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Alice joined BIS in Y12 after previously studying in her home country of South Korea followed by another International School in HCMC. Alice showed enormous potential from day one, but that's not to say there weren't obstacles to overcome. When first joining the BIS family she had to overcome the challenges faced with a language barrier, but through the help of her friends, guidance and support of our teachers & staff, and of course, through her own self will and determination she was able to push through and excel in both her academic studies and Co-Curricular activities.
Alice's wonderful story of perseverance made her the top candidate for the 2020 Dux Scholaris Award, which is awarded each year to the top academic performer at the IBDP level in BIS.
We were able to have a quick chat with Alice to find out about her time at BIS as well as what she is getting up to now. Watch the video below for the full interview or read some of the highlights underneath.
Prior to BIS I grew up and studied in South Korea until Year 10 when I moved to Vietnam, and when I first came to Vietnam I was barely able to communicate in English.
I chose to study the IBDP at BIS because it's the most prestigious school in Ho Chi Minh City.
Because BIS is a much bigger school than I used to go there was a lot more opportunities for me like the Model United Nations. It was very challenging for me as a new student, I couldn't speak English very well, so I had to reach out to my classmates and try talking to them a lot to improve my speaking skills. On top of that my teachers were very supportive, and I really appreciate what they did, I would not have been able to achieve what I did without their guidance. I especially appreciate the support I received from Ms Curley, from my English classes to my extended essay she was very motivational and supportive during the final stage of my IB Diploma, for which I am truly thankful.
I believe the IBDP has changed the way I think about the World and myself. So in Korea I learned how to memorise the knowledge, but in the IBDP I learned how to think for myself and how to utilise the knowledge I had learned in the classroom. The workload of the IBDP was huge, with the handling of 6 subjects plus other activities like Model United Nations and Prefects. I would define the IBDP with two words, enlightening and challenging.
I had to overcome some roadblocks along the way, such as biology, due to the fact there was so much English terminology involved. Of course covid-19 presented challenges too, meaning we had to study online, it was a struggle to focus at first, but the teachers in BIS were really supportive and helpful in me regaining my focus, as the online learning was incredibly well designed, and I came to love the school even more after the working from home period.
I had already mentioned the Model United Nations and the Prefects, and on top of that I was involved in the Saigon Enterprise Challenge. I can't express how much these activities helped shape myself, it made my work load a lot heavier than the IBDP itself, but I found myself really appreciating it, and especially as a business student now, I felt that founding my own business as part of the Saigon Enterprise Challenge was a life changing experience! I was able to set up an enterprise with my classmates that was able to be involved in the community, by offering jobs to the less abled to raise awareness to several causes, and it made me feel that I could impact the world with business.
My teachers were very supportive, and I really appreciate what they did, I would not have been able to achieve what I did without their guidance.
I am currently studying Business Administration and specialising in accountancy at the National University of Singapore. I am really interested in business and I am talented in mathematics so I chose what I'm good at. I am very excited for this new chapter of my life, whilst there is a level of freedom with university life there is also a lot of responsibility. After I finish university I'd like to work in a global investment bank, but most importantly I simple want to be the greatest I can be.
Joining BIS HCMC in Foundation Stage 2 (F2) is a fantastic age to begin a lifetime love for learning, encouraged and nurtured by our experienced and committed class and specialist teachers, who personalise learning unique to every child. We look back at what our F2s have experienced in less than one term already at BIS HCMC.