Student Spotlight - Laura Noble, Year 11

Describe yourself in 3 words

Optimistic, creative, committed

What is the best part about studying at BSKL?

The facilities at BSKL accommodate all the activities I am interested in and more. Additionally, it is evident that the teachers put a lot of care into the well-being of their students and are constantly reflecting on the effectiveness of their teaching methods.

What are your biggest achievements (academic or otherwise) so far?

I scored a 9 in my early entry Mathematics IGCSE and an A* in my English IGCSE exams. Aside from studies, I recently completed two paintings as part of my art coursework that I am quite happy with.

What have you learnt in the last month?

I recently watched a video which justified why the sea level does not rise evenly around the world despite the fact the bodies of water are all connected- and for reasons other than global warming. It explained that these levels were also impacted by the underwater terrain, the strength of the gravitational pull of large masses (like continents and ice sheets), currents, and changes in the position of the land as a result of things that have happened on Earth up to tens of thousands of years ago.

Describe BSKL in 3 words

Accommodating, responsive, modern

What are your favourite hobbies/activities?

I love to play sports, mainly athletics, football and basketball; and if not I like to exercise in my free time. I also love to draw, though I often find I don’t have much time to do so.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

I would love to learn Chinese to fluency, or learn new techniques in football and basketball. As for something I have never tried learning properly before, I would like to try singing or dancing.

What do you aspire to be when you grow up?

As far as a career is concerned I am still uncertain, though for a long time I heavily considered pursuing art. I only hope that I can keep my passions or interests alongside, or even involved in, whatever path I choose to follow.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

I would love to meet any of my grandparents, to learn more about their lives, and more about what my parents were like through their childhood.

What’s the coolest (or most important) trend in education you see today?

There is a small corner of the internet run by young influencers that are sitting their GCSEs, A-Levels, or in university, that post advice or encouraging videos about studying and stress. I would often watch those videos to calm down before an important exam, and they also provided me with some incentive to study harder.

What advice would you give to other students struggling at school?

If I were to give some advice to someone, I would recommend three things:

One, exercise self-discipline. In terms of studies, once you understand what you want (it could be a certain grade for a subject), and have decided what you must to get to that stage, it is important that you have enough self-control and motivation to stay on track for improvement. This could mean avoiding procrastination, improving efficiency, eliminating distractions, and so on. As you become more well-practiced with self-discipline, and as you have more motivation to do well at school, it becomes easier and more natural.

Two, manage your time well. Trying to complete work the night before the deadline is never ideal, and it often compromises the quality of the work you produce. If possible you should try to finish your homework on the day it is given.

Three, take action when you don’t understand something. If there is a question you answered incorrectly in a test, or the teacher’s explanation of a concept didn’t make sense to you, you should take the initiative to research it yourself, ask a friend, or preferably ask the teacher. This ensures that when you revisit the topics during revision there aren’t any unanswered questions that prevent you from understanding what you were taught in class.

What do you love most about living in Kuala Lumpur?

I haven’t ever lived anywhere else, but it is an extremely convenient place to live, in that shopping malls and public facilities are never too far from my home. It also has a large network of international schools, which allows us to have inter-school competitions locally, such as sport-specific competitions and MUN conferences.