“I have never seen more blue and yellow than at the IASAS events! IASAS Soccer and Dance/Drama/Tech come to mind, with the long lines for the food trucks and the red carpet with its glowing yellow star, which is such a sight!”
Meet Vivian W. (’27), a Grade 9 student from the United States and Korea who has been a part of ISKL since Middle School. During her time here, she has shown a keen interest in dance, particularly in the IASAS Dance program. As a dedicated member of the Peer Helpers program, Vivian enjoys helping others and making a positive difference in the community.
Apart from her academic pursuits, Vivian is a creative and artistic individual. She is an avid calligrapher and enjoys crafting beautiful pieces of art and loves baking delicious treats for her family and friends in her free time.
Here is Vivian’s story:
Can you tell us more about yourself?
I was born in Maryland, United States, where my family and I lived until I was about three. After that, we moved to South Korea, where I later started kindergarten at the Yongsan International School of Seoul until 2015, when my family moved back to Maryland. In 2017, we moved to the United Kingdom, where I attended the American School in London for three years. From there, I started at ISKL as a Grade 6 student in Middle School.
I joined ISKL in Grade 6 amidst Covid in 2020. My family and I were in London then, so I did online schooling and more when we moved to KL in September. I only had less than two in-person weeks when ISKL moved into online learning for six months.
Do you participate in any other co-curricular activities at ISKL? Please describe them.
I am currently a part of the IASAS Dance group, which has been an amazing experience. It has also been a great way to meet people from different grades and bond with them in a way I wouldn’t usually—overall, I love it and the people involved.
I am also a member of Peer Helpers, where I’ve grown new friendships, improved my communication and social skills, and met people from all around the world.
Can you tell us more about your other hobbies and interests?
I’ve enjoyed many artistic hobbies—including drawing, calligraphy, and various crafts. Besides those, I love baking and cooking. Sharing my little creations brings me joy when I see people’s smiles (after giving them out).
Along with baking and making, I love to listen to music and dance around in my room. When I put on a song, it’s a way to escape from the world!
Do you have any thoughts on your career pathway?
I’m interested in psychology and neuroscience, but I always keep my mind open to new possibilities.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
My hopes and dreams for the future are to be happy and always make the small things in life count. Someone once told me to protect whatever peace you have; if it costs you your peace, it’s too expensive. I always remember that because those words resonate with me and my goals.
Who or what inspires you or has influenced you?
Without a doubt, it’s my family and my true friends. The reason is that their opinions matter at the end of the day. My mom and dad inspire me the most – watching what they do and how hard they work motivates me to work even harder.
Most memorable moment at ISKL?
Looking back at my time at ISKL, it’s hard to choose just one moment, but the most prominent moment must be the amount of school spirit we have here. I have never seen more blue and yellow than at the IASAS events! IASAS Soccer and Dance/Drama/Tech come to mind, with the long lines for the food trucks and the red carpet with its glowing yellow star, which is such a sight! It’s such a blur and so much fun to see everyone decked out in panther gear with face paint sprawled onto their faces. Moving forward, those spirit moments are the ones I’ll remember more of.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
This phrase emphasizes my morals and stands for acknowledgment, kindness, and advocacy. For me, knowing myself stands out more than the rest. Being the best version of myself by knowing who I am goes into caring for others because I cannot truly care for others if I can’t care for myself. Through those two, I genuinely believe anyone could make a difference, even if it’s the smallest thing—because you always have to enjoy the most minor things in life.
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.
