Student Voices

Student Voices SFS is privileged to serve exceptional students hailing from all corners of the globe. Here’s a small sample of their school accomplishments and experiences, straight from the students themselves!

The Banner invites all SFS students to submit their recent achievements and experiences to the editorial team. Please contact marketing@seoulforeign.org for further details.

I draw and paint as someone who loves art —I always considered contests as a pathway to share my work. Especially this Bow Seat contest—I really wasn’t expecting anything. However, as I received the Distinguished Honorable Mention Award through this competition, I felt that I was starting to get accepted. It came to me as a source of motivation. I am grateful that I can share my works with others for them to enjoy.

Hong Chou, HS

Participating in Model UN Conferences helps me develop my speaking and writing skills and gives me the opportunity to make new friends. Representing different countries on issues I may not agree on helps me understand different perspectives. The Best Position Paper Award was meaningful to me because it means I was able to successfully identify issues and present solutions for the country I represented. I hope I am able to use that skill in all aspects of life.

Ronit Gupta, BS

Last August 2019, I attended two music competitions in Taiwan. In the first competition, the Taiwan International Classical Traditional Music Awards, I received first place. In the second competition, the Excellence International Music Open Competition, I also received first place. I chose to sing “Lascia ch’io pianga” by Handel because this was the song I felt most attached to. These experiences brought me closer towards my goal as a singer.

As a middle schooler, I have realized that we as young leaders can make a difference to our world. Since last year, I have invested my time into Global Social Leaders through worm farming, a transition website and Waste Warriors. Despite these trying times, I have been able to aid with completing the draft website for transitioning students.

Alongside that, I have greatly helped with involving other sections of our school with our waste project, mainly Middle Schoolers.

So Jeong Han, HS

competition for my short story and the Best in School award in the UKMT Maths Challenge. I also ranked in the top 5% in AMC 12, another maths competition, qualifying me for the AIME: a goal I’d set for myself this year. My positive experiences and results have inspired me to keep pursuing my interests and work toward my dreams.

I have enjoyed doing art since first grade. In sixth grade, I did my first exhibition with my sister, by my mom. In the same year, I entered the Scholastic contest with the help of the art teacher and principal of the British School. With the teacher’s help, I received a National Gold Key. From then, I kept entering the Scholastic contest every year. This year, I received two Gold Key awards and two honorable mentions, so I felt very honored.

So Yeon Han, HS

VEX Robotics has been one of our favorite things to do these past years. Every day, we as team JABI learned each VEX Robotics subject, which is building, programming, driving, journaling and STEM research. Most of all, teamwork is the key to win, which has been very challenging. These subjects were judged and competed against which brought us to victory at the national competition. It took a lot of energy to run through eight matches and one final game, but it obviously paid off. We won both the excellence award and teamwork third place! We want to thank Mr. Friesen, Mr. Hammerberg and Mr. Freeman for supporting us through this journey.

Jessica Kang, MS

After I moved to Seoul from Shanghai with my mom, from 7th grade to now, I have entered the Scholastic art competitions annually and achieved several awards. Most currently, I entered last semester and achieved two silver awards. I have also opened several art exhibitions with my sister. The most recent art exhibition I opened was last year, August 2019, and it was the fourth exhibition since 7th grade.

This year, I received a National Gold Medal in the Scholastics Art & Writing

Ace Yeom, MS I am very glad that I achieved the National Gold Medal for my short story “A Proper Education.” This was my first year trying in the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition, and I also encourage all the Middle School students to do so as well. I found my confidence through this opportunity, and I plan on participating in further challenges. I would like to give special thanks to our Middle School for supporting me throughout the challenge. Always keep going!

Doh Hyun “Dennis” Kim, HS

Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, I found an international online music talent and piano competition. I decided to enter with a piece that I had been working on for a while: Rachmaninoff ’s Prelude in G minor, Op. 23, No. 5. I did not expect too much as I was only really an amateur who had immense passion for piano classical music. Then I received notice that I was chosen as the second place winner and that I had gotten the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York this December. I was honored by this humbling opportunity.

Ashley Koo, HS

and visually unappealing expression to me.

Holger Molin, MS

something more meaningful as an artist. Being the first individual to receive this award, I hope to inspire others to submit their artworks into competitions, as it’s a truly amazing experience to be a part of.

Jason Whang, HS

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is a prestigious awards program where top pieces receive regional and/or national awards. It recognizes young artists and writers and their originality, technical skills and the integration of personality in their works. I received a medal for a furniture design called the “Droplet,” and it was a fulfilling experience, especially since it gave me an opportunity to hear others’ opinions on the creativity of my work.

Kate Koo, HS The piece I submitted to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards was my first encounter with oil painting. I displayed one of my facial expressions, which presents an emotion that I am not keen with, using a material that I was not comfortable with. The expression on my face represents abhorrence. I wanted to thoroughly reflect on this emotion as it is the most unsettling The Middle School Cross Country Championship is a race between international schools in South Korea. This year, our team was full of excellent runners, and as a result, our school had the best total placing. My experiences were amazing on both the Middle and High School teams. Everyone was incredibly kind and encouraging, particularly the High Schoolers. They really made me feel like I was one of them even though I was a lot younger.

Jonathan Myong, HS I entered the Korea International Music Educators Association (KIMEA) Composition Competition and received first place for my orchestral work titled “A Forgotten Tale.” When I found out about the competition, I was thrilled to have an opportunity to turn a hobby of mine into

The Prudential Service for the Community Award honors student-run service clubs nationwide for actively making a difference in the community. The Angels’ Haven Partnership was recognized for our commitment to building relationships with people with disabilities through collaborative outings that show co-existence is possible. This award is truly the work of all our students working selflessly and faithfully to our greater mission of breaking the stigma around people with disabilities. More great things to come! 19 12

sfmsartrocks My #middleschoolart students have begun turning in their #virtuallearningportraits inspired by the creative photos of artist @greggsegal and his ##dailybread series. They were asked to collect at least 15 items that have been most important to them during our weeks of #virtuallearning due to the #coronavirus and photograph themselves with these items. I’m not gonna lie...I got emotional looking through their photos this week. I’m proud of them and I miss them. #keepcalmandmakeart #creativityisntcanceled #portraits #middleschoolart #seoulforeignschool #sfs1912 #remotelearning #distancelearning - by Libby Beaty, MS Art Teacher