Meet Class of 2023 Graduate Ella C
Class of 2023 graduate Ella C plans to study in Hong Kong in the fall, majoring in Biomedical Sciences. She started at Dulwich Pudong in Year 5 and since then has taken full advantage of the opportunities here. She played netball every year and was Head Prefect for Student Voice where she was responsible for making sure that students' voices were being heard across the College.
Q. What profession are you planning to pursue?
A. I haven’t decided on the exact profession I want to pursue in the future, but I know I want to do something related to medicine and/or biology, which is why I’ve chosen to major in Biomedical Sciences. I feel Biomedical sciences will open up many opportunities for me to find a career that is the most suitable.
Q. What inspired you to pursue Biomedical Science at university?
A. I wanted to study a subject within the medical field because there are constantly new research and breakthroughs in science that are beneficial to society. I want to be a part of that change. I knew for certain I wanted to pursue a profession in this area when I visited an R&D lab and saw all the scientists there working with cutting edge technology.
Q. Tell us a little about your university application process; how did you identify your best fit?
A. One of the main things I looked for in the universities I applied to was diversity. As someone who comes from a multi-cultural background, I wanted diversity at my university to be able to learn and connect with cultures that differed from what I already knew. I wanted this in combination with a high quality education, and knew I wanted to spend most of my time in Asia, which is why I mostly applied to universities in that geographical region.
Q. How did your university counselors help you prepare for the application process?
A. They helped me understand the importance of time management and how to do in-depth research on a university to learn whether or not it’s the right fit for me.
Q. 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?
A. Ms Yang (Head of Mandarin in the Senior School). As someone who isn’t a native Chinese speaker but took Chinese at a native level (Chinese A), I really struggled with that class. However, Ms. Yang was always ready and willing to help me with any questions I had. She took time out of break and lunch to help me with my IO, and gave me a lot of helpful feedback regarding my essay writing, which was my weakest area.
Her support boosted my confidence in the class, as in the beginning I was still unsure if I should stick with Chinese A - a huge challenge for someone of my background as I don’t speak Chinese at home. In the end, I decided to stay in Chinese A, and feel like my Chinese has greatly improved and I’ve learnt many new things. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without Ms. Yang’s help.
Q. What are you most proud of during your time as Head Prefect for Student Voice?
A. Being the Head of Student Voice gave me hands on experience to learn many new skills, such as communicating with teachers and students alike, as well as how to plan, organise and host large events. However, what I’m most proud of is my ability to manage my time well and regularly step out of my comfort zone in regards to public speaking. As someone who is more introverted, the public speaking aspect of being a Head Prefect was very daunting, but throughout the past 2 years I’ve found myself becoming more confident and less nervous about stepping on stage.
Q. How else did you take advantage of the holistic education at Dulwich?
A. During my time at Dulwich from Year 5 all the way to Year 13, I participated in many CCAs, ranging from swimming to ACE. In particular I really enjoyed Netball. I’ve played on the school team every single year I’ve been at Dulwich, and have made many great inter-year friendships over the course of my time playing the sport. I also really appreciated the wide range of service CCAs Dulwich offers, as well as the many opportunities that are provided for students to create and lead CCAs of their own choosing.
Q. In the Graduation Address, Head of College Mr Russell talked about "Live Worldwise". What does Live Worldwise mean to you?
A. To me, living worldwise means learning new things from all different kinds of sources and applying that knowledge to the real world, to not only understand more about it, but also our place within it. This knowledge should lend us insight into relevant topical events - whether social, economic or political - and help us add to society in order to benefit it.
Q. Finally, what are you going to miss most about Dulwich?
A. The school atmosphere, being around teachers who care about the subjects they teach and the students in their class. I’m also going to miss the campus, as I’ve done most of my growing up at Dulwich, having gone to the school for almost 9 years, which is something I’m extremely grateful for. Lastly, I’m going to miss my peers. I’ve been with through thick and thin with them during a turbulent 4 years of high school due to disruptions involving COVID.
