Hi! I’m Yvonne Tsai from Y12 and I am currently an IB Year one student. As an enthusiast in natural sciences and maths, and I am hoping to pursue an education in engineering when I go to university. So far, I have made some achievements in the academic field with the support of my teachers and my friends, and I would like to share with you my journey to academic excellence:
INNOVATIVE
Engineering is the application of scientific knowledge to solve real-life problems through design and building, so an innovative mind is essential to an engineer. I want to be an engineer in the future because I have always had a strong interest in maths and sciences and I truly enjoy the process of problem-solving, the thrill of finally arriving at a solution is particularly rewarding. 
Last year, a group of FIS students and I were very lucky to attend a masterclass hosted by The Institution of Civil Engineer (ICE), where I was first introduced to the world of civil engineering. Through the masterclass, I had a greater understanding of the reality of being an engineer, and I also had the amazing opportunity to work with some HKU students to discuss the problems in Hong Kong’s constructed environment and drafted a few possible solutions. I found it an exceptional experience to collaborate and brainstorm with a group of people with whom I share the same passion. A few weeks later, I was thrilled to go back with a team of FIS students to attend another workshop by the ICE, where we worked with other schools and built a model suspension bridge, which broke the Guinness World Record of longest span bridge! I absolutely loved this experience, and I wish to study Engineering at university so I can have more exciting experiences like this.
SMART
The IGCSE is a programme for international students, it covers a variety of areas including Sciences, Humanities and Languages. Between Y10 and Y11, I took eleven of these courses. It was a challenging yet engaging academic journey, and my teachers at FIS have provided me with the aid to develop my thought process and approach to learning. Towards the end of Y11, it quickly became very stressful, but my teachers were very helpful in terms of preparing us for the exams and they were very patient to answer any of our questions. Therefore, after six stressful weeks of exams, I was overjoyed to find out that I had achieved 10 A*s and 1A overall and was awarded Top in Hong Kong in my Chinese exam.
Besides my school work, I also take part in a lot of maths-related activities outside of school. This year, I am the leader of the school Maths Olympiad team and we competed against other schools in Hong Kong. It was a great experience because I learnt so much in maths that won’t be taught at school, and it was a good opportunity to identify my strengths and weaknesses. FIS also provides other opportunities for students who wish to extend their studies outside of school. In Y10, my maths teacher gave me the opportunity to compete in the American Scholastic Mathematics Association (ASMA) Contest and I was the highest scoring junior student in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I have gone on two South East Asia Mathematics Competition (SEAMC) trips, led by my maths teachers, to Jakarta and Manila, where I had the chance to meet wonderful mathematicians and work with the top maths students from all over Asia. And much to my joy, I won a silver medal last year in SEAMC 2018. Through these challenging competitions and school trips, not only have my knowledge and skills in maths considerably improved but I also learnt to manage my time and balance school work and extracurricular activities.
INQUIRERS
I believe curiosity is one of the most critical attributes of effective and enjoyable learning. Being inquisitive in seeking knowledge, I always take part in class discussions and … teachers with probing questions: In Maths, I want to know how the formulae and models can be applied in real life; in Physics, I ask my teachers why things are the way they are, and often bombard them with the “what ifs”; and in Mandarin lessons, I am always intrigued by the origins of idioms. Fortunately, all my teachers at FIS are very happy and patient to answer my questions, no matter how strange they might be. As a result, I have a deeper understanding of my school work and gain even more knowledge outside the curriculum. In this way, my teachers have really helped me develop research skills and independent thinking, and these are notably crucial skills required at university and at work.