This summer we interviewed seven students from the class of 2021. They told us about their years at FIS and their future projects, in France or elsewhere in the world.
Here are their stories !
#7 Sharon, International stream
#6 Lise, French stream
#5 Neleah, International stream
#4 Lachlan, International stream
#3 Auriane, French stream
#2 Arthur, International stream
#1 Cécile, French stream
Sharon, IB graduate (International stream)
How old were you when you joined FIS?
4 years old.
What valuable learning did you get from the school?
Compared to when I first started, I know myself much better than before. Not only in terms of academics, such as what my work style and ethic are like but also my character, like my strengths and weaknesses or likes and dislikes. Perhaps this comes with age, but I believe FIS had a role in shaping my character by providing the space and means to try different things and gain new experiences. I am more sure of myself and this helped a lot in deciding a career path I want to take.
Is there any teacher you particularly appreciated?
I am very grateful for all the teachers that taught me, whether it was in RC or Y13. In particular, I feel extremely thankful and lucky to all my teachers that supported me during IB. 洪老师 and Ms. Lai, you are the best!!
Any word of wisdom, anecdote, piece of advice you want to share with your fellow FIS students?
Find your people and hold on to them 🙂 Stay true to yourself and don’t be swayed by others!
If you had to define FIS in 3 words (or 1 or 5…)
A long ride !
What was your favourite part of your years at FIS?
I would definitely say the CAS trip in Y13, France trip in Y9, and CAS Beyond the Walls trip to Yang Shuo were particularly memorable parts of my secondary school experience.
The best memory you’ll take away with you ?
As questionable as it may sound to some, I will definitely miss having lessons at FIS. Being surrounded by my classmates, having engaging discussions, playing Kahoot even, and just the atmosphere in the classroom is something I will cherish very much.
What are your plans for next year?
I plan on studying for a degree in the healthcare industry, hopefully dentistry!
What are your hopes and plans for the long-term future?
For now, I can’t really imagine myself settling down anywhere else but Hong Kong, but perhaps that may change in the future when I have opportunities to study abroad! Even though I may be pursuing a career in Dentistry now, that could all change in the future. At the end of the day, I hope I can pursue something that gives me satisfaction and pride, making use of my strengths to do something meaningful.
Lise, Baccalaureate graduate (French stream)
How old were you when you joined FIS?
I was 14 years old when I joined FIS.
What valuable learning did you get from the school?
I have definitely understood the value of working regularly, especially in Terminale since the new formula of the bac. I am much more involved in my work and even in school in general. I also gained a lot of confidence thanks to the teachers who pulled me up and pushed me to always do better.
Is there any teacher you particularly appreciated?
Mrs. Bezançon ! She may be as tall as three apples, but she can lift mountains. In addition to being the teacher of the only Art specialty class in Terminale, she never stops. She guided us throughout the year in our artistic journey. We leave high school with an extremely rich culture and an extensive portfolio. All of the 2021 Terminale Arts majors will continue their studies in the field of art, which proves the excellence of the teaching this year!
Any word of wisdom, anecdote, piece of advice you want to share with your fellow FIS students?
Don’t overwork! A good night’s sleep before a test is always better than hours of boring revision. And above all, educate yourself outside of class, participate in projects, go out, have fun, go to the museum, the movies, read, write. You can never overdo it and it’s always something more to talk about in college 😉
If you had to define FIS in 3 words (or 1 or 5…)
Quality, Caring , Animated.
What was your favourite part of your years at FIS?
My last year, during which I was able to focus on subjects that interested me more, after choosing to stop the subjects that were pulling me down. (Math is not for everyone).
The best memory you’ll take away with you ?
The last week of Terminale, which did not result in the destruction of the school thankfully and was very nice. But my four years at FIS are full of happy memories.
What are your plans for next year?
I’m going to do a degree in cinema at Panthéon-Sorbonne in Paris! I hesitated to do a Gap year, but the situation was not favorable… probably later! I was planning to go to London, but the Brexit cut me off, maybe later too, all is not lost.
What are your hopes and plans for the long-term future?
I have no idea, and that’s fine. I think the next few years are going to be very eventful and it’s impossible to know what’s going to happen. I intend to stay in art, what else could I do? And I also want to travel.
Would you like to add anything ?
Take a breath 🙂 If you are too stressed, the nurses are very friendly! And simply a big thank you to those who have accompanied us on our orientation journey!
Neleah, IB graduate (International stream)
How old were you when you joined FIS?
7 years old.
What valuable learning did you get from the school?
I would say the school has taught me a lot, having played a part in my personal growth as well. The most prominent feature was teaching me that it was alright if I wasn’t the fastest assignment finisher or the best student in the class. My slow yet concise work ethic always ensures an end product that I feel proud of, and it sometimes gets recognized and it’s in those moments where it feels like I can matter too even if I’m not always on top. Moreover, what’s important is that the assignment actually gets done and I put in enough effort to actually learn something from it. It is when you develop this good habit can you then strive to become better.
