Head of Houses honestly about my struggles as a House leader, to the day to day moments of receiving feedback on my newest paper or getting that “aha” moment in the classroom because they were able to explain a concept in a new way. “Support” is the dedication each of them carry – the after school meetings with me when I fail to understand something, the icon commenting on my Google documents and portfolios even in late hour for me to continuously improve myself. In learning, “support” is recognising you can choose to find strength, even when you feel powerless.

Even beyond learning, in leadership opportunities, my community continues to encourage me to take steps no one has taken before. When I discussed the possibilities of student-led clubs (which our school has never had before) with Mrs. Craig, I was met with motivation. Now it has launched (with the efforts of the students who were willing to make it happen with me) and so many amazing students are creating something new within this framework. When I raised the idea of a platform unifying all the opportunities our school has to offer to Mr. LY (as these sign-ups can often get lost in our emails), I was met with enthusiasm. Now it has been made and is becoming promoted within the student body. All of my new, and sometimes absurd, ideas were not pushed away, but listened to. So, in leadership, “support” is acknowledging that you need not to be afraid to stumble because you still rise.