Sunstone Shi – 2021 Graduate

OLD BOYS’ UNION

Sunstone Shi

2021 Graduate

Shang, known as Sunstone, Shi (Class of 2021) is an exceptionally bright young man who made a tremendous contribution to the School through his academic achievements and leadership roles, including Year 12 Executive School Monitor.

There is something incredibly satisfying about hiring our Old Boys to impart their wisdom and knowledge to our current students. Sunstone has played an imperative role in preparing our SAT study plan, which will support current students looking to sit the exam in the hope of studying abroad. At the end of the day, the Old Boys who have lived through the demands of applying to international universities are the people best equipped for advising future cohorts.

JACKIE CAMILLERI, DEPUTY HEAD OF ACADEMICS AT THE SENIOR SCHOOL

As a day boy for six years, Sunstone also found success in many co-curricular activities, finishing Year 12 as Cadet Under Officer of Band 1 in the Cadet Corps and playing for the 7th Basketball and 3rd XI Football teams. Sunstone shares his experience when first encountering organised team sport when he started on the football development squad in Year 7, finding immense pride in his growth within the sport.

“My journey in climbing through the teams, and learning the power and importance of teamwork and camaraderie with my teammates, will forever be a memorable experience for me.”

This mentality and diligence was also recognised in his commitment to the Music program, where he was appointed Vice-Captain of Music and Captain of Bands. His participation in the Symphonic Band, Wind Orchestra, Intermediate Stage Band, Symphony Orchestra, Clarinet Quartet and Senior Choir is a testament to his musical abilities.

His contributions to the greater community through the Outreach Orchestra, The Future Project and the National Youth Science Forum further showcased Sunstone’s rich diversity of talents and ability to share his success with others.

Sunstone’s journey at King’s is an outstanding story and this Kingsman has continued to make an impact merely 12 months after graduating. During his HSC, Sunstone set his sights on top international universities, committing a large amount of study time on top of his HSC to ensure he had global opportunities. His strategy was to apply everywhere he could, with the intention of studying biology and chemical engineering. “Achieving a solid SAT testing score is essential when applying for international schools, but the application process is far more than this. A student must have an impressive portfolio of extra-curricular activities and a history of community engagement, which is all part of a King’s education.”

Sunstone explains the application process requires candidates to submit personal essays. “In total, I wrote around 50 to 60 essays of around 300 words each for various university applications. This is the most rigorous part of the process and it coincides with the HSC exam timetable.”

When national university offers were announced, Sunstone was overjoyed to receive an offer for his top choice and started a Bachelor of Medical Studies/ Doctorate Medicine at the University of New South Wales in early 2022. He thoroughly enjoyed the degree. Alongside his studies, King’s employed Sunstone as an academic tutor, and he worked with academic staff to develop a study program for students looking to sit the SAT exam.

While life was more than good for Sunstone, in the back of his mind, he was eager to hear the results of his international offers.

Sunstone had a tough decision to make in April when the results finally arrived. He received six international university offers and was on the waitlist for three others. He secured nine study opportunities, on top of the exceptional degree he was already pursuing in Sydney.

“I deliberated for over two months and spent a lot of time discussing my options with family and friends. Stanford was a standout because of its renowned prestigious research opportunities. I spoke with current students and alumni, including King’s Old Boy Jin Young (2020). Because we both came from King’s, I valued his honesty, and in the end, he was the one who persuaded me [to study at Stanford].” Sunstone says a relationship between younger and older peers is something he valued deeply during his time at King’s and feels privileged to have imparted leadership in his senior years and as a tutor. “Academic and pastoral care support equals leadership. It is intuitive – a Kingsman is not asked to do it, it’s a natural relationship that develops.”

The School’s vision for employing Old Boys as tutors is to engrain another level of leadership and mentorship for the current boys. “Having lived through the experience of the HSC only recently, Old Boys provide a different perspective to teachers. The boys feel comfortable asking them questions, be it about academics, co-curricular activities or simply how to juggle it all,” says Jackie Camilleri, Deputy Head of Academics at the Senior School.

Tutors are available for drop-in appointments in the CLL during school hours, with an additional roster for afterschool tutoring. The tutors also provide support in the classroom by assisting teachers and helping students with notetaking.

“There is something incredibly satisfying about hiring our Old Boys to impart their wisdom and knowledge to our current students. Sunstone has played an imperative role in preparing our SAT study plan, which will support current students looking to sit the exam in the hope of studying abroad. At the end of the day, the Old Boys who have lived through the demands of applying to international universities are the people best equipped for advising future cohorts,” says Jackie.

Sunstone pays homage to the King’s holistic education. “The School has a unique dynamic, and there are many opportunities available. You have to take them while you are there.”