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My story with SCLS | Class of 2024 Graduate: Sophia Ji

Jul 09,2024

阳光下的绿茵

——我与宋校的故事

宋庆龄学校国际部

2024届毕业生 纪霁原


Amherst College

阿默斯特学院


University of California, Los Angeles

加利福尼亚大学洛杉矶分校


The University of Hong Kong

香港大学


The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

香港科技大学



“Feeling the spring breeze slipping through our fingers and embracing the sunshine, we gathered at SCLS to embark on the journey of learning. Through reading, we obtain our first knowledge of the world, preparing us to take our first steps into the real world with wisdom and reason." Our school anthem flowed naturally from my heart as I recalled and jotted down all my most precious memories at SCLSID over these past twelve years, each moment contributing to the person I am today.




Wrinkles of Happiness


On the morning of the National Holiday in 2022, I arrived on campus with my suitcase. The school gate, adorned with a rippling national flag, slowly opened for me. The usual throng of students and parents was absent, instead now only populated by one familiar face.


“You're one of the students coming to stay for four days, right?” asked the guard.


I nodded, “Yup! I’m here to attend the competition.”


“Great! Everything you need has been prepared for you, including blankets and pillows. But let us know if you need anything else!” When he smiled, his wrinkles bloomed like a flower under his eyes, followed by his dimples sinking on his dark cheeks. Because of his warm greeting, my nervousness was reduced a little. 

After expressing my gratitude, I walked onto the pavement painted with shadows of the camphor trees and finally arrived at the library to meet my teammates and start the competition. To ensure we could focus as much as possible, the school provided us dorms to stay in overnight and daily meals. Everyone worked hard for us: Our sponsor teacher ran around campus until midnight on that first day to borrow materials from different teachers. To design artwork for our exhibition, the guards helped us borrow several baskets from the storage room and even nearby villagers that matched our ideas. And to avoid “brain exhaustion,” the canteen ayi prepared some snacks to supplement the meals.

Over the past twelve years, besides the knowledge obtained from teachers in classes, I have learned how to love from the diligence and dedication shown by other figures on campus––from all those wrinkles of happiness. SCLSID is not feared for its strictness but rather applauded for believing in our potential to improve, encouraging our bold ideas, and teaching us love and confidence. In such a supportive environment, I have learned to treat people with kindness and thus become more motivated to grow, think, and innovate.


Wrinkles of Happiness





Multicultural Learning


Heavily influenced by my family, I developed a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture since early childhood. As a student studying in an international school, I still attach great importance to embracing local culture. It is only when I am equally familiar with foreign concepts and confident about my culture that I can fully respect other people while still being fully authentic to myself. 

In addition to dozens of AP courses catering to both arts and sciences, SCLSID also offers courses about Chinese culture. From Chinese History in middle school to my senior year "Novel Reading and Criticism from a Global Perspective" elective, these options strengthened my love of learning Chinese and my confidence in being Chinese.

To explore traditional culture in-depth, in 10th grade I conducted research with some of my classmates on Haipai culture. Through visiting historic buildings in Shanghai, reading primary sources, and interviewing researchers, we integrated culture and technology to develop the first role-playing game about Haipai. This game allows more young people to understand Shanghai's local culture and its spirit of inclusiveness that can (re)build our sense of cultural identity and confidence.


Adding to discussions of identity and extending from the feminist ideas I first encountered in my AP English course, in the past celebration of Women's Day, I collaborated with more than a dozen students and teachers to organize the "Herstory" exhibition. This forum included biographies of women who have made outstanding contributions in different fields, an installation art piece concerning gender bias, and a recreation of the world's only language used exclusively by females. Many teachers and classmates also came to participate in the after-school gender equality salon, where we shared observations and personal experiences to contemplate how to create a more inclusive campus.


In my opinion, SCLSID truly embodies what an "international school" is––it not only educates us about the essence of Chinese culture but also incorporates core values of international education, allowing us to immerse ourselves in a multicultural learning environment that blends Eastern and Western ideas to create a perfect coexistence. 




Our Story


“When they let you down, the morning rolls around, and it’s another day of sun!”


We spent months practicing the short 5-minute routine from "La La Land." After numerous rehearsals, we saw our infinite potential: we arranged complex movements despite being unfamiliar with musicals; we made nearly no mistakes despite lacking any foundation in dance; and we managed to sing while dancing despite it being our first attempt.


I have established friendships with many of my classmates since elementary school. Unlike many other schools’ stressful and competitive environments, we value building deeply empathetic connections with each other. You can see us everywhere: playing Super Mario in Mr. E’s classroom, traversing bushes and buildings to play hide-and-seek, sweating and cheering for each other on the soccer field and basketball court, shining on stage when we perform, singing karaoke in Ms. Espanola’s classroom, and even dozing off in the library…

“Let's perform another musical at our graduation ceremony! It was so fun!” Over the past twelve years, these moments of shared encouragement and improvement have been deeply imprinted in my mind, propelling me to reach higher.


Our Story 







On the fertile soil of SCLS, we are a bountiful field bathed in sunshine, full of vitality. This is not only a place for learning, but also for discovering and building oneself.


Madame Soong Ching Ling sowed the seeds of love, which bloom into colorful flowers of boundless dreams. 

Ah, no matter how big the world is, we, as the younger generation, are ready for any challenges. 

Be brave and stay true to yourself.

 And it’s time for us to soar!


Although the school anthem has nearly reached its final performance for us, we will continue marching forward with this love and courage toward a brighter future.




Teacher's Message

Mr. John Zhang

Sophia possesses a strong sense of affinity with others and leadership. She is the backbone and role model of her class, always able to organize and rally the whole cohort to participate in activities or overcome various challenges. She demonstrates exceptional learning ability and a spirit of inquiry, which enables her to excel in all subjects. Meanwhile, Sophia has continuously led various school activities and student initiatives, including speeches, debates, clubs, and student services. Through her ongoing learning exploration, she is also discovering her true self. There is no doubt that Sophia's future holds infinite possibilities and tremendous excitement.


Mrs. Susan Gotthelf

Sophia effortlessly blends intellectual curiosity, service leadership, and unwavering dedication. Whether she is leading the Student Council, TEDx, Rock Band, or everyday activities around school, her heart, humility, and honesty shine through every endeavor. Her genuine interest in literature and art as a window into the human experience informs her academic and community efforts. She makes time for transformative experiences that inspire her actions, like visiting exhibitions, delving into good literature, and spending quality time with family and friends. She is a trusted interlocutor by her peers and her teachers, who see that she likes to DO as much as she likes to THINK, and we have all benefitted greatly from her contributions over the years.


Mrs.Sophia Wang

Throughout her college application process, Sophia Ji was never hasty to decide her preferred major. She genuinely explored every possible interest, ranging from mathematics, to economics and political science, to public policy and art history. With every such transition, she sought to discover her true self and push beyond her limits. Sophia conducted in-depth research and actively communicated with AOs, college professors, and currently enrolled students to pin down her dream school. While writing college application essays, she had a thorough reflection of who she is, expressing her rich, vibrant inner self through a beautiful narration. Her mature and resilient personality, diligence, and strong sense of responsibility led her to her dream school. 




Authors 撰稿：Sophia Ji 纪霁原

Sponsor Teachers指导老师：张昊旻，Mr. Josh Yager


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