For lower secondary students, growing up is about more than building academic knowledge. It is also a process of getting to know themselves, learning to plan ahead and taking responsibility for their choices. Art, sport and music are not just interests beyond the classroom; they can also offer new ways to understand knowledge, develop skills and broaden horizons.

YWIES Tongxiang offers a range of scholarships for lower secondary students, including the The Madam Tsang Chor-hang Memorial Scholarship (Overall Achievement Award), Yew Chung Yew Wah Professional Talent Award and Yew Chung Yew Wah Academic Award. These awards encourage students to explore and develop their strengths in academic, music, sport and art. This time, we meet four scholarship recipients from the lower secondary sector at YWIES Tongxiang and hear how they stay committed to what they love—and find their own rhythm of growth through trying new things.

Stories of Growth 

at YWIES Tongxiang

G9 Elsa

The Madam Tsang Chor-hang Memorial Scholarship (Overall Achievement Award)

Learning to break complex tasks into manageable steps.

As a recipient of the The Madam Tsang Chor-hang Memorial Scholarship, Elsa has excellednot only academically, but also through her love of the arts, her initiative within a team and her open-minded approach to the future.

She volunteered to perform in the school’s all-English musical Oliver! JR. Rehearsals gave her a new experience and helped her see what musical theatre and academic study have in common: both take time and effort, and both depend on careful planning and steady progress. “While rehearsing for the musical, I gradually realised that finding the right way to practise and learning the right techniques can help me study more efficiently.”

She has brought this insight into her studies. When faced with a complex task, she first works out what needs to be done and in what order, then breaks it into smaller steps, plans her time and tackles each one. This habit has helped her work in a more organised way and find a balance between her studies and the arts.

Elsa has also felt uncertain about the future. But as she has been introduced to more opportunities and experiences at school, she has stopped feeling that she needs to choose a single path straight away. Instead, she is happy to stay open-minded and take her time finding answers. As she says: “I no longer feel I have to be perfect at one particular thing. I’m willing to try more, explore myself in different directions and discover more possibilities.”

G8 Miki

Yew Chung Yew Wah Professional Talent Award (Ballet)

Behind the grace lies day-after-day perseverance.

When Miki first practised Ballet at the age of three, she found it “uncomfortable and painful”. After years of practice, she has begun to make a name for herself on the international stage. Most recently, she won a Silver Award at the GDO (Global Dance Open) and a Platinum Award at the UBC (Universal Ballet Competition), earning recognition from professional international judges. For Miki, these awards are the result of years of hard work: “I’m really happy that something I’ve worked towards for so long has finally paid off.”

Miki sees ballet and academic learning not as separate pursuits, but as interests that can inspire one another. Science is her favourite subject, and what she learns in class about the human body, gravity and balance helps her understand how to move and distribute her weight in ballet. The school’s bilingual, diverse learning environment also makes it easier for her to follow demonstrations in dance lessons taught by international teachers. Ballet is not just physical training; it also draws on a wealth of scientific principles. The connection between art and science has helped her see ballet in a richer way.

By combining regular training with academic exploration, Miki has learnt to look at the same thing from different perspectives. Her interest in ballet has brought more than progress in her technique: it has also made learning feel more connected and meaningful.

Receiving the scholarship made Miki proud and gave her fresh motivation to keep moving forward. “The scholarship recognises the effort I’ve put in and gives me even more to look forward to. I hope to keep improving and create more opportunities for my future in dance.”

G7 Celine

Yew Chung Yew Wah Professional Talent Award (Yangqin)

Like walking: one step at a time will get you there.

Celine has been learning the yangqin, a Chinese hammered dulcimer, for six years, since Grade 1. The journey has not always been easy: practising takes up time she might otherwise spend playing, and sometimes she has found herself at a standstill. For her, learning to persevere matters more than mastering any one piece. When she finds something difficult, she slows down and reminds herself: “Playing the yangqin is like walking. One step at a time, and you’ll get there.”

Playing the yangqin requires both hands to work together, as well as coordination between the eyes, ears and hands. Years of practice have helped Celine become more focused and organised in her studies. The school’s integrated Chinese and Western arts programme has also broadened her horizons. At YWIES Tongxiang, encouraged by her teachers to “put down roots in tradition and look towards the wider world”, she has come to appreciate both the appeal of Western art and the beauty of traditional Chinese art. Events such as Founder’s Day, concerts and the Tongxiang Children’s Spring Festival Gala have given Celine more opportunities to perform on the yangqin, helping her grow in confidence on stage.

