Welcoming New Rams

Amanda Cavalcante, Antonette Liao, and Maggie Ma collaborated to write this article.

Whether it is moving to a new country, switching schools, or learning a new language, you are bound to face some challenges. Adjusting to a new environment isn’t alway easy. Our AISG High School this year has received over 30 new students, great additions to our Ram Nation! With the help and guidance from our teachers and students, the adjustment of our new students was smooth. Following the departure of the class of 2017, it is great seeing new faces.

Neil Yang is one of the new students in grade 10. Coming from Utahloy International School, Guangzhou isn’t a new city for him. Neil is originally from Taiwan, but has already been living in Guangzhou for 11 years. Neil also has a sister here at AISG, Nina Yang, who is also in the 11th grade. As this is Nina’s 4th year at AISG, its only Neil’s first. In a recent interview for The Beacon he says,”I have been adjusting to AISG pretty well, everyone is easy going and also my sister has been in this school so she has been helping me a lot around and getting me to my classes.” Neil also commented on the 1-1 computer system in our school, and how its different it is to what he’s used to. However Neil also states that he likes the way his schedule is organized. “The thing I like best about AISG is the gym where I can work out every time I have a free period.” Overall Neil says that he is liking and adjusting well here at AISG, but misses his friends back in Utahloy.

Sterling Seyedin is also another new student to the 11th grade. Coming from Texas, USA it is his first year living abroad, and in China. In a recent interview for The Beacon, Sterling says that AISG is pretty different from what he’s used to. He mentioned that the curriculum we use here at AISG is pretty different from the one he was previously learning from in the USA. “I found the Math and the French classes pretty challenging.” Sterling is hoping to get involved and join the Soccer Program, which starts in January 2018.

Another new student is freshmen Sam Zhou. Coming from a local school located in Guangzhou, Sam is experiencing the international school life for the first time. To him, the biggest difference between AISG and his last school would be the different education where AISG uses the American system and the Chinese education system in his previous school. “I definitely prefer the American where it’s not as strict and restricting comparing to the Chinese system.” Sam states when being asked which system he preferred.  Adapting well to the school, Sam is “embracing the multi-cultural environment” and hoping to get involved in more activities. Sam is currently in The English Connection, also hoping to join season three sports badminton. He is looking forward to the rest of the school year.

Sophia Lopukhin has joined the juniors this year as a new student coming in from Russia. Her previous school had a similar IB program, however her school was very small compared to ours, approximately “30 to 40 people”. Although she has made many friends in the first week of school, she mentions that she definitely “misses her friends and teachers”. When asked about her favorite part about AISG and Guangzhou, Sophia claims that it is the “friendly environment, the people surrounding her, and the atmosphere in general”. Let’swelcome Sophia and hope that her experience at AISG will be memorable and pleasant!

A new senior, Rhea Punjabi, transferred from Singapore, joined the AISG community in the 2017-2018 school year. As the only new senior in AISG, she said that “it’s kind of hard getting to know people” and adapting to the new environment. Although it might be hard for her to find her place in the community, she mentioned that “the people are very nice here, everyone is friendly and welcoming,” and this has helped her adjust in AISG. She might be unfamiliar with the new community but she’s not at all unfamiliar with Guangzhou as she has lived here for 11 years studying in GNIS before she left for Singapore. Welcome Rhea to a great year!