Coming Home: Robin’s #ForeverDulwich journey from student to parent
In the first of our #ForeverDulwich interviews, we spoke to alumna Robin, who shared her journey from IB student to proud parent. She reflects on the lasting sense of belonging, support and community that make Dulwich Pudong a unique environment for her family.
As soon as I stepped back into Dulwich, it just felt right. The positive energy, the warmth, it was still the same place I remembered. When I think of Dulwich, I think of a sense of community, multiculturalism, and a very wholesome feeling.
When Robin walks through the gates of Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong today, she is greeted not just by her children’s teachers, but also by the teachers who once taught her.
“It just felt like home again for me,” she says. “You can still feel the community feeling when you’re walking around the hallways. The teachers smile at you, they greet you, and the students all seem so happy.”
Robin’s connection with Dulwich Pudong began almost two decades ago. She joined the College in 2008, at a time when international education in Shanghai was still finding its footing.
“I had zero background in the British curriculum and had to go straight into the IB Diploma,” she recalls. “That was a little frightening, but everyone was so welcoming, and the teachers were so helpful. I had a really positive experience.”
For Robin, Dulwich Pudong was more than just a school, it was a formative environment that nurtured independence, curiosity, and resilience. “The IB is academically challenging, but through every step I felt that everyone, peers and teachers alike, had my back. That sense of support really helped me overcome the hurdles of completing the IB diploma,” she says.
She remembers those years as a time of discovery. “We really had to dab our feet into all aspects of school life. I did netball, I was in a production, even working backstage, which I’d never imagined doing before. It was all part of being part of something new and growing.”
The College’s international atmosphere left a lasting impression. “Because our cohort was so culturally diverse, it really helped prepare us to be global citizens,” Robin reflects. “We were aware that we were part of a bigger, wider community, that we could make a difference.”
After graduating in 2010, Robin pursued a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations at the University of Miami, followed by a Master’s in Marketing Communications at the University of Melbourne. But when she and her family returned to Shanghai in 2024, it was Dulwich Pudong that drew her back.
“I toured all the schools,” she says. “I wanted to be objective. But as soon as I stepped into Dulwich, it just felt right. The positive energy, the warmth, it was still the same place I remembered.”
Now, as a parent of three children at Dulwich Pudong, Robin sees the school from a new perspective, and the same qualities that shaped her as a student continue to shine through. “My eldest is quite shy and anxious, but her teachers have been amazing at helping her open up,” she says. “She’s come out of her shell so much. The teachers have this special way of helping students become the best versions of themselves.”
Her children have embraced all that Dulwich has to offer, from the Dulwich Swimming Academy and Football Academy to play-based learning in DUCKS. “They love learning,” she says. “They’re always reminding me it’s time to do homework! The teachers make it so fun that it really helps me as a parent.”
Beyond the classroom, Robin has also reconnected with the school’s thriving parent community. “There are always opportunities for parents to get involved,” she says. “Last year I helped lead the Australia table at the World Expo, which was such a great way to meet people. Friends of Dulwich has so many clubs and activities, tennis, flower workshops, cultural events. There’s something for everyone.”
For Robin, what truly sets Dulwich apart is the enduring sense of belonging. “It’s so heartwarming to see familiar faces all around, teachers who were here when I was a student, staff who still remember me,” she says. “It’s a testament to the kind of atmosphere Dulwich creates. When I think of Dulwich, I think of a sense of community, multiculturalism, and a very wholesome feeling. That’s what makes it so special.”
What’s your #ForeverDulwich story? Share your memories and experiences of being part of the Dulwich Pudong community, we would love to hear from you.