When Celine heard that she had been awarded the scholarship, she was both surprised and touched. “I could hardly believe it, and I’m grateful to the school for recognising my efforts.” For her, the scholarship is an encouragement to keep going after six years of perseverance. She has achieved excellent results in every yangqin grade examination, from Grade 1 to Grade 9. This has strengthened her belief that when you devote yourself to something and persevere, your efforts will eventually be recognised.

Now looking forward to hearing the results of her Grade 10 examination, Celine has an even bigger vision: “The yangqin is itself a witness to cultural exchange between China and the world. I hope I can become a little ‘cultural ambassador’ too—perform on bigger stages and share this Chinese culture with more people around the world.”

G7 George

Yew Chung Yew Wah Professional Talent Award (Violin)

Practise the violin every day and make focus a habit.

When George was just over three, he saw an older boy playing the violin at a neighbour’s home and decided he wanted to learn. He asked his mother for six months before finally getting his wish and beginning his musical journey. Because learning the violin was his own choice, he has never considered giving up, even when practice has been challenging.

How does he balance his schoolwork and his interest in music? George has found a routine that works for him: “Apart from when I’m too ill to get up, I practise my violin almost every day.” Rather than simply practising for longer, he focuses on what matters and plans ahead. “If I have a lot of homework, I practise for a little less; if I have less, I practise for a little longer. But before I pick up my bow, I always go over the key points my teacher has taught me, so I practise with a clear goal.”

The violin is highly expressive and requires great control. “When I practise, I have to focus completely. I need to listen for the right pitch and think about the bowing and the mood of the piece, while working carefully on every detail for a long time.” This ability to concentrate has carried over into his academic work. Performing on stage has helped him grow from being shy at first to feeling at ease in front of an audience. Now he can also confidently share his thoughts on the works of different composers. Over the summer, George passed Grade 5 Music Theory with the ABRSM and is now steadily working towards a Merit in his Grade 7 Performance exam.

Exposed to YWIES Tongxiang’s open and diverse community culture, George has grown into a young person who balances academic learning with the arts—and shows how music and kindness can bring people together. On receiving the scholarship, he chose to spend part of the reward from his parents as he wished and to donate the rest to the Yew Chung Yew Wah “Seeds of Hope” Charity Concert project. For George, music brings more than skill and confidence: it also offers a way to share with others and pass on kindness.

Exploring through interests and growing through experience

The lower secondary years are a formative time, as students grow in independence and develop a deeper understanding of themselves. As their curiosity and confidence in expressing themselves flourish, they begin to discover their interests and recognise their strengths. At YWIES Tongxiang, students are encouraged to try new things and learn through experience, with thoughtful guidance and support to help them develop the confidence to think independently and make their own judgements.

Bringing academic subjects and personal interests together

At YWIES Tongxiang, the arts and sport are important parts of students’ all-round development. The arts nurture creativity and self-expression, while sport helps develop focus and resilience. Both can also offer fresh perspectives on academic subjects. Through interdisciplinary projects and enquiry-based learning, students bring knowledge and experience from different fields together, deepening their understanding through real-world experiences.

Developing independence through practical experience

From planning practice and breaking down study tasks to preparing for a stage performance, students learn to manage their time, solve problems, persevere and adapt. Through a diverse curriculum and practical activities, YWIES Tongxiang gives students opportunities to explore their interests and develop their abilities. These experiences also help them build self-management skills and confidence, so they can face challenges with assurance.

Learning to take responsibility through collaboration and sharing

Relationships with peers and shared experiences are an important part of growing up. Through winning and losing, sharing responsibilities and working as a team, students learn to listen, collaborate and take responsibility. They also begin to understand how their choices can affect others. The school’s character education encourages students to care for others and contribute to their school and wider community, nurturing empathy and a sense of responsibility through collaboration and sharing.

Scholarships recognise students’ efforts and achievements at a particular stage of their journey, while encouraging them to keep moving forward. Whether a student is passionate about academic study or shows talent in art, sport or other fields, YWIES Tongxiang is committed to helping them discover their interests, develop their strengths and continue to grow at a pace that is right for them.

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Find out more about YWIES Tongxiang lower secondary scholarships and the admissions application process.