For those of you who have never heard of Yogi Berra you
should do a search. Aside from being one of the greatest athletes in
the history of his sport, he is noted for saying things that at first glance
don’t seem to make sense but upon reflection do make us think. When Yogi was
asked about going to a popular nightspot in New York, here is what he said:
“Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”
I bring this up because there is something I hear today from
many students, parents, pundits and educators when it comes to commenting on
who gets in to highly selective colleges and universities: “Don’t even bother
to apply. Nobody gets in.” If these words were ‘true’ then the schools would
shut down. Paradoxically, these schools, because they are deemed in rankings as the 'best', experience huge increases in applications each year. After decisions go
out, however, the chorus of “nobody gets in” starts making the rounds again in ever-louder
shouts.
What follows is an interview with someone who is anything but
a nobody. Samantha is one of the more talented students in the world. Her
insights into education and developing her talents and passions demonstrate that she is not
only accomplished but also self-aware and globally fluent.
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Could you tell us a
little about your family and where you grew up?
I’ve lived in Vancouver all my life. I’m half Asian on my
mom’s side; my mom’s side of the family is part of the Huaqiao community in
Manila. My paternal grandparents both grew up in England, but they and my
father have lived in many locations since. I often feel that this unique mix of
cultures and backgrounds has given me many interesting perspectives.
You attend a wonderful
school West Point Grey Academy. How long have you been going there and can you
share what you think it special about it? What is the atmosphere like among
students? Is it competitive, cooperative or some of both? How hard are
the classes and how are the teachers?
I’m a lifer at West Point Grey Academy, so I can say without
a doubt that it’s the best school I’ve ever attended! In all seriousness
though, my school’s community, support, and opportunities are absolutely
incredible. One thing people always notice when entering West Point Grey
Academy (affectionately called ‘dubpeeg’) is the energy that bounces around in
the halls; it’s a school where we greet everyone in the hallways and get
involved in all sorts of co- and extra-curricular activities. The relatively
small grade size (about 70 kids) means we all know each other, and the culture
is very much about ‘showing up’ to things, whether that’s club meetings, debate
competitions, student council meetings, or even watching other students’ sports
competitions. The atmosphere among students is very much cooperative; although
we all are driven to achieve our best, I think that the motivation is internal.
In terms of the classes, we have the flexibility to choose from many different
kinds of courses with different course loads. The teachers are yet another
component of the school community that makes it so supportive. They are always
willing to stay after class or during lunch to answer questions or supervise
make-up tests. This really helps students (like me!) catch up on work after
returning from trips. I remember last year, before I went to Lithuania (for
WIDPSC), I asked my math teacher what I would be missing. He wrote out his
lesson plan for the entire month of April and gave me a copy!
West Point Grey
Academy has had a tremendous record of success in the area of debate. You have
been involved with debate for many years and have been recognized
internationally for your abilities. Can you talk first about why you decided to
join debate and what the school does to prepare students so well for success?
Debate, Model UN, and public speaking are a huge part of dubpeeg culture. Our coach
was actually the coach of the Canadian National Debate team when they won in
Qatar. We regularly have students on the National Team. Actually, my debate
partner will be travelling to Singapore this summer to represent Canada at the
World Schools Debate Competition for the second time. But more than that,
because of the large volume and success of kids in higher grades who debate, I
think it’s a trickle-down inspirational effect for students new to the senior
school. We also run our own Model United Nations, which involves a large
portion of the student population. So, a lot of people get involved!
Personally, I got involved with debate because the year before (grade 7) I was
giving a lot of speeches as school captain and I did quite well at a speech
competition. I thought, why not? (Plus, I’m absolutely terrified of
basketballs, so I knew I wasn’t going to have that take up my time!) The school prepares kids by having many
intramural debate competitions where the seniors mentor the juniors (we often
call them pizza debates because everyone gets pizza at the end). WPGA also
offers a course called Persuasive Writing (in grade 8 and 9) that helps teach
debate analytical skills. Also, the course AP Comparative Government gives a
lot of spec knowledge that is quite impressive to pull out in a round!
You have travelled all
over the world to compete in debate. Can you talk about where you have gone and
what kind of debate you specialized in and why and finally can you share some
of your international accomplishments too?
