Three years ago, when the high school entrance exam results were released, Tina's life took an unexpected turn. A graduate of Minzhi Middle School, she missed her first-choice high school due to score slippage, and the backup school option left her with no enthusiasm for the future. With the stubbornness of refusing to settle, this opinionated girl since childhood took the initiative to propose to her parents the idea of switching to international high school.
No one expected that this somewhat bold choice would lead to a brilliant journey for her at Sendelta over the past three years: she not only turned her high school years into a growth feast full of exploration and joy, but also secured an offer from a global Top 30 university this admission season. She is about to head to Canada with great enthusiasm to continue her wonderful story in a broader world.
In Young Talk [Vol.52], we explore the "reverse growth" of Tina Tian, a member of Sendelta Student Union, Yearbook editor-in-chief, and graduate of the class of 2025.
Admitted Universities:
University of California, Irvine (U.S. News #33)
University of Toronto (QS #25) - Mathematics /Economics
University of British Columbia (QS#38) - Mathematics/ Economics
Application Scores:
Duolingo: 130 (equivalent to approximately 100 on TOEFL)
AP: 1 subject - Macroeconomics with a score of 5
1 Multi-dimensional growth panorama Tina's three years in high school can be called a "multi-dimensional growth panorama", leaving vivid traces from academic exploration to practical innovation. Taking Shenzhen Baishizhou and Nantou Ancient City as her research objects, she delved into China's urban economic system and the renovation trends of urban villages, and put forward suggestions for practical issues with professional analysis.
▲Urban village research
In club circles, she shines as the "organization whiz" of the Student Union's Club Department, the "content director" of the school yearbook, and a "revenue pioneer" of creative markets. Skilled in recruiting members, planning events, and coordinating sales, she's also a lively presence in business club simulations and auctions.
Her growth is full of cross-field challenges: she’s both a "little coach" teaching students and teachers in physique classes and a "brain trust" designing mock debates in debate classes; she won a Progress Award at Harvard Model UN training camp and also stepped up as a music festival host to steer the entire event.
▲Hosting speech events and working as a physique class teacher
In her spare time, she heads to urban villages with environmental leaflets to clean up trash, shines on stage with her Grade 13 Chinese dance skills, and expresses her passion through Grade 6 hard-pen calligraphy.
With her high level of participation and diverse attempts, she turned her high school life into a busy yet brilliant growth documentary.
2 What's it like to be the Yearbook editor-in-chief? In 10th grade, Tina, interested in editing, joined the Yearbook team as a member of a 40-strong group, handling material collection, copywriting and design for teachers' classes. By 12th grade, with rich event organizing experience, she volunteered to be 2025 Yearbook editor-in-chief, evolving from a participant to a leader. For the main theme, Tina chose the school's red walls as the core visual: the solid red, a striking symbol of Sendelta, embodies the warm sense of belonging in youth.
▲Sendelta 2025 Yearbook Cover and Editor's Note
"Flipping through the soon-to-be printed yearbook, Tina reflects, 'It was like a journey, but the final product holds the school's stories—and the process is my one-of-a-kind high school memory.'" She hopes this team-effort yearbook becomes a time capsule that brings smiles. Now in print, scan the QR code below to pre-order this exclusive keepsake. 3 How has high school changed me? Looking back on three years of high school, Tina says the biggest change is growing from panicky to calm when dealing with things. "Once I’d panic over small emergencies, but now if something goes wrong at an event, my first thought is ‘solve it first’." This calm wasn’t innate—it came from organizing events: staying up to make PPTs for open day, coordinating venues and props for club recruitments, managing sales at creative markets, overseeing double festival galas. Taking on these responsibilities helped her learn the ropes through planning, executing and reviewing, building the confidence to handle anything.
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▲Tina at events(second from the left in the picture below)
To juniors, she advises: "Try more activities and don’t fear responsibility. When you move from participant to planner and see your ideas take shape, your abilities and mindset will both steady." Another treasure: her relationship with teachers shifted from "awe" to "mentor-friend." "Before high school, I saw teachers as authority figures, even feared them." But at Sendelta, teachers listen to her activity ideas, discuss psychology, and help weigh choices. She cherishes warm bonds with female teachers: math teacher Gloria, economics teachers Prabina and May, who teach clearly and are gentle outside class; homeroom teacher Alice; and college counselors, who supported her from planning to application season.
▲Tina and Teacher May at the graduation party
"Youth growth needs not just peers, but adults' perspective as those who've been there," Tina reflects. Teacher-friends guided her with expertise and care, showing that good teacher-student bonds encourage courage in warmth. To juniors, she again stresses campus activities: "Join what you love! It's a shortcut to fit in, make friends, and grow through practice." Equally vital is pure joy: "Live fully, find purpose in responsibility, warmth in relationships—that's a vivid high school!"
▲Tina and her mother at the coming-of-age ceremony
4 Conclusion From the confused summer three years ago when she missed her first-choice high school, to now holding offers from world top universities and heading forward with calm and passion, Tina’s high school years have been a splendid bloom after an unexpected turn. What once felt like "regrets" became turning points in her life; the bits accumulated in busyness turned into confidence for the future. As a new journey unfolds in Canada, this vibrant, upward-moving girl will carry the marks of three years at Sendelta, continuing to write more wonderful stories of her own in a broader world.
