Panthers of ISKL #261: Amelia S. and Braydon A.
Meet Amelia S. ('33) and Braydon A. ('32), two talented young cast members of the ES musical The Jungle Book Kids. In this reflection, they share their experiences in the musical and their journey at ISKL.
With their vibrant personalities, passion for the arts, and love for learning, these students have embraced every opportunity to shine. They have also shared insights into their favorite subjects, what inspires them, and their future aspirations, offering a glimpse into their world.
Here are their stories:
Amelia S. (‘33)
Can you tell us about yourself?
I am from Malaysia and America. I was born in London and raised in England and Hawaii. I joined ISKL in my current grade, Grade 4, and have been here for one semester.
We understand that you were in The Jungle Book Kids musical. Can you tell us more about the role you played and what you enjoyed most about it? What was the best part, and what was the most challenging part?
It was so fun to work as a team and see the whole show come together as Shanti, the girl character in The Jungle Book. I really enjoyed the solos I sang. That was definitely the best part of participating. The most challenging part would be remembering all the cues.
Have you always been interested in theater and have you been in any other productions before this?
I have always been interested in singing and recently became interested in theater. The Jungle Book Kids musical is the first production I have been a part of.
What's your favorite subject at school, and where is the best place to hang out?
My favorite subject at school is art or music because you can express yourself in art, and I have always loved music. The library, with its comfy beanbags and couches, is the best place to hang out.
What's something you found really hard to learn but you feel proud of now?
I found it quite challenging to learn how to write realistic fiction because I had never written one before coming to ISKL, but now, I feel very proud of my realistic fiction writing.
Can you tell me about your hobbies and interests?
I love to read, draw, and play video games in my free time, like Animal Crossing.
The ASAs I take part in are Baked by Whisk Me Away!, which is a baking class where you bake in teams. I love bringing delicious treats home each week.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I would love to be a singer when I grow up. Singing is my greatest passion, and I love it so, so much.
If you could have any superpower, what would that be and why?
If I could have any superpower, it would be to talk to animals. It would be amazing to know what they talk about. My favorite animals are rabbits and cats.
If you had a time machine, would you visit the past or the future? And what would you do there?
If I had a time machine, I would visit the future to see what my life would be like, say, in ten years.
What does "know yourself, care for all, and create a better world" mean to you?
To know yourself is to know what you want, need, and are good at. To care for all is to be kind, to help others, and to create a better world is to leave things better than you found them.
Braydon A. (‘32)
Can you tell us about yourself?
I am Australian. I lived there for 8 years, then moved to KL and started my journey in ISKL. I’m 10 at the time of writing - 11 in March.
I joined ISKL in Grade 4 and plan to stay here until university.
We understand that you were in The Jungle Book Kids musical. Can you tell us more about the role you played and what you enjoyed most about it? What was the best part, and what was the most challenging part?
Participating in the musical was quite fun. I played the role of a wolf then a monkey, and this experience made me realize how much I enjoy acting. I hope to join more productions in the future. The most challenging part was the hotness of the wolf costume. I was required to wear five layers of clothing; the last layer was wolf fur, which had a thickness of 3 centimeters - I was ready for winter!
Have you always been interested in theater? Have you been in any other productions before this?
I have always wanted to perform and act when I watch movies and other productions. I’ve only been in one production before, acting as Patrick in a Spongebob show when I was 4. One of my few lines was, “Yum yum, soooo delicious.” However, other than that, The Jungle Book Kids was really my first actual production.
What is your favorite subject at school, and where is the best place to hang out on campus?
Writing and reading are my favorite subjects because they are fascinating and enjoyable.
The turtle pond would be my favorite place to hang out because it is fun to look at the cute turtles, and it is surprisingly fascinating to watch the turtles go to the bathroom!
What’s something you found really hard to learn but feel proud of now?
Sometimes, I find it hard to balance swimming, playing the cello, reading books, and my schoolwork because my schedule is really tight. But I’m proud that I’ve learned to manage my time well. Even though it can be challenging, I’ve been able to keep up with everything and still make progress in all of them.
What are your hobbies and interests?
One of my hobbies is swimming. I am a state swimmer representing KL and working to be a national swimmer. Another interest is playing the cello. I’ve learned cello for 5 years and really enjoy it.
Do you take part in any ASAs?
Unfortunately, I have swimming training every day after school, so my only ASA is the musical, which still makes it a bit of a rush.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to try lots of things when I grow up. I want to be a swimmer, a writer, a lawyer, a foodie, a traveler, a speaker. Doing all these things will help me learn and make me better.
If you could have any superpower, what would that be and why?
I would choose the power to teleport so I could instantly visit any place in the world and do more things without being late.
Next semester, you will be in Middle School. What are you most excited about? What will you miss most about ES?
I’m most excited about experiencing new classes outside of the homeroom. I’m also really looking forward to using the lockers.
What does “Know yourself, care for all and create a better world.” mean to you?
To me it means understanding yourself first so you can care for others and contribute to creating a better 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.