Meet our alumni: Park Chaewon, Class of 2022

To start with, please could you tell us a little bit about yourself. 

Hello everyone! My name is Park Chaewon. I came to BIS Hanoi in 2019 and started the IGCSE in Year 11. BIS Hanoi is the very first international school that I joined. I finished my IB (International Baccalaureate) course and graduated from BIS in May 2022. 

What was it like when you first joined BIS Hanoi? What are your favourite memories of BIS Hanoi? 

At first, I was worried about how I would be able to learn and adjust to the new atmosphere. Since I had been attending Korean school with Korean friends before BIS, I was not as confident in my ability to speak and write in English as other students. But thanks to my friends and teachers, I was able to communicate a lot more and develop my speaking abilities. Due to COVID-19, our year group sadly missed out on a lot of opportunities to spend time with BIS family. However, I was delighted to see my dear friends and teachers in person when we went back to school at the end of 2021. Springboard Day was one of my most favourite memories. We were free from the exam stresses and enjoyed a day full of interesting games at a bowling alley near the school.  I also enjoyed participating in the orchestra of our Secondary production.

The IB organisation claims IB students develop strong academic, social and emotional characteristics. Would you agree with this statement? (and why?) Can you share some of your experiences? 

Definitely.  

In my opinion, in addition to experiencing academic subjects through learning, IB students are given the opportunity to develop social ties with the global community as well. We are able to develop into responsible, sincere, courageous, and persistent leaders in IBDP.  

I’ve talked and discussed every world issue throughout my IB courses. For example, in one of my English classes, we debated whether flying should be prohibited in order to lower the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to the environment. Because of this topic, I had the chance to do research thoroughly on my own about how airplanes damage the environment and what can be done to remedy them. I also paid close attention, listened carefully and showed respect for the opposing viewpoint. And not just this specific class but in every IB lesson, we engaged in in-depth thinking and conversations with our peers. 

How did you feel when you received your perfect score?   

Even though the exam was over, I was still nervous about it until now. However, when I received my IB score, I knew that my efforts had not been in vain. Although it is not as I expected, I am proud of myself for studying hard during difficult circumstances and am very pleased with my results. 

Now that you have graduated from BIS Hanoi, which university are you attending next year and why do you choose that university/major? 

I will attend Chung-Ang University (CAU) in South Korea for my university journey, majoring in Nursing. I chose Nursing because I’m really passionate about human biology and want to devote my life to helping people live better lives.

As you reflect on your past at BIS Hanoi while getting ready for your next challenge, what advice do you have for your BIS fellow students as they continue their journey through BIS Hanoi, and get ready for the IB? 

COVID-19 has significantly changed our IB process. The programme will be getting more difficult, and younger students must prepare for the adjustment.  

When I took PCT 1 in Year 12, I received a low score and was really concerned about the final exams. But I’ve set a goal for myself to earn the highest score possible. I worked hard to reach that goal, and as a result, I was able to get a good IB score.  So, here’s some of my advice for the fellow students.  

First, actively participate in class. This is to ensure that you fully understand the huge amount of knowledge you’ll be getting. Also, avoid cramming for exams. When you have an upcoming exam, you ought to allocate adequate time to preparation and revision, even if it is in your spare time.  However, you also need to relax to study consistently. When I was really exhausted and bored, I’d spend some time watching YouTube before returning to my studies. 

Remember to create a personal study plan. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. You should consider your study habits and build an effective study strategy. For example, I always studied for two hours and took a 20-minute break. I also locked my cell phone while studying to be able to control myself and focus on studying for a long period.  

Furthermore, try utilising the past paper. I'm confident that reviewing past papers can help you memorise numerous concepts and prepare for final exams. Don't give up so easily. I hope you’ll achieve your goal :) 

Thank you Chaewon!