Interview: the age of innocence and then wisdom

Where does wisdom come from? A question like this has many answers. But in reading this interview with Sandra, I think you will learn how wisdom is earned.

Her words may help students and parents understand that learning from books in classes and lectures and papers is important, but the goal is an exploration of the meaning of what it means to live in the world and with oneself.

A couple of prefatory notes of clarification: The school Sandra attended in the UK, Cheltenham, is ranked as one of the top schools in the country. The school has enjoyed success at placing its students at Oxbridge, Ivies, and many other selective universities around the world. In the UK, a ‘public’ school is actually what people in the US call a private school. A 'college' in the UK sometimes refers to a secondary school.

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Can you describe your background a bit?

I was born in the States but raised in Beijing. And I spent five years at an all-girls’ boarding school in England from the age of thirteen onwards.

Why did you choose to go to Cheltenham? What did you like about it and what would you change?

Cheltenham Ladies Collge

It wasn’t really a personal choice. I actually argued with my parents consistently when I first got there, begging to come home. But eventually I did come to love and appreciate Cheltenham. I think it was just very much of a culture shock at first, and I was very young and failed to see how fortunate I was to be there. With time however, I made some great friends and really settled down. And my true appreciation for Cheltenham only came after I left; I suppose it is one of those things you only come to savor once you have developed more of a distance.

Cheltenham Ladies Collge

When did you first know that you had a gift for writing?

January 2010 – the day when I received an email from an admission dean praising my application essays.

Is there a teacher or mentor who helped to encourage you early on?

I owe everything to all my English teachers at Cheltenham (I am almost certain I could barely form a coherent sentence when I first got there). It was Miss Nicholson who taught me all the foundations of literature. And it was Reverend Wood who sparked my interest in Romanticism, Miss Livingston first introduced to me the words of Chaucer, and Miss Simkiss opened my eyes to contemporary literature.

What was it like working for the Wall Street Journal? Do you have a favorite story and would you be willing to share it?

It was a blast. I was given free reign to pursue almost any interesting topic of my choice (as long as it was approved by my editor). My personal favorite is a blog entry I wrote on the Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, and how China reacted to his unfortunate tumble during the Olympics. 

Why switch from the UK to the US for university?

To be completely honest, I have always had this very idealized notion of American universities. I think the root of all this was my ‘fond’ dislike of England when I first arrived there; America was the light in contrast to the despairing landscape of Britain. Back then it was all very teenage angst driven and makes very little sense now. But I guess this feeling lingered, and when it came down to it I decided to follow my feelings and preconceived images and ideas. And I always like new adventures, and coming to a selective university in the US has been exactly that.

What surprised you about university in the US?

I think the British public school system really does not prepare one (or perhaps one who lacks a completely overwhelming work ethic) for the rigorous challenges of the American university. It was easier to do well at GCSE’s and A-Level’s because they were public examinations, and I was in an excellent institution that prepped me beyond the assistance given to the ordinary student. But at my university in the US, it is a truly competitive environment where one must work hard to flourish. And I guess I wasn’t entirely prepared for all this when I first arrived; it has been a humbling but ultimately rewarding experience.

Sandra and Friends

How do you think you have changed since coming to university?

 “What were you thinking?!” is definitely the phrase that often springs to mind when I reflect on my first year at university. I made a lot of mistakes. But I think (some of) these mistakes were necessary because I am a better person for having experienced them. So I guess I have become more accepting as a person, and I definitely have a better understanding of myself.

What advice would you give to students about choosing schools? What are the important things you see in your own experience here?

I think you should tell yourself this is your life and focus on that. It’s really not so much about what your parents think or where some arbitrary ranking tells you to go, but where you can be the best version of yourself. This is all very personal, and it requires an honest internal dialogue about what you want out of these four years.

You seem to be able to read people well. Is this true and how did you learn it?

Do I? I guess if I were to agree with you then I would attribute it to the powers of observation. And we all know how to people-watch. But learning to read characters in books also aids in assessing real people too.

Are you your own best friend or your own worst enemy?

I think for the longest time I used to be my own worst enemy, but I have made a lot of changes recently, and I am in the process of becoming my own best friend.

Who do you hang out with?

I like people, so basically anyone and everyone.

Any advice for parents about how to help their students either with choice of schools or once in university?

I think it is very important to visit the universities. While this may be impossible for everyone, I know from personal experience that being physically there, watching and absorbing the atmosphere of my university made my decision to enroll there abundantly clear.

What are the most important skills a person should learn while at university?

To be comfortable with who you are.

I have been lucky to know Sandra throughout her educational journey in the US. In many ways she is far too modest. She mentions her internship with the Wall Street Journal, only because I asked her about it. Only a very few students in the world are given the opportunity to write for them and even fewer are given virtually free reign in terms of topics. Her list of internships with top companies around the world, starting from a very young age, is far longer than most people who have been through graduate school. She also has travelled more extensively to places around the world than most living beings ever have or ever will. She could already write a travel book of the most interesting spots around the globe.

But while all this experience is impressive, what I most enjoy talking to Sandra about are the loves of her life. She has quite a few. Last fall she was close to Milton. In January it was Thomas Paine.. Then along came Franz Kafka. Lately it is Virginia Woolf and Nietzsche. The words of great thinkers and writers occupy a large space inside her now. They have helped to guide her in her outward and inward journey. And they have also taught her how honest words stated clearly often are hard art too, but one that is indeed a way toward wisdom, for her and for us too.