ANDY FENG, 18

Mary Ward C.S.S. (Advanced Functions, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Religion, Law); heading to Georgetown University (government)

How does one get 100 per cent in English?

To to fast. do improve A well lot of in students and English, iterate don’t you really have iterate; they write whatever and submit it and the iteration hap- pens for the next assignment. So maybe they’ll get an 80 and next time get to 90. In the same assignment, I would iterate many times.

How do you fuel a study ses- sion?

Before a study session, I take a jog for an hour. That was one thing I lived by, and coffee.

How did the pandemic impact your academics?

Before the pandemic, I wanted to go into business so badly. But during COVID, I recognized there was a world bigger than just business and that world was for people who are margin- alized. I rethought my entire life, my study plan, my career plan into an activism-advocacy sort of mindset.

How much time do you spend on your phone?

I track this. It’s like 10 hours a day, so literally a lot of my wak- ing hours. But we need to rede- fine what phone use is and how productive it can be.

What’s been your biggest academic disappointment?

Grade 11 English. I loved the course content, but I didn’t achieve what I put into the course and that was crushing.

What do people not understand about top scholars?

There is a very big nerd stereo- type that I want to dismantle because I think it really harms students and leads to bullying. Top scholars can be super-out- going and social. Yes, they sacri- fice time to do studying, but they also spend a lot of time just chilling with friends. I think having an amazing social circle was the reason why I got 100 per cent.