I’ve gone the most exotic places for public speaking. WIDPSC
was in Brisbane, Australia, then Durban, South Africa, then Druskininkai, Lithuania,
and finally Hong Kong. For debate, my international trips include Dallas (Old
Parklands Debate Competition), Claremont (PanAmerican Debate Championship),
Olomouc, Czech Republic (Heart of Europe Debate Championship), and Oxford and
Durham (Oxford and Durham Cup). I’ve also been able to see quite a bit of
Canada through various national competitions, which has been a blast! I’m so
lucky to have had the opportunity to travel so extensively; I’ve had so much
fun learning about new cultures and meeting people all over the world. To me,
it can be especially fascinating to realize that even when we live in different
countries and have vastly different backgrounds, there’s still so much we have
in common!
I’ll just list a few of the highlights
World Individual Debate and Public Speaking Champion (2015)
National Public Speaking Champion (2015)
National Debate Champions (2014 and 2015); 4th
place speaker and top BC speaker (2015)
Oxford Cup Champion (Canadian qualifier for the Oxford Cup
in England) (2014)
Provincial Debate Champions (2015, 2013)
Regional Debate Champions (2015)
Canadian National Debate Team (2014-2015)
International Independent Schools Public Speaking
Competition: 2nd place overall, top U-16 speaker (2012)
2nd place team, PanAmerican Debate Championship
(2015)
2nd place team, Old Parklands Debate Competition
(2015)
There is a lot of talk
in the media today about the need for students to develop a passion. Were
you born as a passionate learner or did others help you find your passion for
debate and academic success?
I couldn’t agree more. Funnily enough, I actually gave a
speech on that- the need for people to step up to the plate, be leaders, and
inspire others with their passion. I think I’ve always been a highly motivated
learner but my passion was inspired in different ways. My passion for creative
writing was kindled by an excellent English teacher in grade 4; for speech, in
various student leadership roles in grade 7; debate, through immersing myself
in the school culture and going on some fantastic trips. I’ve also become
really passionate about other areas. My teachers have inspired my passion in
biology and languages. The fantastic people I’ve connected with via those
activities inspired my passion for music and service.
How much pressure do
you put on yourself to be the best? How do you manage your time to do all the
things you do so well? What are the skills that you have aside from just
being smart that helps you stay focused and permit you to achieve your goals?
I’m motivated to push myself to my own best. I’m not the
kind of person who will do things halfway or half-heartedly; once I decide to
do something I will throw all my passion behind it. That said, I understand
that I can’t always push myself to the limit on everything! It’s always been a
balance, but in the last couple years I’ve worked on prioritizing. Sometimes I
get back from trips and things are crazy busy, and I just have to accept that I
won’t be able to do as well on assessments that week than if I’d been around.
So I’ll ask for help and I’ll study as much as I can, but not to the point that
I’m overly stressed or not sleeping. Specifically, skills that help me manage
my time are focus and looking ahead. I try to start my work first after I get
home rather than watching TV, etc., so I can get it done as early as possible.
As for looking ahead, I try to ask my teachers what’s coming up so I can bring
study materials with me when I’m away or ask questions well in advance.
Do you have any
mentors who have been important to you in school, in your activities or in any
other way? If so how did they help you?
Obviously my debate coach, who has worked with me so much on
developing my public speaking & debate abilities, but also my confidence
and adaptability skills. A grade 4 English teacher who ignited my passion for
creative writing, and so many of my current teachers who inspire me about my
next step, including my chemistry teacher and physics teacher. Finally, my
cello teacher who has taught me to value of meticulous work and a woman who
runs an organization I volunteer with who is my role model for connecting with
people.
When it came time for
you to look at where you wanted to go to university how did you decide which
schools to apply to and why did you look at US Schools?
I don’t have a perfectly clear idea of what major I want, so
the US liberal arts education really appealed to me. I like the idea of
exploring a variety of courses before I choose my path. I did a few university
tours in summers, did some research online, and chatted with my school
university counselor.
How many schools did
you apply to? You ended up getting accepted to Stanford, the most selective
schools in the US. There are many people in the world that would love to know how
you did this? What are the things you think made you a successful candidate for
Stanford? Would you be wiling to talk about the things you wrote about in your
application?