Is there any teacher you particularly appreciated?
Honestly, all the teachers I’ve had have played a role in my student career that had some form of an impact on me. Whether they were big or small they nonetheless helped me in some way, and so I appreciate all of them for those irreplaceable teachings/moments.
Any word of wisdom, anecdote, piece of advice you want to share with your fellow FIS students?
When you reach IGCSE or IB begin planning revisions immediately. Do not wait. Physically draw out/make a plan, create a routine where you review your notes little by little. It’s going to be hard, it’s going to be painful but trust me once you got a routine going it’ll just keep on rolling. Do what fits you best just as long as it is consistent and fits your schedule.
If you had to define FIS in 3 words (or 1 or 5…)
Diverse, Supportive, Calculative.
What was your favourite part of your years at FIS?
Doing out of the ordinary things? As in not typical day to day schoolwork. For example, like helping set up the Winter Concert and going to Cambodia for our Y12 CAS Trip. Basically engaging, creative things.
The best memory you’ll take away with you ?
The Yangshuo City P6 Trip. A lot of memorable things happened then 😉
What are your plans for next year?
I am planning to attend my 1st choice uni: HAS University of Applied Sciences. Along with that I would like to start lessons on Krav Maga and get a part-time job, though I’ll have to see if I can do both depending on the school schedule.
What are your hopes and plans for the long-term future?
I’m honestly not too sure. Though I have settled with focusing on Horticulture as my main course of study in my uni choices, I don’t yet have a clear idea of what exactly I want to become. Attending my uni will give me what I hope would be a clearer view of the career paths open within the field of horticulture that I haven’t yet heard about even through the internet. I’m still exploring and I’m hoping that during the 4-year course, I’ll have a better idea of what to go for and what I want to do.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you FIS for being a part of my journey and thank you to my classmates for making school life all the more enjoyable and memorable. I will miss you guys and hope to bump into you/see you in the future 🙂
Lachlan, IB graduate (International stream)
How old were you when you joined FIS?
11 years old (Year 7).
What valuable learning did you get from the school?
I have learnt to be very self-reliant and organised in order to stay on top of my workload. As well as this, I have learnt to work with many different people and different personalities, which I think is an important thing to have in life.
Is there any teacher you particularly appreciated?
Mr. Tillbrook and Mrs. Teinturier due to their enthusiasm and inclusive ways of teaching over the years, even during the online learning period.
Any word of wisdom, anecdote, piece of advice you want to share with your fellow FIS students?
Work hard consistently so that you have time to have fun outside of school too.
If you had to define FIS in 3 words (or 1 or 5…)
inclusive, diverse, challenging.
What was your favourite part of your years at FIS?
I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities given to us through the CAS trips/program to have amazing experiences with friends as well as great learning opportunities.
The best memory you’ll take away with you ?
I really enjoyed going to France in year 9 with our whole year group and being able to learn about and experience the French culture in person as well as building closer friendships with people from my year.
What are your plans for next year?
I have just received my accepted offer from Loughborough University where I will study engineering starting September.
What are your hopes and plans for the long-term future?
I hope to become an aeronautical engineer in Australia.
Auriane, Baccalaureate graduate (French stream)
How old were you when you joined FIS?
I enrolled at FIS as soon as I arrived in Hong Kong in 2007. I was in Moyenne Section, and I was 4 and a half years old.
What valuable learning did you get from the school?
Among the many things that high school taught me, I would say that it taught me to always go further, to do more research, and it made me want to learn more, both academically and in my extracurricular activities, especially MUN (Model United Nations).
Secondly, I think high school helped me to adapt. With the advent of COVID-19, we had to learn how to manage on our own at home, constantly revise our schedules, and eventually we were able to adapt to this new mode of distance learning.
Finally, one of the most important lessons I learned at FIS is the need to keep an open mind. With a wide variety of students from different countries, there are many different opinions and viewpoints, and it is essential to listen to and respect all of them in order to better understand the world.
Is there any teacher you particularly appreciated?
From 6ème to Terminale, I had the chance to meet many teachers, and all of them, in their own way, helped me to improve my schoolwork, to clarify my choices of orientation, and to feel good in this school. If I have to name a few, then I would say Mr. Bartozzi, my mathematics teacher in Terminale, for his kindness and support, Mr. Descambs, my French and HLP teacher for the energy he always shows during his classes, and Mrs. Monney, my OIB teacher in Première and Terminale, for her interest in literature.
Any word of wisdom, anecdote, piece of advice you want to share with your fellow FIS students?
