Nurturing a Decade of Global Citizens

Having just celebrated your tenth year with SJI International, how has the school's culture evolved? Amidst those changes, which core Lasallian values continue to anchor the community and shape our students?

We have grown a lot bigger which has no doubt had a profound impact on the culture. How we foster a sense of community in a growing school is a question staff are thinking about a lot. Part of the solution is to grow our House system, which I am pleased to say is happening. Our student House Captains are demonstrating tremendous leadership by organising events and creating a feeling of camaraderie amongst students. The thing I am most proud of at our school is our commitment to well-being; it is one of the aspects that make us stand out. The school recognises the importance of staff and student well-being and is ready to support us in times of need.

Looking back on your ten years here, what are some of your favourite memories?

My decade here is filled with highlights, from choreographing for Oliver! to hosting our first MUN conference. I fondly recall the incredible student collaboration during service trips to Bintan and Tioman. Additionally, coordinating well-being initiatives like the 'Snack Attack' project provided both fun and meaningful professional growth alongside our experienced counsellors.

As the Director of Model United Nations, how have you seen our students' perspectives on global issues and international relations change over the years?

It’s a strange time to be Director of Model United Nations, as the whole purpose of the United Nations is diplomacy and to reach a consensus, not to compete and to “score points” off of other nations. Unfortunately, these values are not always clearly modelled in the real world. There are always going to be students from ours and other schools who see MUN as just another form of debate and try to compete with others, but I am pleased to say that the vast majority of our students react to global affairs with maturity and sensitivity. I think more recently, students are seeing more and more the need for calm and rational debate and are demonstrating the kind of thoughtfulness that makes them effective potential leaders for the future.

Teaching English today is vastly different from what it was ten years ago, especially with the rapid rise of digital media and AI. How do you keep the magic of literature and critical reading alive for today’s generation of students?

The rise of digital media isn’t as rapid as people think as even in my days as a student, teachers had to compete with film and television! I have always understood that our attention spans can vary, and for this reason I have always tried to make lessons fun with interactive quizzes, games and creative activities. However, I also have to remind myself that nothing competes with the magic of reading fine writing or immersing yourself in a narrative. If anything, I think students are starting to experience some fatigue with screens. Some students even request that all activities be on paper, with which I am happy to oblige!

Is there a specific novel, play, or poem that you never get tired of teaching? Why do you think it continues to resonate so deeply with SJI International students year after year?

I taught Macbeth for three years at the International Baccalaureate (IB) Level and then three years at the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) level. Every time I teach it, I discover something new and very clever, particularly in Shakespeare’s use of language.  I really hope to teach it again soon. The students love it too. I think it resonates with them because they are all very capable, aspiring leaders with strong ambitions, like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. However, the play reminds them that they have to work towards their goals with integrity and to achieve their ambitions in the right way, not through deception and shortcuts, but by earning respect. 

How do you hope the alumni community can support the school?

Our students get very preoccupied with work, particularly at the IB level. It would help students to know from our alumni that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and to remind them that there is an amazing life ahead of them after IB is over! I love it when previous students come to school to give talks and let our students know about the projects they get involved in after school. Hearing about the amazing things our students move on to and the amazing things they go on to accomplish helps to motivate me, and I am sure it would motivate them even more!

What advice do you have for students preparing for life beyond SJI International, especially those hoping to follow in your footsteps and pursue a lifelong career in education?

It might sound overly simplistic, but keep doing what you enjoy. Make sure to have enriching hobbies and don’t make life all about work. Apart from giving you a work-life balance, our hobbies also help us to grow as people. I am an English teacher, but my hobbies include more than reading, such as learning Spanish, being an Aerobics instructor, playing tennis and netball, being involved in amateur dramatics on and off stage and so on. All these things have not only made life more enjoyable, but they have also helped me to be a better teacher. And you don’t have to go into a career in education to be a teacher, all of us should aspire to teach!

How has your own personal and professional growth been shaped by your time here at SJI International? What are the greatest lessons your students have taught you?

I am deeply grateful for the professional development at SJI International. Counselling and coaching courses have transformed me into a better listener, teaching me to trust in the resourcefulness of my students. Most importantly, my students have taught me to dream big. While I was once skeptical of individual impact, witnessing them lead conferences and major fundraisers has proven that with the right mindset, there truly are no limits to what they can achieve.