Pandora DCB Jun. 2014 | Page 8

SPECIAL SPECIAL WHERE ARE YOU NOW? LIFE AFTER DULWICH BY JENNA YEH As we approach the time of year when we have to wave our beloved senior year goodbye, we all get that nagging feeling in the pits of our stomachs as our own futures seem to loom so closely ahead. What really lies beyond the safety of our school, peers and homes? What experiences are there to look forward to? And what exactly will we be leaving behind? Three of Dulwich’s graduate students share their experiences after high school with us: LISA KOH CLASS OF 2012 Where are you and what are you doing now? Lisa: I’m in my second year at Oxford reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). Derui: I’m in Singapore, serving two years of National Service in the army. Charmaine: I’m in Berkeley, CA and I’m a student at UC Berkeley. What do you enjoy most about being a graduate? Lisa: Socially, there’s a lot more freedom and my favorite part of university would probably be meeting lots of different, new, and exciting people. People here are really passionate about everything they do, and I learn a lot just being around them. Charmaine: Leaving Beijing and going to public school where not everyone is affluent has definitely changed my perspective of life. Also, just being able to say, “I’m in college!” because it feels so much more grown up…even though I still feel like a child. Derui: The freedom and flexibility that I now have with my schedule – being able to pursue activities that I am genuinely interested in, rath- 8 CHARMAINE CHIU CLASS OF 2013 er than constantly having to worry about coursework deadlines and grades. When it comes to academics, what is it like after IB? Derui: No need to be stressed out about coursework submission deadlines and worried about grades! Lisa: Academically, I enjoy the independence and intensity when it comes to studying PPE. You get a lot of space to explore your subject since you’re not longer doing 6, and it’s helped me learn a lot more about my subject and myself. Even though 2 essays