At Huitong, it’s easy to spot Amy from Grade 9—her steps are light, her smile naturally uplifting.
Whether she’s hosting confidently on stage, playing the flute in a concert, excelling in competitions, or focused on the sports field, a positive energy flows through everything she does. It makes you wonder: how has she found her passions in Huitong’s diverse environment, and how does she turn every experience into a chance to grow?
Today, we invite you to get to know Amy—a story about embracing what you love and never standing still. It’s also a living example of how a young person can flourish in the right setting, driven by curiosity and a will to explore.
Hello everyone, I'm Amy.
I joined the Huitong community after returning from the US in Grade 2, and now I'm in Grade 9. If you asked me to describe myself, I'd say I'm a positive thinker. I approach each day with joy and tend to see the bright side of challenges. This mindset helps me avoid unnecessary stress and keeps my world full of curiosity and warmth. Since coming to Huitong, my passions have been gradually awakened and nurtured, enriching me from within.
01: Hosting – Growing from Novice to Natural
I never imagined I'd become a presenter until my teachers spotted my potential and encouraged me to take on hosting roles at school events. From my first slightly nervous attempt in Grade 3 to hosting student assemblies, poetry contests, and candle-lighting ceremonies in later years—I've grown in confidence and understanding of what hosting truly means.
While preparing for the poetry contest, my teacher didn't just assign me as a host—she encouraged my partner and me to write our own script. We worked on tone and wove classical poetry into the atmosphere, creating a memorable experience. I'll always remember the candle-lighting ceremony, where I switched between hosting and performing with the orchestra—hectic, but deeply fulfilling. Being fully involved, heard, and seen—that's what I love.
02: Business Competitions – A Journey of Team Growth
At Huitong, there's a strong competitive spirit. My passion for business competitions began when I joined the ASDAN Business Competition hosted at our school, alongside Huitong alumni.
In my first competition, I served as the team CEO, responsible for the roadshow and overall coordination. I remember one late night when we were rushing to finish our PowerPoint and two teammates disagreed over tasks, creating tension. I stepped in and said, "It's alright—our main goal is to finish the presentation and prepare for tomorrow's delivery. Once we're done, we can rest." That helped everyone refocus. We adjusted our approach—each person took on the part they were best at, while others helped refine and pull everything together. The next day, after some rest, we were back in sync.
What stands out looking back isn't the final ranking—it was the journey itself. We often worked until 2 or 3 a.m., and after initially ranking sixth, we refused to give up. We studied other teams' strengths and reviewed our own performances—what worked, what could be improved. We delivered three formal presentations, and after each, win or lose, we reflected thoroughly. That persistence took us to the national round, missing a perfect score by just half a point. That experience made me fall in love with business competitions. I went on to join other contests like the BPC Harvard Case Competition, advancing from the Shanghai round to the global finals. This year, my team—now joined by a tech and AI specialist—is entering the senior BPC division, analysing cases and designing product prototypes. Though we haven't formally studied business, our teacher connected us with an economics teacher for coaching during Studios time. I'm truly grateful for how Huitong supports us in bringing ideas to life.
03: Music – From Flute to Drama
At Huitong, everyone learns an instrument in music class. In Grade 4, I chose the flute—simply because I liked its sound—and unexpectedly fell in love with it. From school lessons to outside training, my flute journey kept growing. I joined the school orchestra, and in Year 6, I initiated and performed in a trio. From morning concerts and TedX to performances at MixC Qianhai and the Nanshan Cultural Centre Winter Concert, I've taken the stage again and again. The Nanshan concert was especially memorable—my first time performing in such a formal venue. Backstage, my classmates and I were both nervous and excited, but when the stage lights came on, we looked at each other and felt completely calm—connected by the power of music.
Recommended by Ms Erin, I took part in the 2023 SAKURA Japan International Youth Artists Competition and won gold in flute solo.
Now in Grade 9, I've chosen a new challenge in music class—drama. All Grade 9 students are rehearsing for Olivia, and this time, the school is involving students from symphony, band, costume design, and stage design—I'm excited to be part of creating something together.
04: Sports – Moments of Teamwork
Our sports lessons follow a rotation system, allowing us to try different sports each term. Through this, I discovered volleyball and basketball and quickly grew to love them. That passion led me to join the school team. I now train weekly with teammates across different year groups and compete against other international schools. I love those moments when the team celebrates a point—everyone hugs, no matter the score, and we support and encourage each other. Striving together for a common goal feels incredibly warm and has brought me genuine cross-year friendships.
05: Sustainable Action – Making a Difference
At Huitong, I've not only developed my interests but also started thinking about how to create real-world impact. In the Signature Programme, my group chose the "Bottle Bay" sustainability project. We learned about an organisation that collects PET1 plastic bottles and turns them into everyday products. We educated classmates on plastic types and placed PET1 collection boxes around school, delivering bottles weekly to our partner organisation. The project is still running—and when the organisation gave us pens made from recycled bottles, it really moved me. It showed me that action truly can bring change.
This year, I also joined the "Young Xu Xiake" Studios project. Led by Mr Han Yang, we explore nature and learn about wildlife protection, river conservation, and carbon emissions. These experiences inspired my team as we prepare for the China Thinks Big innovation project—we hope to start locally and use creativity to drive sustainable change.
One line from Huitong's vision statement has always stayed with me: "Every graduate will discover their passions, excel in creative and meaningful fields, build self-confidence, and benefit for life." Looking back on my growth at Huitong, I've gone from a curious child to a purposeful young person with real passions and the courage to pursue them. Whether it's hosting, business competitions, music, sports, or future challenges—I'll carry that positive spirit forward. It's okay not to be perfect—what matters is to keep moving, give your all to what you love, and trust that each of us can shine in our own way.
