In June, the campus was buzzing with the excitement of graduation season. Students were busy taking graduation photos to capture the memories while eagerly discussing their future destinations. It was a season of harvest—holding offers from universities across the globe, everyone was thrilled to map out the next chapter of their lives.

Yet, amidst this wave of excitement over acceptances and new journeys, twelfth-grader Leo remained exceptionally calm.

Even when a highly coveted interview invitation from the Chemistry Department at Imperial College London landed in his inbox, his reaction was completely unfazed.

After all, he had already secured Chemistry offers from University College London (UCL), King's College London (KCL), and Durham University.

G12 沈士杰 Leo

While others might see this as a rare success, his reaction was surprisingly mild, feeling only a faint sense of surprise.

Deep down, the decision had already been made.

He chose to let go of these shining stepping stones in Chemistry, and study Commerce at the University of Melbourne instead.

It wasn't a sudden whim, but rather a process of finding his own path.

For a long time, Chemistry was Leo's absolute comfort zone.

Since his IGCSEs, his Chemistry grades had consistently stayed at an A or above.

Not only was his own foundation rock-solid, but he also frequently volunteered as a teaching assistant in the lower secondary, or took the initiative to gather his peers to patiently help them with their studies.

After transferring to YWIES Tongxiang, with the thoughtful guidance of his teachers, it felt only natural when he took home a National Silver in the JCCO (Junior Chemistry Olympiad), alongside various other awards. He was quite honest about it: doing past papers and winning medals was a steady path with clear, predictable returns.

But the real turning point happened in Grade 11, during a course on "New Energy Vehicles."

In this class, Leo took the lead in researching the "Battery Technology" module. He didn't just clearly map out complex industry bottlenecks and future trends; he even stepped out of his lane to study the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) tech of major domestic brands. 

Later, during an exchange event with Tesla, he brought this solid knowledge to the table, engaging in deep, back-and-forth technical discussions with company representatives that left everyone impressed.

That was the first time he looked away from the equations in his test tubes and truly saw how technology collides with the business world and real markets.

Perhaps it was this exact experience that showed him another possibility in life.
Must being "good at something" be the only answer?

When it actually came time to pick a major, his thought process was simple:

"I just want to try something different."

Yet, pivoting to a new path came with its first test — the personal statement.

Without the comfort of familiar chemical formulas, how was he supposed to show universities his true self?

He simply didn't know where to start.

During those anxious days, the university guidance counselor at YWIES offered a steady hand through his confusion.

There was no rushing, nor any questioning of his decision to apply for multiple majors.

Instead, the counselor simply sat down with him, patiently helping him untangle his thoughts over and over, revising the essays line by line.

Through the countless drafts that were scrapped and rewritten, what Leo gradually figured out was not just his personal statement, but a quiet confidence in his future.

Actually, the seeds for this courage to make his own choices were planted back when he first transferred schools.

Looking back on his shift from a public school to the international track, Leo said the biggest change was that "time finally belonged to me."

No longer pushed forward by endless test prep, he finally found some breathing room.
He had plenty of time to run on the pitch and play his favorite football.

In this relaxed and free environment, his English listening and reading didn't fall behind at all; instead, thanks to natural immersion, his skills improved by leaps and bounds.

Education gave him the space he needed, giving him the chance to see clearly what he truly wanted.

The rigorous mindset he developed through chemistry is still a part of him.

But now, he is more eager to see the scenery beyond his comfort zone.

Carrying the sense of ease and freedom his school has given him, he is ready to explore a new field of study.

His own journey has only just begun.