Meet Class of 2024 Graduate Terry W

In Terry W's nine years at Dulwich Pudong, he enthusiastically participated in a wide range of CCA, including swimming, Dulwich Voice, and music. His active involvement was evident in various interdisciplinary projects. Taking full advantage of the excellent platform and resources provided by Dulwich, Terry not only showcased his diverse talents but also displayed great passion and dedication in nurturing global citizenship.

Looking ahead, Terry W has set his sights on new academic heights. Claremont McKenna College (CMC) or the University of Cambridge has offered him an opportunity to pursue further studies in the field of social sciences. On this larger stage, he is determined to use his acquired knowledge to contribute to society and make a difference.

We extend our sincere congratulations to Terry W! May each step of your forthcoming journey be firm and successful, leading to remarkable achievements and a bright future.

What do you intend to study at University and why? And what inspired you to pursue that course of study?

Currently, I  am undecided on where I will  attend, but I will most likely enroll in either Claremont McKenna College (CMC) or Cambridge University. I intend to study Human, Social, and Political Sciences or Political Science with a specific focus on International Relations. 

My passion for the social sciences first stemmed from my interest in global affairs. I enjoy  how global leaders solve various humanitarian issues, prompting me to form my own perspective on the success of their cooperation in achieving international diplomacy. I also love its practicality in modern society so growing my understanding  of the subject will open new opportunities for me to be involved in different civic and political activities in the future. 

My inspiration to study this course comes from my ambition to become a lawyer or a diplomat. By potentially participating in different constructive political dialogues with different policymakers and leaders, I aspire to contribute to a larger movement dedicated to elevating peace to new heights.

How did you decide which universities to apply to?

When approaching my “Big List” universities, I wanted to be surrounded by an academic environment like that of DCSPD, filled with authentic interactions like the ones I have had with each of my teachers here, as well as promoting group discussion and teamwork rather than rote learning. As a result, I applied to many small liberal arts colleges in the US and the UK, allowing me to have more opportunities to have personal interaction with professors and scholars during class time and office hours.

In addition, I looked for institutions that have a diverse student body. Having lived in an international community for so many years, I strongly believe that a diverse student body helps students develop the cultural competency and adaptability needed in preparing for an international career in an increasingly globalised world.

Apart from a diverse student life, I also curated my university list based on the university’s extracurricular flexibility and accessibility. As a student who is very involved in music, swimming, journalism, and service network, I hope to continue many of my extracurricular activities at university as it  provided many opportunities for personal growth beyond academics, helping me to develop different soft skills, such as leadership, teamwork, and time management. 

Why were CMC and Cambridge University your best fit?

I see both CMC and Cambridge University as my best fits due to their liberal arts education. Both institutions have academically diverse social science programs that allow students to develop their own social science pathways. For instance, Cambridge’s HSPS course allows students to choose between Politics and International Relations, Social Anthropology, and Sociology for their 3-single subject track in their third year of studies. On the other hand, CMC allows its students to enrol in other humanities, STEM, and language minors without having to fulfill specific requirements while having one or two majors. Additionally, CMC is also part of the Claremont Colleges –a renowned seven-college consortium modelled after the Oxbridge system. This creative construction meant that students could have access to other Claremont colleges’ dining halls, courses, and faculty members very easily. The college also offers many internship programs for students to get into the nitty gritty of their studies, such as the Silicon Valley program and the Washington D.C. program.

How did your university counsellors help you prepare for the application process?

As a student who applied to universities in the UK and the US, the UCC counsellors have helped me navigate the challenges of finding my “best fit” universities. Throughout the numerous UCC meetings I have had with my assigned counsellors, I have learned to curate an application that best represents my identity, academic passion, and extracurricular activities. 

There is a large misunderstanding that a student’s best fit school hinges on school rank. However, DCSPD’s UCC team has changed this  misconception for me. Through the many afterschool University Fairs the UCC hosted or its partnership with InitialView, I have become increasingly aware of the different characteristics, and more importantly, intentions each institution holds. Instead of creating my university list based on rankings, I have explored different institutions to see how well their course offerings, mission statements, and student life align with my preferences.

Dulwich Pudong teachers are well known for going above and beyond to support students. Any particular teachers you want to single out for their help and support along the way?

Of course! I would like to first express my deep gratitude to Ms Kruger and Mr Reich for their support in my leadership as the Global Citizenship (GC) Head Prefect. It truly has been a fulfilling and amazing experience leading a group of inspiring changemakers who crave to create positive changes within our school community and beyond. Whether that is writing, editing, and publishing 32 GC Journals; dancing to our favourite Taylor Swift songs at the Dulwich Disco; or organizing one of our school’s biggest legacy projects – the One Voice Summit – I have cultivated a deeper understanding of different GC strands and more importantly made the GC portfolio my second family. 

Because of Ms Kruger’s and Mr Reich’s supervision, I have discovered a new purpose in life: to create teaspoons of change in service and sustainability that motivate other communities to follow suit. Moreover, Ms. Kruger's passion for GC has inspired me to incorporate elements of GC into her English class, helping me to approach various text types and literary questions from a GC perspective.

