If you ask me what has had the greatest impact on me in the past four high school years, the answer is definitely "environment". The environment I refer to can be divided into three kinds: natural environment, humanistic environment and psychological environment. SHBS has sufficiently nourished me in all the three aspects, so that I can grow up happily at my own pace and got into Lehigh University, my dream college.
All those who have visited SHBS must have been deeply impressed by its natural scenery. The school is located by the Dadian Lake, and its beautiful landscape is soothing to the soul. My description can’t thoroughly depict its beauty, but my dad, who always cares much about air quality, can't help but think highly of the fresh air on campus. Such beautiful natural environment has been silently easing our tension resulting from academic work. Imagine looking outside the classroom during every break, would you prefer to see the gray and depressing buildings or the green trees and lawns by a shimmering lake? During my four years at SHBS, its natural environment has been nourishing, relaxing and pleasing me.
The humanistic environment, i.e. the school's curriculum, activity and practice systems, as well as the school's overall educational philosophy and management system. The school is a small but sophisticated American high school with an educational philosophy somewhat like that of an American liberal arts college. The student-teacher ratio is very high, about 1:4. Therefore, every student here receives attention from teachers and has his or her own customized courses. Many teachers have helped me a lot over the 4 years at SHBS. Mr. Jin, for example, has made a great influence on me. Sticking to his own rules, Mr. Jin is enthusiastic about teaching, and is gentle in his severity. He encouraged me to work harder even when I gave up myself.
Generally speaking, my high school life did not fluctuate greatly, except during online classes when I did not take my studies seriously due to my poor self-discipline, but my subject teachers and homeroom teachers would often talk to me and ask about how I was doing, which made me feel touched and behave properly.
The school provides students with a wide variety of activities and practical opportunities, such as Building Shanghai, a PBL program, career exploration month, various pro bono projects, international exchange tours, student clubs, the weekly CAS that includes activities such as speech contest and debate, drama performances, art performances, and various academic competitions. Each student can find the right stage to show his or her brilliance. Teachers often push us to challenge ourselves, and this culture of pushing and encouraging has helped me to step out of my comfort zone, explore and grow up more courageously, and gradually build my confidence. For example, before I joined SHBS, public speaking was one of the things I was most afraid of. Upon joining the school, Ms. Irene signed me up for the school's English speech contest, and I was able to make a break-through when I had to speak in front of the whole school. Guided by my teacher, I spent a lot of time preparing my speech, rehearsing it in advance, and bravely stepping on stage to face my fears. After that, I was much more confident in giving a speech and later participated in an English debate. I owe it all to Ms. Irene for giving me a push at that time.
Psychological environment
I prefer to call it atmosphere rather than environment. Before coming to SHBS, I studied at another well-known international school in Shanghai for one semester, but unfortunately, the environment there did not suit me and I could not fit in. I was introverted and did not make friends on my own. So I felt miserable as if I had been in prison for a semester, and finally chose to transfer to SHBS. The environment of SHBS is very suitable for me, and I could easily integrate myself into the community, and I have made many friends here.
I am very lucky to learn and live together with our class because my fellow schoolmates have really created a very good learning atmosphere. I am a poorly self-disciplined boy. Over the 3 years when covid pandemic raged globally, I took online classes for about a year, and I found it very difficult to behave properly during that time. However, while studying on campus, even if the teacher allowed us to use cell phones in study sessions, I would rarely use it to do irrelevant things because the students around me were studying! I was motivated by my hardworking fellow schoolmates, and this was the excellent environment they brought me, which boosted my interest in studying and created a virtuous circle, eventually leading to my excellent academic performance. I can say that much of what I have achieved owes a lot to this environment. At the college application stage in my 12th grade when everyone felt stressed, we helped each other to ease our tension. We encouraged each other, made progress together, shared our experience in application etc., which created a great on-campus application atmosphere. Guided by my school college counselors, I was able to get into Lehigh University, my dream college.
Finally, I’d like to say that the environment provided by a school is very important. I am grateful to SHBS for providing me with excellent environment in different aspects, which did much good to me while I was growing up and helped me get into my dream college.
