Perfect IB Score Alumna Looks Back on What Made SCIS So Special

Claire developed a variety of skills during her time as a student at Shanghai Community International School (SCIS). From Model United Nations to theater to leading conferences, she has proven her determination and skill. We asked Claire to look back at her time at SCIS, her adjustment to university, and if she had any tips for next year's graduates. Here is what she had to say.   

Hi! Tell us about yourself. Where are you from, and what brought you to SCIS?  

Hello! My first name is technically Ying Xi Claire though everyone calls me Claire. I am from Hong Kong but only lived there for two years before my parents brought me to Shanghai. Since they enrolled me into SCIS for kindergarten, my memory of their reasoning is hazy. However, I imagine they felt SCIS had an open, caring environment conducive to learning. After spending 13 years there, I am happy to say that my classmates and the faculty were always willing to support me.  

Tell us more about your participation in Global Issues Network (GIN), Model United Nations (MUN), and Interact.

In GIN, our most significant accomplishment was organizing a conference that hosted over 200 students. Students at the conference participated in workshops and listened to guest speakers talk about their contributions to a more environmentally conscious world. GIN, holds some of my most memorable experiences. One example is a trip to Thailand where I learned about sustainable practices and stayed in a rural town, sharing aspects of our different cultures with the townspeople.    

Despite being introduced to MUN in 9th grade, I became co-captain the next year and was quite nervous teaching what I had only recently learned, especially to my upperclassmen. Fortunately, the other captains and I soon developed a repartee, apportioned our responsibilities, and tested different teaching methods. Even if it is cliché, participating in MUN conferences and voicing my ideas as a partner and mentor taught me to communicate more effectively.     

As for Interact, I became one of the leaders in 11th grade, a year promptly interrupted by the coronavirus. However, that daunting obstacle ultimately led to one of our more prominent achievements: Heart of Stars (HOS). HOS, a yearly talent show Interact began hosting when I first joined, raised money for Heart to Heart (H2H), a charity that sponsors heart surgery for children in need. Working around the pandemic, Interact held meetings online and decided to approach HOS as a Livestream. I eventually co-hosted the event with performers across the globe, raising over 10,000 RMB for H2H.   

I also enjoy theater, taking part in school productions including Backstage, The Hobbit, Games that People Play, Little Shop of Horrors, As You Like It, among others. While these events acted as a counterbalance to my more academic pursuits, I would not trade the camaraderie between my cast and crewmates for anything.  

You scored a 45/45 in the IB Diploma Programme! Can you tell us more about some of your favorite classes?  

Besides Global Politics, a lighthearted class despite the sometimes heavy subject matter, another one of my favorite classes is, unsurprisingly, Theatre. Though it involved the most writing, Theatre also allowed me to invent by physically moving set pieces around the stage, experimenting with light and sound, and trying unfamiliar acting styles. Truthfully, I would recommend most students take an art course, if only for the change in setting.  

Also, more so than in other classes, peer feedback is crucial in Theatre, allowing me to observe my classmate’s works. From rooms adorned wall-to-wall with newspapers to red lipstick smeared across an actor’s face, I was always enthralled and inspired by their ingenuity. Ultimately, Theatre made my day more varied and motivated me to continue one-upping myself. 

What are the top three skills you feel you developed during your time at SCIS?

Being organized is one skill from my formative years that has served me well in the subsequent years, allowing me to manage my academic and other responsibilities. A second skill might be perseverance, but not in the traditional sense of never giving up. Instead, I mean knowing to take breaks when simple tasks appear overwhelming and willing yourself to continue once the worst has passed. Lastly, I learned to surround myself with caring people. Throughout my academic and personal life, I constantly cite the contributions of others. The mutual support from stable relationships, even if not all close relationships, provided me with a sense of reassurance that makes everything more manageable.  

Whether I am finishing assignments on time or forming new relationships, I imagine these skills will be instrumental in maintaining a work-life balance.  

Do you have any tips for our upcoming graduating students?  

Stop mindlessly worrying about something you cannot change. Many of my friends were anxious about being rejected from schools or not meeting their requirements. Of course, there are actionable steps to take to reach your goal, but once you pass a certain point, worrying can do more harm than good.  

Try to finish assignments on time, even if you procrastinate and the work does not meet your highest standards. Speaking from experience, not meeting deadlines causes a domino effect leading to more unfinished assignments. If you already missed a deadline, try scheduling out a weekend or sometime during a school break to get back on track.  

Finally, do not blame yourself. Sometimes, an undesired outcome is inevitable. In these cases, try to learn from the experience and move on. For one school, I foolishly applied to a course I did not meet the requirements for, making my rejection feel unwarranted and preventable. Still, after some time, I chose not to dwell on the result and continued with my other applications, albeit more carefully. 

Thank you Claire for sharing your story and all you learned during your time as a student at SCIS!

SCIS. Self-Directed Learner.  

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