Exploring new passions while preserving classic traditions

By Jiaan Shi 17 • Shanghai, China ‚

Asa Chinese student, I experienced over 10 years of education in the Chinese educational system. While my teachers and classmates were patient and kind, I still felt something was missing. It was not until I began studying at SEM that I realized I was missing the opportunity to explore my passions and thrive in areas like arts, sports, and cooking.

At SEM, I was provided with the resources and time to pursue my interests. For instance, I tried out for the basketball team and participated in athletic training classes to stay fit and healthy. SEM also provided opportunities for me to learn arts and create artworks with my preferred materials. Additionally, I found an excellent oboe teacher to continue practicing my music skills. I also participated in a science contest, glee club, Semachords (our SEM acapella group), and ensemble, among other activities.

Living in the SEM dormitory was also a great experience. It was the first time I lived without my parents, but it felt like my second home. The school had four houses near the school, each accommodating about 10 students, with two girls sharing one room. Coordinating roommate relationships required not only social skills but also self-regulation to manage academic and private life effectively. Living in the dormitory enhanced our self-care abilities and self-awareness as we were not being supervised or reminded by our parents.

SEM also made an effort to help students from all over the world adapt to the new environment. The school employed various methods to encourage us to share our cultural backgrounds and interact with each other without any concern.

As an international student from China, the most impressive events at SEM were the cultural sharing activities during our traditional festivals, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year. On these days, we had the chance to share our culture and background stories of the festivals during morning meetings, where every student paid full attention to our speeches. We also shared traditional food like mooncakes and dumplings in school for everyone to try. SEM created a safe, open, and comfortable environment for residential students to adapt to the new environment while preserving

Moreover, SEM required students to take French or Spanish as a foreign language, which would be a second foreign language for international students. However, it was not a burden, but more like a bonus for students who loved to learn about new cultures. I took French as my second foreign language, and the classes were fun and inspiring because the teacher asked us to make a presentation on a French city or a French gourmet; sometimes, the teacher would even take us to visit restaurants where they serve authentic French gourmet.

This experience motivated me to study French as one of the majors for my Bachelor’s Degree, which also led to my pursuit in education for my Master’s Degree, as my learning experience at SEM inspired my interest and passion for teaching.

Currently, I am pursuing my second Master’s Degree in School Counseling. SEM played a significant role in shaping my career pursuits and my experiences by creating a safe and comfortable environment for students. Overall, SEM’s resources, opportunities, and support created a unique learning environment that allowed me to thrive and explore my passions while also helping me grow as a person. •