I would like to single out my IB history teacher Ms Johnson for her incredible support. She runs a small class of around four students, which allows her to give each of us individual attention. She is always available to answer my questions after class, no matter how many I have. Additionally, she has generously offered to mark my numerous essay practices, providing detailed and constructive feedback each time. Her dedication and encouragement have ultimately sparked and nurtured my passion for history – making me realize the deep connection between history and my passion for political science.

Finally, I would like to thank Mr Scott for his guidance in not only IB Economics but also my passion for other Social Sciences. His book recommendations – with my favourite being “Why Nations Fail?” – alongside his insightful discussion on different international relations topics during his Symposium CCA have been instrumental to my Cambridge interview. During my mock interview sessions, I particularly appreciate the “why” questions he thoughtfully asks, such as “Why is that?” or “Why do you propose such views?” These questions deepen the discussion and push me out of my comfort zone.

And how has Dulwich supported your passion?

My passion at Dulwich has always been to create a positive impact through service within my surrounding international community. Although I’ve always had this passion, Dulwich has made my goal accessible through its wide service network. By becoming a One Voice ambassador, I have been able to establish long-lasting service connections with other passionate global citizens. I organized fun and informative lightbulb sessions, hosted Q&A sessions for different keynote speakers, and curated unique and authentic action plans,  all of which taught me how global citizenship and sustainability could bring together so many students and teachers.

While serving as the Head Prefect for GC, I had the honour of participating in the annual GC conference, where we discussed the development of the bi-annual ESG Report and Indicators. Additionally, the ongoing publication of the GC Journals coupled with the newly established GC Journal discussion every Wednesday morning demonstrated how Dulwich has prioritised the importance of GC as teachers learn to adopt different elements of GC into their lessons.

Beyond Global Citizenship, what other extracurricular activities were you involved in?

Besides GC, I was also heavily involved in the Swim Team, the Dulwich Music Programs, and the Dulwich Voice Student Reporters. Swimming has been a sport that I most closely associate with. Having joined the swim team in Year 7, I have always loved the Panther spirit and cheers the swim team lives by. Through setting and achieving personal bests, I have learned to stay focused and motivated even when faced with challenges. I am very grateful to have been elected as the team captain by my coaches. I have learned to enhance my teamwork and communication skills and my ability to work under pressure. Despite the rigor of the IB workload, I still tried my best to attend the morning swim training sessions as they helped relieve my academic stress.

I have always had fun playing the clarinet and the bass clarinet in DCS Orchestra and Concert Band. From playing classical music to jazz and even modern pop music, I have enjoyed playing with other talented musicians who hope to use music to bring joy to a wider audience. Dulwich's music programs have been very supportive of my Band Whizzes service CCA. Each week, student music tutors dedicate time to help Year 5 students with their band program music. At university, I hope to continue my passion for playing the clarinet by joining various music bands and programs.

Finally, the Dulwich Voice Student Reporters has been my biggest passion project. Having started out as a small journalism CCA in Year 11, I am very proud to see how far the CCA has come. Throughout this incredible journey, my team managed to create a unified media channel for the entire school by publishing bi-weekly student articles and establishing an online newsletter with sections for "School News," "Global Affairs," and "Magazine".

Our College vision is “Live Worldwise”. What does Live Worldwise mean to you? 

“Live Worldwise” consists of many well-rounded elements of a holistic education. Firstly, it strongly encourages students to adopt a global awareness of what they learn. For example, students who actively engage in different “Philosophy for Children” – P4C – discussions in their English classes or debates in their humanities classes, will effectively achieve the true benefits of “Living Worldwise”. In the long run, their enthusiasm for discussions fosters an environment that promotes high levels of critical thinking. Students will learn to expand their intellectual curiosity by engaging thoughtfully with complex global issues – making them more informed and responsible global citizens.

Furthermore, “Live Worldwise” cultivates a passion for lifelong learning outside of school hours. As the previous head prefect, I was fortunate enough to have participated in the annual Student Leadership Conference across all Dulwich schools. That unique 3-day event not only gathered inspiring students who aspire to “Live Worldwise” but also equipped us with relevant real-life leadership skills that enhance the learning of others.

What are you going to miss the most about Dulwich?

The thing that I will miss the most about Dulwich is the family-like connections I have made with my others. Although the IB curriculum has posed numerous academic and emotional challenges for me, my friends have always been there. The reassuring hugs, shared laughter during breaks and lunch, and our openness about the things we care most about have created a deeply interconnected and vibrant community where I feel safe and truly belong. Huge shoutout to my friends who dressed up as red panda onesies during Quiz Night this year!

Moreover, I will miss Dulwich’s wide accessibility for students to participate and organize CCAs. Because of the prevalent D3 network, I was able to expand the Trivium Debate Club to Dulwich Beijing and other international schools in Thailand and India. Throughout, I have learned to spread my passion for speech and debate to wider international communities.

Lastly, I will miss the teachers who have guided me throughout my nine years at Dulwich Pudong. Each and every single one of my teachers has been very unique.  Whether that is my Year 5 tutor or my IB Maths teacher, all my teachers valued every student’s voice and made a positive difference in my education journey.