From FDIS to Amherst, She Said...

Introduction

Hieveryone!

MynameisAngelaandIamcurrentlyasenioratFDIS.Duringthispastapplicationseason,

IwasacceptedtoAmherstCollegeviaEarlyDecision.

AsamemberofFDISsince7thgrade,

Iamhumbledtosharesomeofmyexperiencesoflearningandlivinginthiscommunity.

Before FDISI had a pretty uncommon education before coming to FDIS. I grew up in the U.S. and moved back to China with my family when I was nine. Studying at a local school in Beijing, I faced many dilemmas and challenges due to my upbringing. However, these experiences also taught me how to adjust and adapt to new surroundings and appreciate cultural differences.My time at FDISFDIS’s curriculum was quite different from those of the previous institutions I had attended. The academic rigor of the curriculum was a blessing in disguise, with intensive assessments for every subject. Growing up, my life has been very STEM-centric. The curriculum gave me opportunities to ask questions and investigate solutions in Biology and Chemistry research projects, which grew my love for science more and more. On the other hand, the interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum encouraged me to incorporate research and epistemology into my own learning to seek connections between subjects.

In addition, the curriculum has also cultivated my diverse academic interests by encouraging independent learning. My English Literature class had a strong focus on the genre of drama, and I was deeply fascinated by the analytical approach of seeing through the eyes of the writer. Though I doubted my analytical abilities, my English teacher was incredibly supportive of my interests in drama. With his support, I wrote my Extended Essay on a comparative analysis of two Shakespearean tragedies and even spent my summer taking a college course on the humanities and performing arts. Looking back, I couldn’t have imagined doing anything else.Outside of the classOutside of classes, I benefitted from the small size and flexibility of our school. Athletics have always been an inseparable part of my life and I’ve participated in track and soccer since middle school. During 9th grade, my friends and I founded our school Volleyball team and participated in the SSSA league the following season. Involvement in sports helped me to quickly build a network and feel at home in this tight-knit community.

Lastly, FDIS is very dedicated to service learning. Our school requires all students to engage in service activities every semester with active reflection, so I spent considerable time involved with my community these past few years. An unforgettable experience that I’d like to share here was organizing our CAS trip to Qingdao. In fundraising and preparing for the trip, I learned to communicate and collaborate with my classmates. Yet what truly shed light on these issues of global importance were those fleeting moments captured during the trip. From witnessing the cityscape fade into a rudimentary scenery, to interacting with disabled children at the school for the first time…… I began to consider the essence and ethicality of volunteerism and whether our actions were truly able to improve the students’ lives. Today, these questions still remain largely unanswered in my mind. However, involvement in my community has fostered my empathy and introspection as I strive to bring about more meaningful impacts to those around me.

A bit about my applicationOf my entire application, writing the essays was undoubtedly the most difficult component. I didn’t participate in any elite competitions or have outstanding research experience, so I struggled to pinpoint the image that I wished to present. What did help, however, was engaging in active reflection (much like that involved in my service learning experiences). Rather than showcasing my achievements, I began contemplating how to present my own unique perspectives and dilemmas.An interesting essay prompt I came across was related to “translation”. This prompt sparked my inspiration and ultimately became a thread that weaved through my application to help tell my story. Building on the memory of a childhood meal, I reflected upon dealing with foreign educational environments and how the physical translation between languages became my way of bridging cultures to appreciate their subtle differences.

In a similar way, I tried to use “translation” to present my academic interests. Growing up, I was very STEM-centric and curious about human interactions with the environment. So in my essay, I decided to communicate a specific moment that contradicted my preconception of sustainability. Reading literature and engaging in scientific inquiry opened my eyes to the complex and interdisciplinary nature of sustainability, and this seemingly abstract concept was figuratively “translated” into my own understanding and love for environmental science.

Looking back, the struggles of putting pen to paper are what pushed me to engage in candid introspection. I began to hear my own authentic voice reverberating through the script, and this, to me, was one of the most satisfying achievements.

Some advice

Ialwaysfeelslightlyconflictedwhengivingadvicebecausetherearesomanytipstoshare

yetnosinglepieceofwisdomthatappliestoeveryone.

BelowaresomethingsIwishIhadlearnedearlier:

Don’t hesitate to seek advice from your peers and teachers, whether its related to applications or academics. I was rather introverted and hesitant to ask for help, but those that I did talk to have shared a lot of wisdom with me.

Embrace the facets of your unique personalities, perspectives, and passions. We’re all multi-dimensional humans with different stories, and those authentic narratives can captivate others much more than ornate language and packaging.

Anticipatefailureandrejection.

DespitebeingacceptedthroughED,Ihadtodealwithseveraldifficultrejectionsandsufferedalotfrommyownself-deprecatingthoughts.

Acceptingourmistakesandfailurespreventsthemfroma

ffectingourfutureperformancesothatwecanbecomestronger:)

Lastly, learn to relax and recharge. Many days I felt profoundly burned out under the pressure to balance academics, extracurriculars, and social life. Oddly, though, I learned that relaxing and forsaking some external expectations helped to maintain productivity and motivation.

I’dliketousethisopportunitytothankeveryonewhohassupportedmeonthisjourney.

I’dliketothankmyteachers,whohavenotonlyimpartedmewith

knowledgebutalsoinspiredmygrowthandtoleratedmyflaws.

I’malsogratefulformyfriendsandclassmates,whohavemademyhighschoolexperiencesounforgettable.

Lastly,goodlucktoeveryoneyettoembarkonthisjourney!Follow us andreply with "share" to know more