The Impact of Support

Three of our scholars from the class of 2019 reflect on their time and journey at SJI International.

THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME

What does becoming a scholar means to a prospective student at St. Joseph’s Institution International? The opportunity of a lifetime.

Jiayi Zhu ‘19 joined SJI International as a Scholar in 2018. She discovered the scholarship programme opportunity the year before, and the thought of possibly being a scholar in an international school after being in a local school for 10 years really excited her. Coming from modest means, this would not have been an opportunity she could have considered.

“I remember how proud my mother was when I was accepted for the SJI International Scholarship Programme. It would also mean one less worry for her as she always felt that she was not able to provide the best for both me and my sister,” Jiayi shared.

Applying for the scholarship had given her motivation to work harder for her ‘O’ levels that year, as she wanted to enter SJI International feeling that she was worthy of being selected as a scholar.

As a student, Jiayi took full advantage of the holistic International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the expansive co-curricular activities offered to students. She joined the Photography and Astrophysics clubs, the Touch Rugby Team and even the Folk Songs Group, that allowed her to embrace her inner passion for singing that she had never dared to share. As a part of her IB programme, she completed her service-learning working with Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter. Embodying the spirit of her Lasallian education and the school’s motto “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve”, beyond her school requirements, she independently chose to volunteer at Tan Tock Seng Hospital which sparked her interest in considering the medical field.

Fast forward two years later to Jiayi’s graduation from SJI International in November 2019, and her completion of the IB programme. Scoring an impressive 42/45 on her IB exams, Jiayi is hoping to pursue family medicine or paediatrics as a doctor and is currently applying to read medicine at a university in Singapore.

“Before the scholarship, I had scaled down my aspirations and the pathway to university seemed distant. The nurturing and stimulating environment restored my confidence, self-esteem and enabled me to dream again. Being in SJI International gave me the chance to reach my full potential.”

Jiayi Zhu

Singaporean | IB Score: 42 Recipient of the Estate of the late Khoo Teck Puat Scholarship

A TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION

Looking back on my time at SJI International, I can think of no better place to have spent what was arguably some of the most transformative years of my life.

The international community, rigorous academics, and wide-ranging extracurriculars have all challenged and enriched my educational journey. My personal experience being both a scholar and the son of a teacher here, led me to be doubly appreciative of the unique advantages of a Lasallian education as well as the generous benefactors that make this possible for so many.

I firmly believe that an SJI International education has the potential to be whatever you want it to be; during my time in school, I experienced service-learning firsthand, teaching music lessons at a UWS school in Koh Chreum, Cambodia, and later joining eyecare drives at a children’s home in Western Thailand. As a member of the Student Council, I had the opportunity to exercise my leadership and teamwork abilities through schoolwide initiatives such as Wellbeing Week. These are just the drop in the metaphorical bucket of opportunities available to the SJI International student, and I am extremely grateful for having been able to take part in a few of them.

Following my graduation, I decided to spend a term working at the SJI International Elementary School as a Teaching Partner, where I continued to be impressed by the sincere staff and the comprehensive virtues-based curriculum. As I prepare myself for the next stage of my life at Yale University, I remain greatly indebted to SJI International for the skills and opportunities with which it has provided me.

Ritik Chamola

Indian | IB Score: 45 Recipient of an SJI International Scholarship

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

Before joining SJI International, I had been studying at RGS, a local secondary school, for 2 years, before which I’d been living overseas and attending an international school.

I felt immediately at home when I started at SJI, in part because it was the ideal middle ground between a local and international school, and in part because of the extremely generous financial, academic, and personal support with which I was provided.

The best part of my SJI International experience was the freedom it allowed me both in and outside the classroom. Thanks to a multidisciplinary IB curriculum, I discovered new favorite subjects like Computer Science and Theory of Knowledge that I would otherwise have never been exposed to. SJII’s diverse extracurricular programme also facilitated my exploration outside of academics, allowing me to participate in activities like swimming, basketball, peer mentoring, French debate, student journalism, and more - many of which I plan to continue pursuing in college and beyond. SJII’s strong service emphasis, in particular, has challenged me to be a more socially responsible and civically engaged student, through school-based experiences like Challenge Week and academic mentoring as well as independent passion projects like education outreach volunteering.

This August, I’ll be heading off to my first-choice college in the US (a small liberal arts school called Swarthmore College). Without the guidance of SJII’s counseling and leadership teams, I may never have seen the liberal arts as a viable academic pathway well-suited to my career goals. And without the breadth of opportunities I was afforded as an SJII scholar, I would not have had the same access to the academic and extra-curricular experiences that prepared me for admission to such a school. For this and countless other reasons, my two years at SJII have benefited me immeasurably.

Nicole Nair

Singaporean | IB Score: 44 Recipient of an SJI International Scholarship