WASCZ | His Journey of Self-transformation and Growth

• Hawking House

Every year, the Wycombe Abbey International China Scholarship Programme selects approximately 10 scholars to study at its campuses in WASCZ. These scholars benefit from an international curriculum seamlessly integrated with rich experiences of Chinese culture. They engage in meaningful interactions with local students, fostering cross-cultural understanding and growth. This unique platform allows Chinese and international students to learn from one another, make shared progress, and develop a deeper global perspective.

Studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths, alongside an EPQ and HSK 4 exams, I quickly acclimatised to the WASCZ lifestyle, eagerly participated in a whole host of extra-curricular activities and took on as many opportunities as possible. This opened me up to many new sports that I would likely have never picked up or continued in the UK, in particular rowing and swimming.

Although I hadn’t swum since I was much younger, I joined the school’s swimming team and started training with Ms Marchi. As a result, I was able to partake in a variety of different competitions, in cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and even Fuzhou, as well as assist in timing swimming events for younger students. These events not only allowed me to work on my fitness and confidence but also gave me the opportunity to connect with many other incredible swimmers from all across China.

Similarly, I also started rowing upon joining WASCZ, which led to the incredible chance for me to row at Henley Royal Regatta as the very first High School eight-man boat from China. The build-up to the race was intense, requiring incredible dedication and determination from all members as we trained upwards of five times a week, both on machines and on the lake, allowing us to bond as a crew and develop interpersonal skills. At the event itself, we were able to make incredible connections with people from all over England and even the world, giving rise to an enriching and fulfilling experience, as well as incredible friendships and memories. This couldn’t have been done without the support from the rowing coach and housemaster of Hawking House, Mr Pascal.

With incredible support from my subject teachers, I began to excel in my lessons, which, in turn, continued to reaffirm my passions for the subjects. This was most prevalent in biology and chemistry, about which I have always been fascinated, and it spurred me to write an EPQ dissertation on a very current and relevant topic in both scientific and social fields. My title for the project was “What are the differences in the use of Fentanyl between the United Kingdom and China?” and it allowed me to investigate in great detail the chemistry of the incredibly harmful drug and look into its dangerous effects on the body of an individual, as well as its impact on society.

I chose this topic because it not only relates deeply with my current studies and reinforces knowledge learnt in lessons but also ties in with the different approaches to large issues experienced in China and the UK, allowing me to understand alternative perspectives and thought processes in a very current context. With regular advice and assistance from Mr Fosu in lessons dedicated to EPQ, my work rapidly began to shape into a high-quality project and repeated exposure to advanced scientific literature further enhanced my fascination with the subject.

This hard work was balanced with frequent and enriching trips to many cities in China, such as Nanjing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Beijing. Visiting these cities broadened my horizons in ways I was not anticipating.

Nanjing’s historical significance as the former capital of China allowed me to reflect on the rich heritage and important events that shaped the country into what it is today. Shanghai’s incredible blend of modern architecture and ancient buildings demonstrated how crucial it is to maintain a balance of keeping traditions alongside making technological innovations to prevent the rich culture from being washed away. In Suzhou, the timeless beauty of classical Chinese gardens and scenic canal bridges offered a tranquil contrast to the bustling and sometimes hectic city life previously seen, opening me up to the peaceful side of Chinese cities. Finally, Beijing’s amazingly rich history and iconic landmarks I had heard so much about, such as the Forbidden City and Great Wall, deepened my appreciation for the ancient culture and the measures in place to keep its legacy sacred. I will cherish the memories I made during these times forever, and the people I met and the friendships I made will last for a long time.

Outside of the scholarship programme’s trips, I also visited Xi’an, Chengdu, and Guilin with my family, allowing me to explore even more of the scenic landscapes and famous attractions, such as the Terracotta Army, scattered all over China. Eating different cuisines, hearing different dialects, and seeing different styles of architecture really highlighted to me how diverse the culture in China is, and made me realise how I had hardly scratched the surface of exploring China.

As time progressed, the topic of future plans was mentioned much more frequently, in particular university choices. After many hours spent scrutinising different institutes and their courses, visiting various universities I had shortlisted, and deciding on which structures and environments I would be most suitable for, I narrowed my list down to five universities: Cambridge, St. Andrews, Durham, Glasgow, and Bristol.

Cambridge had always been a contender for my first choice of university, as its Natural Science course was very appealing from the start due to the breadth of content covered in the first two years, and the variety of different modules available across the course. Despite the competitive nature and high requirements, I was later invited to an interview at Jesus College, which meant a lot of preparation was to come. With assistance from subject teachers, external tutors, and college guidance teachers — all of whom are well-versed in the process and structure of Oxbridge interviews — I covered all biology, chemistry, and maths content I had learnt so far, looked at much higher-level topics, especially regarding biochemistry and reaction mechanisms, and also practised interview technique by rehearsing answering questions whilst explaining my thought process logically and clearly. Although I felt quite nervous, the preparation with Mr Barry and Mr Youell ended up paying off as I felt confident one of my interviews had gone exceptionally well, which was later evident by the offer of A*A*AA I received.

Additionally, I acquired offers from Durham, Glasgow, and Bristol to read Biochemistry. I chose this subject because of my passion in this field, as well as the increasing relevance in the medical community, particularly with developing drugs for a multitude of different conditions and creating cures for currently untreatable conditions. This is made possible due to Nobel Prize-winning AI technology and inspiring developments in protein predictions, in turn making many different other innovations a reality.

As a member of this project, aimed to make stronger connections between China and the UK, I feel it is almost my duty to continue to contribute to this relationship further down the line. I would love to continue learning Mandarin alongside future studies, perhaps joining a university society to provide my unique insight as a British student who has studied and spent time in China.

My skills may even take me beyond university, as it isn’t impossible that my future job may take me to China, where knowing relevant vocabulary will be vital. Although I can picture myself working in a laboratory environment down the line, I have yet to decide on how my career will pan out, and I am hoping my time at university will allow me to find the path I wish to follow. With the many skills I have developed during my time at WASCZ, including the ability to adapt to new and unfamiliar environments, I believe I should be able to tackle many problems thrown at me.