WASHK丨Witness the growth journey of 2 girls

What does holistic education, provided by Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong, truly mean for children? How have Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong students grown after their inspiring learning journey?

Jasmine, who left Y6 in 2022 and is now at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, and Kelsey, who is currently in Y6 and leaving this year to attend Cheltenham Ladies’ College, have shared their educational experiences at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong.

Through their stories, you can discover how a holistic approach to education can help students become the best versions of themselves.

From Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong?

to Cheltenham Ladies’?College

The Story of Jasmine

My experience was amazing at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong. Everyone is so nice and supportive, and everyone is so friendly and will always stick out for you.?One thing I love about this school is that the pastoral support here is amazing. Thank you to Mr. Tuckett and teachers for helping me on my journey to get to where I am today, in Cheltenham Ladies’?College.?

Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong is a small school; therefore, teachers can really focus on each and every individual pupil,?knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each and their passions to determine some boarding school options.

Some challenges I faced when transitioning to a UK boarding school was that?I would not say there are not bullies, however,?I’ve learnt that the most crucial point is how you deal with it, how you prepare yourself if anything happens.

I’ve learned a lot from boarding.?One of the things I’ve learned is that I should not care about what other people think, and I should do what makes me happy and do the right things. I’ve learned that my time in life is limited, and I will not waste it living someone else’s life.?When you no longer care about what other people think of you, you have reached freedom, and life truly starts the moment you realize you do not have to prove anything to anyone but yourself.

Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong has an extraordinarily strong influence on me.?Getting homework daily motivates me to revise and constantly learn new things, and it will eventually lead us all to success since it is not an accident. It’s hard work, perseverance, learning, sacrifice, and most of all, loving what you are doing or learning to do.

However, I’ve learned that no one is perfect, and it’s okay to make mistakes sometimes.?In life, you must encounter defeats but never be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter defeats so you can know who you are and what you can rise to. Sometimes we get better grades, sometimes worse, but the important thing is how much effort you put into something and never give up.

Always try your best until you know you can do better, and when you know better, do better. I love how learning is boundless, so you can stretch yourself to learn more.?No one can take that away from you, which is what I love.?Even if you did not study hard before, you can make a new change. Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but everyone can start today and make a new ending.

On the other hand, Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong has helped with my personal development a lot.?I used to be very quiet, shy, and timid when I first joined in Year 4, but because all the students were super kind and welcoming, I settled in and made so many friends that I could never imagine not having.?Friends that look out for me, stand up for me, and embrace who I really am.

I did many extracurricular activities at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong, for example, acting was something I did.

Even now, I still do acting.?I love it so much and could never imagine quitting. It has helped me boost my self-confidence and overcome my fear of public speaking. As well as this, acting makes me physically active. As I’m not particularly keen on sports, so acting is a great alternative. Also, acting conveys thoughts and feelings through facial and body language.?This makes people who do acting effective communicators to the world.

Advice I would give to Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong is, if you start a new boarding school in the UK, make good friends and choose your friends wisely.?True friends do not make your problems disappear, but they are the ones who will not disappear during your problems. True friends will always accept who you are and help you find important things that you may have lost, such as your smile, hope, and courage.

As well as this, I think being hardworking is very important.?Some people think certain people naturally know everything, but that is not true. What is success? It is a mixture of having a flair for the thing you are doing, knowing that it is not enough, that you have to have hard work and a sense of purpose. There are no secrets to success; it is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from mistakes, which is a good thing.?Life would be dull if we were all perfect; we learn from our mistakes to improve.

Making mistakes makes us stronger. Every time we make a mistake, we gain new experience, and it makes us think twice before taking action next time.?It makes us think outside the box, exploring new ways to solve a problem. It helps us to think more creatively when a problem arises, saving more effort and time.?At the end of the day, success is not defined by what one has achieved in life, but by the obstacles overcome while trying to succeed.

But it is important not to compare yourself to others too much.?There is no comparison between the sun and the moon; they shine when it is the right time. It is extremely unhealthy for your mental health and that is why people lack confidence. We all have our ups and downs in life, and we should all try to improve and be better than we were yesterday. We should all focus on ourselves rather than other people, after all, we are running our own race, not someone else’s.?We all learn in so many different ways, and that is what makes each of us individuals, unique, and special.

The last advice I would like to give to everyone is the most important, which is to be kind.?You never know what someone is going through until you walk in their shoes. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Small acts of kindness can go a long way, make a big difference, put a smile on someone’s face, and change their life. It takes a lot of courage to be kind. We never know what battles other people are facing, and kindness costs nothing and does no harm! It is never too soon to be kind, but it will eventually be too late. Someone could be completely broken yet we would have no idea, so kindness is very important.?Every act makes a difference, but it is important to consider what kind of difference you are contributing to.?If you had the choice to be right or kind, choose kind, because some people really need it.

When I grow up, I want to become a doctor. I’m not sure which kind - the list is endless. I want to become a doctor because I want to help people in need when they need it the most.?I also have a passion for science, so I think a medical degree is a great way to explore my interests and aspirations. Helping others can make a real difference in someone’s life, and whatever you put out into the world has a way of coming back to you.?

