Gateway to Greatness
Three students share how Garden International School helped them reach their desired Oxbridge institutions
Adhering to its motto of bringing out the best in its students, Garden International School (GIS) paves the way for pupils to reach their dreams, starting with admission into their preferred tertiary institutions.
Specialising in the British-based curriculum, the school develops students holistically, a desirable quality sought-after by top-notch institutions. This year, five students were accepted into prestigious universities in the UK. Bryan Lim, Isaac Pau, and Kentaro Arakawa were accepted into Cambridge, while Chong Tze Wey and Nicole Tan received offers from Oxford. We speak to Lim, Pau and Chong to find out how GIS helped them gain entry into these institutions.
Both Chong and Pau were overwhelmed when they received their acceptance letters, while Lim was relieved after discovering the good news. All three credit the school for getting them this far in their educational journey.
Chong commended the whole environment at GIS, saying, “Being in a supportive yet competitive environment encouraged me to push myself when necessary, and collaborate when needed, too.” Pau echoed this sentiment and added that the co-curricular activities organised by the school also helped in his personal development. Lim lauded the supportive teachers who endeavoured to inculcate a passion for learning among students.
But of course, a holistic education transcends the classroom walls. Chong is grateful for the Oxbridge CCA programme, which helps put students’ mindsets in the right frame and understand the demands of higher education and working environment, in
addition to the chance to participate in case studies. Meanwhile, Pau was most enthusiastic in relating his experience with cars through GIS. “I learned a lot from the GIS Thrive Internship Programme with Bufori Motor Car Company. I got to understand how aerodynamics work, discovered more about the world of industrial engineering, and even learned to use a 3D printer!” shares the future Cambridge Engineering student. For Lim, he immersed himself in competitive basketball, maintaining his physical fitness and honing his discipline and time-management skills.
The trio listed a host of teachers they are thankful for as well, apart from their parents and siblings. But what was even more noteworthy was their determination to contribute back to society—either professionally or through works of charity. It was pretty clear that these children have had a great upbringing, as they not only think about what’s best for themselves, but also for those around them.
All three students also expressed how they would deeply miss the high school experience they had at GIS. Chong, who will be pursuing Economics & Management at Oxford, says she will miss the familiarity of the campus, especially the math classrooms and science labs where she used to spend most of her time. Meanwhile, Pau mentions he will miss “the good old days” of being in high school with his friends. Lim’s response was similar: “The people—friends, mentors, teachers who shared in my journey,” reflects the probable Cambridge Computer Science student.