Panthers of ISKL #197: Angel L. (‘24) – The Dancer
“One of the most unforgettable moments for me was the final performance of our IASAS dance show last year. As we took our bow, the audience gave us a standing ovation. Even though we knew we wouldn’t dance as a group again, we were all proud of our hard work to make the show a success.”
Meet Angel L. (’24), a Grade 12 student who is part of the IASAS Dance Team going to Manila in March. Originally from Malaysia, she joined ISKL in Grade 11 after living in Beijing, Singapore, and Shanghai.
After graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in human physiology at Boston University (BU) in the United States, which falls under the pre-medical track. Additionally, she is an active member of two school service clubs, Tether and STAR, and during her leisure time likes to watch medical shows and documentaries.
Here is Angel’s story:
Tell us more about yourself.
My name is Angel, and I’m Malaysian Chinese.
Before coming to ISKL in Grade 11, I spent nine years in Beijing but also have lived in Singapore and Shanghai.
We understand that you actively participate in IASAS Dance. How do you balance your academic life with your dance activities and clubs, and do you have any advice for students who wish to join IASAS Dance?
My advice for anyone interested in trying out for IASAS dance is not to be afraid and to put yourself out there. At auditions, everyone is extremely supportive of one another. Dance is not solely focused on technique or tricks but also on performance and movement quality. Show your strengths and passion!
Balancing my academic life alongside extracurricular activities can be challenging, especially since we often have dance practice up to 6 to 7 days a week. However, what helps me the most is using an app called Notion, which allows me to organize my schedule and create to-do lists.
Do you participate in any other co-curricular activities at ISKL?
Besides dance, I was part of the IASAS Track and Field team last year. It was a great experience getting to partake in five events while building relationships with students from different grades.
I am also an executive for two service clubs at ISKL: Tether and STARs. We organize club activities with the operations staff in Tether, and I give school tours for visiting families for STARs. They both allow me to interact with faculty and staff that I usually wouldn’t do regularly, making the experience unique.
What are your plans after you graduate from ISKL? What would you like to do?
In the fall of 2024, I’ll attend Boston University (BU), majoring in human physiology, which is on the pre-med track. This helps me keep the pathway to the healthcare field open.
I also want to keep dance as a part of my life by joining and competing with BU’s D1 dance team!
Can you tell us more about your other hobbies and interests?
I’ve always been fascinated by medical shows and documentaries, finding them entertaining and informative. I’ve always felt safe and comfortable in hospitals and doctor’s offices, so this interest has led me to enroll in several programs, such as the Global Online Academy’s (GOA) elective course for Medical Problem Solving, Brown’s pre-college summer program for Medicine in Action, and an academic immersion summer program for medicine at Boston University.
Additionally, I competed in dance and gymnastics for six years, traveling with teammates and coaches to places like Hong Kong and Chengdu!
Do you have any thoughts on your career pathway?
I’ve always heard that going into medicine is competitive and demanding, but the rewards are significant. Whether I decide to focus more on psychology or another area within the healthcare field, I’m excited about the prospect of contributing to such a vital role in the community.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I aspire to accomplish anything I set my mind to and become successful in my future endeavors. I also want to explore the world and immerse myself in different cultures by traveling and celebrating life!
Who or what inspires you or has influenced you?
I draw inspiration and influence from several sources in my life. My parents and older brother are at the core of that inspiration, and they consistently motivate me to strive for excellence and serve as role models.
My friends also have significant influence, and I admire how they’re incredibly hardworking but maintain a positive mindset throughout.
Most memorable moment at ISKL?
One of the most unforgettable moments was last year’s final performance of our IASAS dance team’s show, Elapse. As we took our bow, the audience gave us a standing ovation. It was a bittersweet feeling since, over the months leading up to our performance, our team became more of a family, and we knew we wouldn’t have the opportunity to all dance as a group again. However, we were all proud of all the work we’d done for the show to be so successful, including choreographing and rehearsing the dance.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
I believe that “know yourself” means understanding our values and being introspective so we know who we are and what we stand for. “Care for all” alludes to showing empathy, compassion, and kindness towards others as we treat them with respect and dignity regardless of differences. Lastly, I think that “create a better world” points towards taking action to make the world around us a better place; whether big or small, it starts with our actions.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff who always have an anecdote to tell, love to share some insights into their passions and interest, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.