This summer, another group of students will graduate from Yew Chung International School of Shanghai’s (YCIS) Gubei Campus. Warren is an American student from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and he is graduating after spending his high school years at YCIS. Here, he reflects on his experience at the city’s first independent international school.

How does it feel to be graduating from high school?

Over the past five years at YCIS I’ve gained a lot of experience, I’ve seen quite a bit of the world, and now another chapter of my life has started to draw to a close. I have been accepted to the University of Michigan and I’m looking forward to majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Which extracurricular activities have you taken part in during High School? I’ve done a wide range of extracurricular activities during my time at YCIS. I was a member of the Debate Club, where we participated in the World Scholar’s Cup, finishing second. I also had the opportunity to join the Student Council, and in Year 13 I was elected as president. This is the achievement I am most proud of during my time in Secondary. Studying at an international school gives you an insight into cultures from all over the world, and it was a privilege to be able to help make a difference to our school community with the council.

What are your words of advice for students studying in the IB program? To be successful in IB, it really comes down to your personal motivation because it truly is a challenging program. In the end, you’ll find that success really does depend upon the effort you put in. For me, the most enjoyable part of the IB program has been my interactions with my teachers, as well as my classmates, and the strong bonds we have formed. It is very helpful to know that when you are a student in the IB program, your classmates are undergoing the same challenges you are, and you can help support one another.

What will you miss the most about high school? The best part about YCIS is the community. It is vibrant, alive, and you have the whole world on one campus. It is really great to see and understand different perspectives, to learn how different cultures function, and just to experience how people interact in different situations. YCIS really emphasizes the need for cultivating students’ understanding and acceptance in order to become a global citizen. As I go through life, I will know that my school really helped me to develop a more global outlook, and that is something I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else.