At every high school graduation at Concordia International School Shanghai, there is a special moment when students who have attended the school since their early childhood years are asked to stand and be recognized.
For these students, Concordia is where they grew up, formed lasting friendships, discovered their interests, and built relationships with teachers who came to know them as individuals and supported them along the way.
Their stories offer a glimpse into the lasting value of growing up in a school community where students are known, nurtured, and encouraged to reach their potential.
Room to Explore and Grow
Monica Xie joined Concordia in Kindergarten. Growing up in a close-knit community where teachers knew her well gave her the confidence to ask questions, seek help, and explore new interests.
A Middle School Maker Design elective sparked her interest in collaborative problem-solving and business. She built on that foundation through Concordia's High School Applied Learning Business & Finance course, the Wharton Global Youth Program, and leadership roles in student-led social enterprises and CISSMUN (Model United Nations).
By graduation, Monica had received university offers from Carnegie Mellon, UC Irvine, and Cornell before choosing to pursue her passion for business at NYU Stern.
Cathy Tu, who joined Concordia in Preschool, followed a different path. Now studying Applied Mathematics at Harvard University, Cathy developed interests extending well beyond mathematics.
At Concordia, she served as copy editor of Zeitgeist magazine, co-led the SUM math club and Girls in STEMM club, explored journalism in class, and delved into gender equality and social entrepreneurship during after-school hours.
As students discover their interests, having a community that knows and supports them can give them the confidence to take those interests further, turning curiosity into initiative.
Turning Passion Into Purpose
For Marcus Chu and Shreyas Sharma, both Class of 2025, who joined Concordia in early elementary school, a shared passion for aerospace engineering became an opportunity to create something together.
With guidance from High School mathematics teacher Dr. Tong, the two students founded Concordia's Aerospace Club. Together, they explored drone technology, visited industry research centers, built an autonomous drone, and introduced younger students to the field.
Today, Shreyas is studying at Carnegie Mellon University, while Marcus is pursuing his passion for aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's oldest and largest fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace.
Looking back, Marcus reflects on the encouragement he received:
“My time at Concordia has taught me that the sky is the limit. The school's support has enabled me to reach new heights in my passion for drones that I once thought impossible, and has allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream of experiencing advanced drone technology and bring it to other students.”
For Marcus, that encouragement helped turn a personal passion into an opportunity to share his knowledge with younger students. And it's often these relationships, with teachers and fellow students, that leave the longest-lasting impression.
Connections That Last
For many graduates, the influence of Concordia extends beyond academics to the relationships and values they carry into adulthood.
Han Sea Kim, Class of 2011, who spent ten years at Concordia, went on to study at KAIST and Korea University and is now a medical resident at Montefiore. His formative years at Concordia remain an important part of his identity.
Andrew Zhang, Class of 2021, joined Concordia in Grade 3 and went on to become a Cornell Merrill Scholar before beginning his career at Bain & Company. Among his lasting memories is the influence of his High School Social Science teacher, Mr. Paulson, who taught him the importance of leading with integrity and humanity.
Sophia Lim, who enrolled at Concordia at age six, went on to graduate from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and now serves as a McKinsey Transformation Vice President. She credits her Concordia teachers with helping build her confidence as a life-long learner.
Their experiences are a reminder that while students graduate from Concordia, the lessons, relationships, and sense of belonging developed over the years can stay with them long after graduation.
A Foundation for Life Success
Every Concordia graduate follows a different path, but for those who spent much of their childhood at the school, their journeys share a common foundation: a community that offered continuity, meaningful relationships, academic challenges, and opportunities to discover who they could become.
For families, the value of this journey lies not only in where their children may go after graduation, but in the people, experiences, and community that help shape who they become along the way.
That's the lasting impact of growing up at Concordia.
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