There is one thing that we are constantly told during our middle and high school years – but that students don’t necessarily do, due to lack of conviction or motivation; it is to take an interest in subjects that stand out to us, subjects that can potentially inform our career plans. You have to get involved, do research, go further, but above all, never give up. You have to stick with it.
If you had to define FIS in 3 words (or 1 or 5…)
This question is difficult because it seems impossible to me to completely define a person, a place, a memory, a school in so few words. However, to play the game, I would say diversity, solidarity, mutual aid.
What was your favourite part of your years at FIS?
What I particularly appreciated at FIS is that I met friends with whom I grew up, with whom I have forged strong bonds that will withstand the separation that we will experience when we disperse to Europe for our studies. I have met people that I want to keep close to me all my life, because they are caring, interesting, smiling and full of joy.
The best memory you’ll take away with you ?
The memory that I will take with me is the week of the Terminales. We had a bit of trouble organizing it given the limitations imposed by the management, listening to the constraints of the EDB. But when the week started, it was amazing. From Monday to Friday, we played music in the hallways, danced and sang together. I have fond memories of this week because it reflects the tight-knit class we were, but also because we had fun, enjoyed ourselves, and marked the end of our high school years while respecting boundaries, remaining good-natured, and caring towards teachers, other students, and school staff.
What are your plans for next year?
Next year I will be entering the “Philosophy, Politics and Economics” program, a 3-year bachelor’s degree at Durham University in the United Kingdom. The amount of time spent on courses at university, and especially in England, is much lighter than in high school, so I plan to get involved in the many associations and societies at university, to meet other students, defend causes that are important to me and immerse myself in the real world. Finally, when the epidemic no longer prevents us from doing so, I also hope to be able to travel in order to continue discovering this world of ours.
What are your hopes and plans for the long-term future?
I have always been very international, so although I don’t have a clear idea of what I would like to do, I am very interested in foreign countries, preferably English-speaking. I am thinking of staying in the UK or moving to the US for a while.
Arthur, IB graduate (International stream)
How old were you when you joined FIS?
6 years old.
What valuable learning did you get from the school?
I learnt how to organize my time better and study independently.
Is there any teacher you particularly appreciated?
Ms. Walters, for taking over just as we were entering our final year and doing a fantastic job in making chemistry fun and guiding us through our IAs.
Mrs. Hazari, for sparking my interest in biology and making each class unforgettable.
Any word of wisdom, anecdote, piece of advice you want to share with your fellow FIS students?
Surround yourself with those you can rely on, manage your time wisely (especially for IB, try to get your IAs and EEs out of the way as soon as possible), and develop good study habits that you can maintain.
If you had to define FIS in 3 words (or 1 or 5…)
Collaborative, International, Inclusive
What was your favourite part of your years at FIS?
Either the France trip in Year 9, or the times spent on the terrace in Y13 with friends.
The best memory you’ll take away with you ?
Having a dress up week with different themes every day to celebrate the end of Y13.
What are your plans for next year?
I am planning to study medicine at Queen Mary University in London.
What are your hopes and plans for the long-term future?
I want to be a doctor (specialty I haven’t exactly decided yet), and likely practice in the UK.
Cécile, Baccalaureate graduate (French stream)
How old were you when you joined FIS?
3 years old.
What valuable learning did you get from the school?
I believe that learning at FIS has allowed me to understand the many ways of seeing the world: through the lenses of science, philosophy, literature, and a plethora of different cultures. At FIS, I was able to pick up a multitude of invaluable skills: critical thinking, public speaking, excellent writing… But also, I learned how to find pleasure in learning, even if it is challenging sometimes.
Is there any teacher you particularly appreciated?
I would like to thank my French teacher, M. Descambs, for showing me the beauty and truth in literature. I am so grateful that he encouraged me to pursue the Humanities, Literature and Philosophy “Spécialité”: making this choice unlocked so many opportunities for me.
Any word of wisdom, anecdote, piece of advice you want to share with your fellow FIS students?
Have the courage to study the things you are absolutely passionate about, even if you are unsure to where it might lead!
If you had to define FIS in 3 words (or 1 or 5…)
Excellence, Passion, Teamwork.
What was your favourite part of your years at FIS?
The pleasure of learning, with excellent teachers and students, as well as being inspired by them. But also, all the invaluable experiences I got from the extracurricular activities at FIS: basketball, volleyball, Model United Nations…
The best memory you’ll take away with you ?
All my experiences with my friends: the laughter, the support.
What are your plans for next year?
I am planning to go to King’s College London to study English and French Law, as part of a double degree with Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas. I am so excited to discover London, and to learn about the concepts of justice, responsibility and the big social issues we face today through studying Law.
What are your hopes and plans for the long-term future?
I aspire to be a Judge at the International Court of Justice, or a Human Rights Advocate, or maybe even a diplomat!