Meet our alumni: Lee Suhjin, Class of 2022

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

Having studied in different international schools in the past, I found my school life in BIS Hanoi to be a new and familiar experience. I remember having felt very nervous about the numerous opportunities that were provided by the school. As I had joined BIS Hanoi in Term 3 of Year 9, I felt overwhelmed with all the end of year exams that were required for me to take and having to learn about and choose IGCSE subjects in such a limited time was a lot for me to handle as a new student. However, I felt very supported by my teachers and friends and I felt like there was a good system in place for new students to know who to reach out to, especially with the head of year. 

How did you find the 2-year IB Diploma Programme? 

I can’t stop emphasising how helpful the IBDP is for not only college entrance but also college education. As a Year 12 and Year 13 student, it did feel burdensome at times and it was difficult to manage both my studies and the IB coursework (IA, ToK, EE). However, it was a great experience for me to apply my learning to my interests. As I had great interest in medicine, most of my coursework and essays were related to medicine in some way. For instance, for Maths IA, I remember having analalysed and graphed the pharmacokinetic profile of anti-epileptic drugs using mathematical modelling and calculus. For some of my friends that were still in the process of finding their interests, I was told that learning information using real life lenses helped to find their passion. 

I would say that the 2-year IB Diploma Programme, in a way, is a condensed version of college. Having been in college for more than a semester, I have realised the importance of having to manage work in the humanities and sciences, college clubs, making connections, and constructing your own social life. In essence, the 6 IB subject groups, ToK, EE, and CAS encompasses the necessary skills required as a college student. You’ll realise the importance of IB when you come to college and not regret having done the IB 😊 

We learned that you wrote about breast cancer in your EE. What made you decide to choose this subject? What was the most challenging part of your research, and how did you organise it? 

Over the Summer before Year 12, I shadowed in the neurosurgery ward at the National Children's Hospital in Hanoi and I developed a great interest in brain cancer. I was eager to learn how physicians look at patients' CT scans and decipher the malignancy of the breast tumour. 

Mathematics isn’t a common subject chosen for an EE and there weren’t any other students in our year group that chose mathematics, so it was initially difficult for me to make up my mind or receive advice from upperclassmen. However, with the help of our EE coordinator and Mr Airdrie, I was able to receive a lot of support and solidify a good outline and draft.  The most challenging part of my research would have been the process of looking for and collecting data. It was a long process to find data that was credible but also ethical, taking into consideration the patients’ privacy and content. Eventually, I found data via an online data collection source that had been used by many different research papers for both statistical and scientific purposes. 

You served as the Head Student of the Student Council in AY 2021-22, and the BIS’ Global Goals Ambassador for the AY 2020-21. What did you learn from these experiences? 

These leadership experiences taught me how to take initiative and to become a better leader and collaborator. I learned that a leader encompasses so much more than just being a good facilitator and distributor. As the head student and global goals ambassador, I was encouraged to widen my scope and think of how I could make the activities accessible and approachable to both the primary and secondary students. I am really grateful for having been able to be involved in both leadership activities as they have helped me to develop as a better student and person. The skills that I have learned through those positions have been valuable in my college application essays and in my current e-board positions for the clubs on campus. 

How do you manage between IB deadlines and other co-curricular activities? 

I think I was able to manage IB deadlines and other activities because I was passionate about a lot of the co-curricular activities that I took part in. Systematically, I planned ahead of time for a lot of the IB coursework with deadlines. I utilised the IB calendar that was given at the beginning of Year 12 and started to plan for IAs a few months ahead of the deadline to make sure that I could give some leeway for co-curricular activities that could not be planned ahead of time. 

How did BIS prepare you to get into your university? What was the role of your teacher(s) and/or university counsellor? 

Both my teachers and the university counsellor were very receptive to both academic and personal conversations. Through more frequent and casual conversations that I had with them, they helped connect me with different opportunities and guided me during the university application process. The references I got from my teachers helped me to get shadowing opportunities and get into the Stanford Clinical Summer Internship.

I am also very appreciative of the many different opportunities that BIS provided. The school was very supportive when establishing CREST club (a STEM research club) and developing the NAE-UNICEF campaign by promoting soap drives and providing opportunities to be featured on UNICEF articles. Those two activities helped me to be directly involved in aspects that I value – STEM research and service – and have allowed me to explore STEM research and service further in college. 

Which university are you attending and why did you choose that university/major?  

I am currently attending Saint Louis University in their medical scholars program. I was in a dilemma when I was making my final decision last year. As I was applying, I realised that Cornell University’s bioengineering program would be a great fit for me as they had a concentration in food engineering – a field that greatly intrigued me – and had great emphasis on community service. Hence, I was overjoyed when I got accepted into Cornell’s bioengineering program, but thinking about my eventual desire in becoming a physician, I decided that Saint Louis University’s medical scholars program would better prepare me to become a physician in the United States. Even as I am writing this article, I am confident that I have made the right decision as choosing Saint Louis University has helped me to get a step closer to becoming a physician. 

What do you love about your university? 

I love how there are a lot of on-campus opportunities and experiences and how our school is greatly focused on serving for others. To continue to serve for others, as I did in high school, I have been able to volunteer and serve for many communities and they have been truly memorable experiences, such as forming connections with senior women in a vulnerable care facility. A lot of opportunities are available for freshmen to be involved in research and e-board positions, so I have been able to be greatly involved on campus since I have gotten here. Adding on, I am currently involved in research at college, leading the neuron project. I have been granted the opportunity to present my poster at the ASBMB national conference in April 2023 at Seattle and I am excited for more opportunities that the lab and SLU will provide me with. 

Another thing that I love about Saint Louis Universities is the different connections that I have been able to form on campus. I have been able to form many valuable connections with my friends, professors, physicians, and upperclassmen. Through the relationships that I have formed, I have opened my eyes to so many different opportunities and I am excited to see how they will enhance my college experience. 

What advice do you have for your BIS fellow students, especially those who are doing or about to embark on their IBDP journey? 

Try and have fun with your coursework and CAS! Choose topics and subjects that you love and you’ll find yourself more immersed and interested in the IBDP. Also, remember to find time in your day for self-care and spend time with your friends and families. There may be periods of time when you feel like the workload is overwhelming but you’ll be proud of yourself at the end. I believe in you! 

Thank you Suhjin!