Be the best of yourself

As Xiaoman, one of the traditional solar terms in the Chinese calendar, arrives, wheat begins to fill out—symbolizing growth that is underway, even if the harvest is not yet complete.

It is a fitting moment to pause and reflect on the first half of the semester: what we have accomplished, what we have learned, and what still lies ahead.

At this meaningful point in the school year, Guanghua Academy held its mid-semester student recognition ceremony.

Xiaoman is not about reaching the finish line. It is about being in the process of becoming—and recognizing that every student who continues to learn, grow, and move forward deserves to be seen.

1. Every Act of Perseverance

The ceremony opened with Anna from Pre and James from G10 serving as student hosts. Their first words were directed to every student who had just completed the AP examinations:

“Thank you for all your hard work.”

With the AP examination period coming to an end, students also began making course selections for the next academic year. The Academic Affairs Office introduced 14 new courses for G10 and G11 and 10 new courses for Pre, while also explaining the course withdrawal process and encouraging students to make thoughtful, informed decisions. Students were reminded once again of the importance of academic integrity and examination conduct as final exams approach.

Halfway through the semester, GHA students had already achieved strong results in competitions both in China and internationally.

In his remarks, Principal Wan encouraged students to approach their academic development with careful planning and initiative:

“Have a clear plan for your academic development, and take the initiative to seek advice from teachers and older students along the way. Setbacks, failures, and even mistakes are all part of the journey. What matters is that you adjust, learn, and never give up easily. Whether in academics or athletics, meaningful achievement requires hard work. Every medal and every honor is earned through consistent effort over time. To keep moving forward, the key is perseverance.”

His words were vividly reflected in the school’s recent rowing competition.

At the latest open rowing regatta, GHA student-athletes earned 8 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals, achieving a 100% medal rate and turning months of disciplined training into an outstanding result.

G10 student Louis shared one of the moments that stayed with him:

“In the mixed doubles event, Zena remained calm even though we fell behind at the start. We encouraged each other and refused to give up. After 200 meters, we successfully came back and won the race. In the mixed four, our coordination was excellent through the first half, and at one point we were two boat lengths ahead of the men’s double. When Jacob made a mistake in the final 100 meters and his oar caught the water, the team stayed calm. We worked together to help him regain control, adjust our rhythm, and get back on course. We managed to hold on to our lead and finish the race.”

Pre student Franco reflected on another lesson in perseverance:

“Yesterday, I found myself wishing I had won as many medals as Louis. I had one gold and one silver, while he had three golds. But Louis told me that when he once had three silver medals, he also looked at other people and wished he could achieve what they had. Every achievement comes from hard training, day after day.”

His reflection captured one of the central messages of the ceremony:

Progress is rarely achieved overnight. It is built through persistence.

2. Every Student Has a Light to Share

Throughout the recognition ceremony, a series of awards celebrated students and classes for their achievements.

These honors recognize more than grades, rankings, or competition results. They also highlight the discipline, responsibility, commitment, and passion that students demonstrate in their everyday lives.

Elite Scholars

The Elite Scholar Award recognizes students whose semester examination averages place them among the top 10% of their grade.

Their achievement reflects sustained focus, consistent effort, and a commitment to academic excellence.

Outstanding High School Class

The Outstanding High School Class Award recognizes the class demonstrating the strongest overall performance in student conduct and classroom cleanliness.

For the second time, G10-3 received the honor.

Residential Life Award

The Residential Life Award recognizes the dormitory that demonstrates the strongest performance in community standards, organization, and cleanliness.

A clean and orderly living environment is more than a matter of appearance. It is a reflection of self-discipline, responsibility, and respect for others.

Athletic Achievement Awards

The athletic awards recognized outstanding student-athletes across several programs, including the 2025–26 basketball season, national lacrosse competition, and the Athlete of the Year / Sports Star recognition.

GHA’s lacrosse team was recognized for its achievement as U15 National Champion and U18 National Third-Place finisher at the National Lacrosse Championship Cup.

3. Every Step of Growth

Student Council President Su Liwen then took the stage to review the work of the Student Council over the past semester.

What she presented was far more than a list of completed tasks. It was a portrait of student life at GHA—one shaped by the collective efforts of students across different departments.

Student Council Communications Director Xu Mingyue shared the department’s work over the semester, including poster design and event promotion, campus displays, photography and video coverage, and the collection and production of stories about student life.

She also introduced the workflow behind the student quarterly publication, GUANGHUA SAPPHIRE, and invited students to contribute their own summer vlogs and stories.

Every student sees the school from a different perspective.

Every perspective adds another layer to the story of GHA.

Looking ahead, Su Liwen announced the upcoming “Window to the World” Multicultural Campus Carnival, scheduled for June 1, and officially opened recruitment for the next Student Council.

A more open, inclusive, and student-driven campus community is taking shape—and every student is invited to help build it.