I actually only applied to four, but that’s because I
received my acceptance from Stanford early. I was heavily leaning towards that
school so I didn’t submit most of my other applications. I’m sorry, I don’t
know what makes me a successful candidate for Stanford! I’d love to know too!
One of my essays was about basically being a crazy old cat lady so maybe they
were missing that in their class of ‘19 demographics? I just tried to write
about the things that were most essential to my character. I also wrote about
connecting to my Chinese culture, and learning how to do impromptu speaking!
Why did you end up
choosing Stanford?
Stanford stood out as the school with the ideal fit for me.
First of all, I really like the quarter system. I like that I get to take more
courses than the semester system, which is important because I really want to
explore a lot of different interest areas. Also, it means that winter and
spring breaks are real breaks, not exam cram time, which is important because
I’m sure I’ll need a real rest! I also really like the residence program where
I move around every year. Various other programs are also excellent; other than
the academics, I’ve heard that the debate and study abroad programs are
wonderful. Plus, location! I’m very close to home and on the same time zone as
my family in Vancouver. I also have family living in California. I’m about an
hour away from San Francisco, a city I visited a few years ago and LOVED. And
it’s beautiful and warm and sunny all the time!
Do you have a plan for
what you hope to study at Stanford?
The only course I 100% know I’m going to take (funnily
enough) is Mandarin. I’ll take a lot of human biology courses, because that’s
the area I’m most passionate in. I’d also love to explore other areas like
history, literature, and communications. We’ll see, I guess!
Do you have any long-term
goals about what you want to do when you graduate?
Not really! I have a few vague ideas but I’m sure those will
change a lot once I go through university and find areas I’m passionate about.
Do you have any advice
for students who are thinking about activities, and universities and doing well
in order to reach their dreams?
Balance! There’s no point cramming your schedule so full
that you’re burned out early. Along those lines, there’s no point doing things
just to look good on a resume. Obviously it’s good to push yourself to try
different things and immerse yourself in them, but at some point you need to
make sure that the enjoyment is still there. On a bit of a different note, I’d
say the most important personal quality is self-confidence. Self-confidence to
speak up, get involved, and seize opportunities. An inspiring guest speaker
once shared a saying something along the lines of “opportunities aren’t a
chance- they’re a choice”. I believe that self-confidence is what lets people
make that choice.
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Samantha has shared some things that will, I think I can
safely assume, intimidate some readers. After all, there are only so many
people in the world who can say they have claimed the top award in the world
for an activity of some sort.
On the other hand, anyone reading her words should come away
thinking that she, as a person, is anything but intimidating. Her words do not have
to try to impress. Her actions already do that. Instead her tone is open-mined,
curious and warm. Her advice about how important self-confidence can be should
be something everyone can learn from.
So too is her advice about mentors and passion. Early on a teacher
sparked her interest in writing and she had the opportunity to work with a
coach who is clearly one of the best given the record of success of debaters at
her school.
Samantha is also a perfect example of those students who
will benefit most from a liberal arts education. Her interests are wide-ranging
and she has chosen Stanford for all the right reasons given the way the
education and environment matches her individual interests and even location in
the world.
Her words, then, apply not just to those who are looking to get
into the schools that take ‘nobody’; instead, they apply to any student who
wants to learn, grow and explore and will be able to approach the world with
confidence instead of fear.
At the same time, I also think it is useful for those of us
on the outside who may not have her talents to understand a little better what
it does tae to get into schools that accept about 5% of those who apply. A
student who has worked hard, has strong grades and tests scores will end up at
a great school. But almost all who have these stats and not much else will not
be admitted to schools that take only very talented ‘somebodies’. Talent in
this case means far more than numbers. Her debate skills, her global
background, and her clear love of learning all make her stand out. Even her
essay topic sounds like one this is both risky and unique. She had the
confidence to submit something edgy.
I would first of all like to thank Samantha for sharing her
words here. I have learned much not just about her but also about how think
about living and learning. I would also like to thank John Sy, a wonderful education
counselor and admission expert in the Philippines. He is Samantha’s uncle and
he provided me with an introduction to her after he mentioned her in an
education counselor form in which he provides many great comments and insights.
My guess is that Samantha will be able to share more
insights that will educate us as she begins her journey at Stanford and then
afterward on her career path too.
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