“My friends, family, teachers, and others in my life always encourage me to pursue my interests, give suggestions, or give me new ideas. They also motivate me to challenge myself and push myself in sports.”

Meet Olivia H. (’30), a Grade 7 student from China who has lived in her home country and Russia before moving to Malaysia. Olivia’s journey showcases her adaptability as she blends her diverse cultural experiences with a passion for learning and her love for sports, particularly basketball and rock climbing.

Here is Olivia’s story:

Can you tell us more about yourself? Which grade did you join ISKL in?

I’m fully Chinese, and I’ve lived in three countries: China, Malaysia, and Russia.

Before joining ISKL, I lived in Chengdu for five years, Malaysia for four years, and Russia for two years. Last year, I moved back to Malaysia and joined ISKL in Grade 6.

What were your first days of school like?

When I first joined, everything was different from what I was used to, so I was a bit nervous. But on Orientation Day, I met so many nice people, and I’ve been friends with them ever since. I got used to this new environment quite quickly because of my super kind and supportive friends, the nice teachers, and the Peer Helpers who answered all my questions.

We understand that you participate in many sports: basketball, soccer, climbing, track field, etc. Please tell us more about them and which sport is your favorite (and why).

I love sports, and my favorites are basketball and rock climbing. At basketball, I meet many new people who share my interests and spend much time playing with my friends. I like rock climbing because when I was living in Russia, I loved monkey bars, and rock climbing is similar to that. It’s also very rewarding; I feel happy whenever I finish a route. Other than that, I’m also participating in cross country this year, and I was in soccer and volleyball last year.

Can you tell us more about your other hobbies and interests?

I like drawing and working with clay. I’ve made a lot of things with air dry clay before (including agency last year), and this year, I’m trying kilt clay. I have hundreds of clay figures that I made myself. They are really fun and interesting.

Apart from clay, I’m also pretty interested in robotics and building things. For example, in September and October of this year, I made a Sphero football field with robots, drones, and gadgets. We invited home groups to play with them, and I think they all liked it.

I also participated in some math competitions, like AMC8 last year and the Gauss math contest, where I got 2nd place in Grade 6. This year, I’m also in Math High Four.

I also became interested in drama starting last year, and this year, I’m in the MS musical Spongebob. It’s a cool experience, and I can’t wait for the day of the show!

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

My hopes and dreams for the future are to improve in academics and the sports I like (cross country, basketball, rock climbing, etc.). I would also like to keep creating clay projects and participating in school performances and drama.

When I grow up, I’d love to have a job where I can problem-solve or work with technology.

Who or what inspires you or has influenced you?

My friends, family, teachers, and others in my life always encourage me to pursue my interests, give suggestions, or give me new ideas. They also motivate me to challenge myself and push myself in sports.

Most memorable moment at ISKL?

One was a U13 basketball tournament last year in Trimester 2 when we became AIMS champions. It meant so much to me because it was my first time winning a gold medal at ISKL, and I will never forget those moments.

Another one was Malaysia Week last year. It was such a fun and meaningful experience. We went snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, and even saw sharks and turtles! I get to meet more people and try new things, and it’s one of my favorite things about ISKL.

Being a Peer Helper and on the Student Leadership Team (SLT) is also a great experience because I remember that I was the one being helped not long ago, and now I’m helping others. It’s such a cool thing to do. In SLT, I organize our activities in MS, which is exciting.

What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” “mean to you?

It means understanding what you are good at or are interested in, your strengths and things you need to improve on, being self-aware, and being comfortable and happy with yourself. Care for all means being kind to others, helping peers, and respecting teachers. Creating a better world means using all those things; you grow yourself and positively impact your community and everyone around you. Overall, it’s telling you to be a better individual and positively impact others in the world.

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.