Additionally, being a doctor allows me to constantly learn and expand my knowledge.?I also want to work in an environment that presents challenges, so I can stretch myself and develop life and problem-solving skills. I plan to make my future goals come true by working hard, as I am always up for a challenge.

Now that I am studying abroad in the UK, the thing I love most about Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong is my friends.?Without them, my experience at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong would not be as fulfilling.?

To my friends, if you are reading this, thank you for being there for me. My friends were like family to me at school.?From the first day of Year 4 to Year 6, I made so many memories that I will always cherish and appreciate, whether they were intentional or not.?Thank you to each and every one of my friends for being a part of my life.?

Friends are the support system we all seek, and I am blessed to have the strongest support system.?My friends are the ones I can count on for anything and everything, anytime and every time. Without them, my life would be incomplete. Thank you for standing beside me through all my ups and downs, happy and not so happy moments. Your presence has always made my existence strong and valuable.

I would like to take this moment to thank all of our teachers and Headmaster Mr. Tuckett for preparing us for the world beyond school.?

Our teachers have been an epitome of strength and a great pillar of support for all of us. They are wonderful human beings who have accepted us with all of our weaknesses and worked tirelessly to help us overcome them. I would like to extend my thanks to all of the teachers,?including my classroom teacher Mr. Haslam,?who have worked so hard to educate us and transform us from raw individuals to mature and sensible ones. I am certain that the lessons I have learned from my teachers here will remain with me forever.?

As students, we owe a tremendous amount of love, care, affection, and respect to every teacher who has ever been present in our lives. The courage and confidence that I possess today are because of the wonderful teachers who have been a part of my journey.?Every teacher deserves tremendous love, care, affection, and respect, and we should all acknowledge the importance of their presence in our lives.?

They have made us capable of who we are today, built our character, and helped us realize the path towards our dreams and ultimate success.?Our teachers have enabled us to identify what is good for us and helped us choose the right path.

Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong has been a treasure trove of knowledge for me, and I have cherished every moment spent here.?Although I will physically be away, I will always carry in my heart the love, care, blessings, and teachings I have received from this school.

From Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong?

to Cheltenham Ladies’?College

The Story of Kelsey

Q1 How was your experience at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong, and how did it prepare you for boarding school in the UK?

When I joined Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong in Year 3, there were only four students.?

The students are still friendly and kind, even though we are in a bigger group now. The teachers are nice and helpful, and they help you to improve in general and always encourage you that there’s room to do better.?There is an ECA called Common Entrance and teachers give you mock tests and exercises that help you familiarize yourself with the format of the 11+ examination.

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Q2 What were some of the challenges you encountered when transitioning to a boarding school in the UK, and how did you overcome them?

I am aware that I will be attending a new school and meeting many individuals from around the world soon. I am excited to meet them.?

However, I anticipate encountering numerous challenges that I have never faced before.?My mental strength is strong, and my emotional stability will enable me to overcome them.

Q3 How has your experience at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong impacted your academic and personal growth.?

The teachers guide you to be more hard-working and teach you to be more resilient when there’s a problem. In iSTEAM lessons, you learn to collaborate with other people in a group and to try to fix problems.?

Teachers in Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong also help boost your confidence and help you improve your characteristics and work.

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Q4 What extracurricular activities did you take part in while at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong, and how have those experiences aided you in your current school?

Before, I joined public speaking, musical theatre, and other musical arts ECAs.?They helped me become more confident while acting and speaking. I also joined the NASA ECA where I did a lot of experiments to learn more about something new.

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Q5 What advice would you offer to current students at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong who are considering attending boarding school in the UK??

You need to work hard and try your best when you do your work.?The things and materials you learn in Wycombe Abbey HK will probably help you in your studies in boarding schools.

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Q6 What are your future goals and aspirations, and what steps are you taking to achieve them?

I want to get good GCSE grades and get into a good university in the future.?I want to become a zoologist because I like animals and I want to learn and research about them.?There are a lot of books about animals in the school library which is one of my favourite parts of the school.

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Q7 What cultural differences have you observed between Hong Kong and the UK, and how have you adapted to them?

There are differences in language, food, and holidays. English is spoken in the UK, while Cantonese is the primary language in HK.?At Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong, you can improve your English skills, which is beneficial for studying in the UK.

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Q8 What do you miss the most about Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong and Hong Kong in general, now that you are studying abroad?

I will miss my classmates and the food in Hong Kong！

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Q9 Lastly, what message would you like to convey to your fellow students and teachers at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong?

To the students, continue to work hard and I hope you can go to good schools for your future journey.?

To all the teachers, thank you for teaching me, especially my homeroom teacher Mr. Haslam. He is very patient and teaches very well with detailed information.?I will miss Headmaster Mr. Tuckett’s assemblies because they are very interesting and informative.

Both Jasmine and Kelsey have embarked on a journey towards excellence from Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong to Cheltenham Ladies’?College, pursuing their dreams in a broader world.?Let’s extend our heartfelt wishes for their ongoing growth and success.