Student Voice - Hearing from our Head Student

Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi is made up of students from around the world, with a depth and breadth of experiences that create a vibrant, thriving student body community.

Our goal is for all students to Graduate WorldWise; that is, to leave the College with the skills, experiences and attributes required to be successful 21st century global citizens. When our students go out into the world, they have been trained for years to lead, work collaboratively, seek connections, find common ground and to be empathetic. It happens daily in our Business Studies classes, in our STEAM classes, on our Sports fields, in our Science labs, and when we go on our international education trips. It is our DNA - and the reason we can celebrate 400 years of academic success today.

In this series of Student Voice articles, we provide a platform for the students in our community to share their experiences and passions and discuss how Dulwich has helped them Learn Worldwise, so they can Graduate Worldwise.

In this article, Marketing and Communications Intern, Vaishu, chats with Head Student Isabel, to explore what makes her tick.

Q. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Isabel. I am currently in Year 11 at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi. I was born in Tunbridge Wells, in the UK. I moved to Sweden just before I turned four and lived there for around 10 years before moving to China around two and a half years ago. I have spent most of my school life in a regular Swedish school.

Q. What is your leadership role within the school?

My role is Head Student. In this role I act as a student representative and a student voice for the entire student body. I help plan and MC assemblies, I lead the Student Council and I help with general projects that students in leadership positions want done. I also facilitate communication between the general student body and the staff leadership team.

Q. Can you tell us a bit more about what your role entails? What is it like being Head Student?

Well, firstly, I chair all Student Council meetings. At the meetings we collect and collate ideas and suggestions from the student body. After discussing them we present them back to our form groups and take leadership in presenting suggestion to the College Leadership Team. An example of this was where we successfully advocated to have single-use plastic bottles, palm oil products and single-use yoghurt tubs removed from the College Restaurant.

On Mondays I participate in a Co-Curricular Activity based on the leadership roles within the school. During this time, I meet with other students in leadership position. We discuss what is happening at school, plan events and track the progress of our action plans. For example, last week we held a Remembrance Day assembly. This assembly was planned and coordinated during our Leadership CCA. As part of my role, I planned the entire hour of the assembly.

I help with most of the Whole College assemblies, the Senior School assemblies, and most of the parent workshops as well. Part of my role requires me to help whenever there's a big event at school, acting as a representative to the student body.

Q. What have you learnt about yourself during your time at the College?

I have learnt that I learn lot better in my native language, English, than in my second, which is Swedish. I have learnt that I can be very motivated when I want to be. And I have learnt that I have a huge love of learning new things.

Q. What are your favorite memories from your time at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi?

The residential trips are always very memorable. I've got fond memories of all the three residential trips that I've been on so far. In Year 9, we went to Yang Shuo where we experienced the beautiful landscapes. In Year 10, we travelled to Thailand where we went for two five-hour hikes around a stunning tropic area. This year, the Year 10s and 11s went to Chongming Island. We did the practice journey for the International Award. One of my favourite memories was when me and my friend Jemima rode tandem bicycles around a wetland. It was stunning. We had already walked around the wetland. This residential was so much fun, while also being an important part of our International Award.

I also have many distinctive memories of the events that the school has put on and just general lessons. I would say I have distinct memories from every month I've been at the school, something really funny or entertaining, or something really interesting that has happened.

Q. Your graduation is just coming very soon. What are your aspirations for future?

I want to go into medicine in the UK. I'm planning on studying in the UK somewhere, and then working as doctor in London. Then, maybe when I'm older I would like to work in the rest of the UK. That's is my general ambition.

Q. If there was one person you would like to thank for motivating you to take on this role, who would it be?

That's a very difficult question. I would like to thank my parents, the entire Senior School staff and leadership team at the College, who have all been incredibly helpful. I think one specific person would be very, very hard to thank. But I'm going to go with my parents for supporting me and helping me explore my passions, but also all of my teachers who've been incredibly helpful.

Q. If there was one piece of advice you could share with me for the next person in your role, what would it be?

Time management. Organise when you're going do something and do not get it delayed. I would say this is very important because otherwise you'll forget or miss deadlines. Try to keep on top of the work. Don't procrastinate on things that are especially important and have a list of priorities of what you want to do fast.

Make an action plan and create a list of what you're going to do first. Organise and split up time for your various roles, and for your general homework and revision. Keep them separate. But remember, whenever you have some spare time try to tick some stuff off your priority list. Whenever you have time, see if you could do something. Create a schedule and a calendar for when you're meant to do stuff and organise yourself correctly.

Q. I understand that you're in Year 11 right now and you are currently preparing for your GCSEs. So how do you manage your studies with your Head Student duties?

Well, I try to keep on top of homework. I only have CCA three times a week now, and one of those is specifically for my leadership role. This means I get home early enough that I have four hours every evening to do revision, homework, and head student work. I do a decent amount of work on the weekends just to make sure that I can get on top of everything. So I've done everything on the previous week before I start school the next week. This allows me to make sure that I don't have work running over weeks. I make sure I take spare moments I have during the school day to check my email and make sure I don't have anything coming up that I have forgotten about. Finally, I try to do a little bit of revision each week to make sure that I keep on top of that.

Q. What does it mean to you, to be the Head Student?

I think it's important to be available and to be helpful for anyone in the student body who needs help. To be ready to be kind to them, to just help lift up the general student body and to help them with what they need. To be a voice for what the general student body wants, and to be a representation of their general views and attitudes.

Q. In conclusion, what do you think are the most important qualities or traits a Head Student should have?

Being steadfast but also flexible, to be able to compromise and make small changes, but when a decision has been made you have to be able to hold yourself to that, and to not change your mind. This is because one needs to be reliable, hardworking, and trustworthy, when needed to be.

Q. Thank you for your time today!

It’s my pleasure.