On campus, Grade 7 student Miki FUJII is like a walking ray of sunshine. Extroverted and exceptionally optimistic, her cheerful laughter seems to follow wherever she goes. To her teachers and classmates, Miki appears completely immune to nervousness, and it is incredibly rare to ever hear her complain.

Yet, behind this ever-smiling exterior lies a steadfast nine-year commitment to ballet, along with a crystal-clear vision for her future that goes well beyond her years.

01

"You can't master it without putting in the hours."

Ever since she first slipped on pointe shoes at the age of three, Miki has been dancing in the world of ballet for nine years. While others might see ballet practice as nothing but sweat and monotony, in her world, even when it gets exhausting, she simply makes a cheerful, teasing remark and dives right back into practice.

｜Early Grace on Stage

Miki sets the bar exceptionally high for herself in the realm of ballet. For years, she has maintained a rigorous schedule of at least eight hours of weekly practice. Despite this impressive dedication, she brushes it off with casual modesty: "That's just the baseline. I may not spend the most time out of everyone, but without that steady accumulation of hours, excellence is impossible."

As a boarding student, she has turned the campus into her personal training ground. Whenever she has free time, she can always be found practicing her fundamentals in the dorm's common areas or the school's dance studios. The supportive boarding environment also plays a crucial role: the boarding staff not only care for her daily needs but also regularly encourage her to keep up with her training. Additionally, the great dynamic and companionship with her roommates have brought her cherished friendships.

Beyond her independent training, Miki also actively enrolled in the school's CCA (Co-Curricular Activities) ballet class. Here, she has bonded with peers studying Chinese and contemporary dance. She truly relishes the shared training atmosphere, where mutual encouragement among friends constantly fuels her progress.

｜Fundamentals Training in the School Dance Studio

Undeniably, her development is deeply rooted in the unwavering support she receives from both home and school. Her mother, sharing a background in dance, acts as a strict yet supportive off-stage guide, providing invaluable professional advice. Concurrently, the school's faculty wholeheartedly champions her aspirations, empowering her to shine on various competitive ballet stages.

｜Campus Performance

02

Securing Dual Honors: Bound for the Global Finals in Spain

When asked how she has stuck with ballet for nine years, Miki answers with the trademark humor and candor of her age: "Actually, right when I feel like giving up, I happen to win an award. Winning gives me the motivation to keep going, making me feel like I can keep 'flexing' for a bit longer (laughs)."

｜Ballet Competition Award Highlights

This confidence and capability were perfectly validated this past January at the Global Dance Open (GDO) China Qualifiers. In this highly competitive event, Miki impressively clinched Top 3 in her Solo and Top 2 in the Contemporary Duet. Faced with these outstanding honors, the optimistic girl remarked with refreshing bold honesty: "When I heard the results, I thought I was pretty awesome. It was kind of expected, to be honest."

｜Solo Performance

｜Contemporary Duet

But beneath that confidence is a very clear-headed girl. She admits that dancing Solo was much harder and more nerve-wracking because she had to rely completely on herself. As for the Duet, she jokes that it was a breeze for one simple reason: "My partner is incredibly talented—I basically got 'carried'."

Miki's exceptional showing at the GDO China Qualifiers has earned her a ticket to the Global Finals in both her Solo and Contemporary Duet categories. Set for Spain this July, she will proudly represent the China region. This marks her second expedition to an overseas final, adding to her previous competition experience in the U.S.

Facing the upcoming global finals, Miki has a crystal-clear goal: aiming for the Silver Award. She has already shifted into full preparation mode. "I need to fine-tune every single detail of my movements while keeping a steady mindset," she notes. Meanwhile, she is making a final push to pass her Grade 1 Professional Ballet exam this summer, with plans to secure her Grade 3 certificate before college applications.

03

Beyond the Global Stage: Exploring the Frontiers of Life Sciences

Although only in Grade 7, Miki has mapped out a career path for her future that is both remarkably clear and truly impressive.

Miki's ultimate aspirations are rooted not in the professional dance theater, but in the realms of biology and medical science. Drawing upon her profound, years-long experience with dance and human biomechanics, she aspires to research human anatomical medicine deeply and forge a career as a research scientist. In the academic sphere, she is equally a true woman of action; demonstrating exceptional prowess in chemistry, she has actively engaged in diverse academic olympiads and secured numerous accolades.

04

"Love it. Do it. Be bold."

Reflecting on the GDO China Qualifiers, Miki’s most profound takeaway was not the accolades she earned, but the brilliance of her fellow competitors. Witnessing their exceptional talent and the visible dedication behind every move, she considered the entire event an invaluable learning opportunity, motivating her to elevate her own standards and strive for even greater excellence.

As the interview drew to a close, when asked what words of encouragement she would offer to fellow students harboring similar passions, the sunny and self-assured girl shared a remarkably simple, yet profoundly empowering message:

"If you like it, learn it. If you want to do it, just go for it. All you need is to be a little bold!"

Armed with this fearless and free-spirited attitude, Miki is stepping confidently toward her stage in Spain, and onward into a vast future filled with infinite possibilities.