Alumni Reflection Junhao “Mark” Xu ’16

‘I learned to take comfort in seeking discomfort’ and ‘to cherish the value of different perspectives’

• Senior portrait, 2016 W hen I boarded the airplane on that hot summer night of 2012 from China to the United States, I knew I was embarking on a life-changing adventure, for I did not know anyone in this distant land. As I found myself lost in O’Hare with three gigantic suitcases, not knowing where to go for my connecting flight to Hartford, I questioned whether I was making a mistake by leaving my family and friends behind to attend a high school in New England.

Nine years later, I can safely conclude that I, in fact, made the right decision in choosing to spend four years at Wilbraham & Monson Academy. It was here where I developed a love of learning, a passion for stepping out of my comfort zone and, perhaps most importantly, a desire to learn about different experiences and perspectives. These three qualities have continued to change my life for the better.

One of the reasons I was attracted to the American educational system is its flexibility in allowing students to explore their interests and choose the courses they are interested in. As a student at WMA, I tested many different fields, ranging from French to photography to finance. I discovered my immense interest in economics by taking Market Economy with the beloved and late Dr. Charles Warden and AP Macroeconomics with my advisor Erik Kindblom. That interest has not diminished since then—after graduating last year with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science, I am currently pursuing a doctorate in business economics at Columbia University.

During my time at WMA, I also learned to take comfort in seeking discomfort. On multiple occasions, I had to step out of my comfort zone, whether that was competing for the Varsity Swimming team, volunteering for a seahorse conservation organization on a desert island off the coast of Cambodia or serving as a class officer. They all led to significant personal development. I have kept that spirit since graduating from WMA. To name a few examples: I went from not being able to draw a cube to depicting the Guildhall on my sketch book after enrolling in an architecture class while at NYU London; spent a few nights in a dilapidated hostel in Cairo; and enjoyed every second of my visit to Lebanon, a country sadly portrayed by media as war-torn and dangerous.

• Visiting Lebanon

• Graduation from New York University Abu Dhabi, 2020.

• Presenting at the 3rd International Conference on Economics Research in Turkey in 2019.

The student body of WMA, particularly the international students, taught me to cherish the value of different perspectives. In the small New England town of Wilbraham, I made friends from all over the world. In every aspect of life, we engaged in scintillating conversations and exchanged different points of view as I gradually came to appreciate the value of attending “The Global School.” It was this love of learning about other opinions and experiences that encouraged me to apply to colleges in three continents and eventually attend New York University Abu Dhabi, a liberal arts college in the United Arab Emirates. It is also, in many ways, a global school: our class of 320 students hails from more than 80 countries, and students could choose to spend time at any of the 15 global sites of NYU. I personally had the opportunity to study in Abu Dhabi, Florence, London, New York and Oman; in addition, thanks to the generous scholarships, I was able to travel to 25 countries with my stipends. As it was not rare to have the 12 students of a seminar class represent 12 nationalities, we were in a constant state of learning about other people’s stories and viewpoints. I have to thank the Academy for cultivating my passion for multiculturalism and for educating me to become a true global citizen.

Although I graduated from WMA five years ago, the positive effects of my time here have not faded away; on the contrary, they have only deepened. I will forever remember the uphill walks to the academic buildings, especially during the winters that seemed to last forever. I will cherish the memories I shared with dear friends in the swimming pool, on the Adirondack chairs that the Class of 2016 donated, and at the restaurants of Northampton. And I will always be grateful for the love and support I received from the WMA faculty and staff.

“It was here where I developed a love of learning, a passion for stepping out of my comfort zone and, perhaps most importantly, a desire to learn about different experiences and perspectives. These three qualities have continued to change my life for the better.”

—Junhao “Mark” Xu ’16