- Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award, Highest Mark in Hong Kong for IGCSE German (0525)
- United Kingdom Mathematical Trust Senior Mathematics Challenge Gold Award and BMO Qualifier (top 1% globally)
- Champion, First Runner Up, and Champion respectively at the 74th, 75th, and 76th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival for Yangqin Solo
- Author of 9000+ word research paper titled Swimming Pool Diplomacy and the Sino-Soviet Split
- Leader of the GSIS Sustainable Development Society; Interviewed and aired by CNN about ongoing sustainability efforts for Call to Earth Day 2025
My interest in global diplomacy first arose when I became convinced that nuclear war was imminent. As a Primary 2 student, I heard news of North Korean missile launches and imagined catastrophe unfolding overnight. Of course, I now know that much of that coverage was more sound and fury than actual danger. My childhood naivety has long since faded, but the curiosity it sparked has endured.
Last year, I channelled this interest in international relations into a research paper on the Sino-Soviet Split. I argued that differences in personality were a crucial factor in the breakdown of relations between Mao and Khrushchev from 1956 onwards. Through this project, I analysed diverse perspectives, questioned my own assumptions, and used historical evidence to develop an original perspective. History may never fully repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes. By understanding the past, I believe we can better navigate the present and anticipate the future.
At its core, diplomacy is dialogue, and I strive to cultivate a spirit of open communication. For example, I was a student mentor and part of the secretariat for my school’s Model United Nations, which required students to have empathy, attentive listening, and a willingness to understand others’ perspectives. I am also an avid language learner and a firm believer in the way languages reflect distinct cultural contexts and worldviews. With family roots in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and the United States, I have grown up navigating multiple cultures, an experience that has profoundly shaped how I view global affairs and Sino–US relations.
To me, an outstanding student is someone who is intellectually curious about the world, a relentless learner, and someone who pursues genuine passions with depth and integrity. My interest in international relations stems from a desire to understand how systems of power, ideology, and culture interact across time. I am drawn to questions of why states cooperate or compete, how ideological rifts emerge within alliances, and how historical narratives shape contemporary policy choices. By doing so, I hope to contribute to more informed, rational, and effective global decision-making.