Student Voice: Introducing Student Leader, Curtis, Year 12

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.

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

Introducing the 2021-2022 Marketing and Communications Intern
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The Marketing and Communications Intern role was introduced in the 2020-2021 academic year as a key student leadership role within the College. This role provides the successful candidate an opportunity to gain new knowledge, contribute student voice to the College and gain insights and skillsets that will assist them throughout their time at the College and beyond. This year we are pleased to introduce the new Marketing and Communications Inter, Curtis, in Year 12.

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

Hi, I am Curtis. I am currently in Year 12, doing my IBDP here at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi. I have been at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi for 5 years from Year 8. I am from England, however I have an international background going to international schools in different countries such as Thailand, Qatar, and China. This has allowed me to open myself up to new cultures and experiences, and allows me to be more open minded when tackling everyday school life. I am interested in student life at our school and leading student collaborations that can create positive change in our school.

Q: What are your aspirations for the future?

Right now I am focused on the immediate challenges in front of me. I want to do the best I possibly can with my IBDP to achieve what I am capable of. After the IBDP I want to pursue either business or film production at university as these are my main interests and I would like to incorporate both into my future studies. I believe this combination provides variety and will help me stand out. In the short term with this Marketing and Communications role, I want to highlight the student voice, show what we are doing as students and discuss the entire process of what we have done, not only reporting on what has been done.

Q: Can you tell us about your time at Dulwich? 

My time at Dulwich I would say has been exciting and interesting. I am lucky enough to have seen the changes through the school in my time here. When I joined, the College was in its second year, and the Senior School was very small. Now, Senior School runs from Year 7 all the way up to Year 12. I have been able to find my interests in my classes which have also shaped the person that I am today. I am always curious to see how the College will develop and the impacts that will have on us students.

Q: What are some of the highlights of your time at Dulwich?

I would say that I have many highlights at Dulwich, one of them being completing my IGCSE’s as this was my first major academic milestone in this school and I proved to myself that I am capable of doing anything when I put my mind to it. Another highlight would be the residential trips as it not only allows for connections to be built with other students but it’s a great opportunity to build connections with your teachers in another environment. This can benefit your connection in school, which can make you more comfortable in lessons and open you up to ask for help when you need it.

Q: What have you learned about yourself since you joined the College?

Mainly I have learnt to be myself and embrace who I am. Being in a small cohort can present challenges with fitting in, but I have found that the best way to enjoy school life is to be the best version of you. I have also learnt that it is OK to ask for help and you shouldn’t keep struggles to yourself because when you address your challenges head on, that’s when growth can occur. I also found my passions in life during my IGCSE courses, such as finding a deep interest in business studies as well as drama. I developed my passion for drama throughout the numerous productions I have taken place in during my time here. This year I am even leading on the organisation of the staff pantomime, which is going to be a blast.

Q: What do you enjoy about being a student at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi?

Student voice. I find that this school really listens and takes into considerations the opinions that students have. I feel valued at this school as everyone gets equal opportunity in and outside of classes in the College. An example of this is getting leggings available for the boys to wear at this school for their PE lessons, providing an alternative to wearing trousers while doing sports. This was a student suggestion and the College adopted it. I also love the opportunities that the school provide for leadership roles allowing students to take on extra responsibilities and help benefit the school.

Q: What would you like other people to know about Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi?

I would firstly like to tell others that this is a school where teachers are dedicated to our learning and put in extra effort and time for us. Teachers and fellow students support each other in our studies and put in that extra time for you to maximise your learning. The dedication to our learning that our teachers have is not limited to lesson times. You can ask for extra help after school if you feel that you may be behind classmates or even to reinforce your knowledge in that subject area.

Q: Tell us about the Marketing and Communications Internship: Why is this role important for you? What do you hope to achieve through this role?

This role is important to me mainly because it enriches my Dulwich experience. I have a small window apply for and take on this position before I will be too busy with exams to do the role justice. One thing I don’t want to do is look back at the end of Year 13 and have regrets, regrets of not trying for roles such as this. I believe this role can also help my CV stand out when applying for universities and this experience can increase my knowledge an understanding of marketing concepts. I hope to display what we as students have done and what impact we have made to allow others to see the hard work we put in our studies and in our College.

Q: Do you have any advice for students thinking of taking on leadership positions within the College?

Be prepared for what is required of the role, such as level of responsibility and extra work that needs to be done in your own time. A main misconception that I see with these roles is that students may think you won’t have support. However, this is not the case. You do have teachers and members of staff that are there to help you through your position. Don’t be scared to apply for roles thinking you won’t get it. If you don’t apply, that’s a given. But there is a chance for you to get a role, so go an apply. When you do apply, make yourself stand out and show why you should be in a leadership position.

Q: As you are in our first ever IB cohort, how has this journey been for you? What are some reflections and advice you would give other students?

My main advice is to not stress about your studies. They are important, but it is crucial that you do not feel that you need to be perfect. Put in 100% effort in your work for your subjects (which also includes homework) and you will be fine. It is when you stop putting in that effort you will struggle. Don’t stay up late doing homework as that will impact your studies the next day. Stay on top of work and then there is nothing to worry about. I would also say having a good relationship with your classmates is important because it can make you more comfortable in a learning environment and more prone to ask questions without being worried about what others will think of you.