#GraduateStory | Allen Shan: Setting Out with Passion, Becoming Myself Through Exploration



Hello, I'm Allen Shan from Grade 12, Class 2. I received offers from UBC Sauder School of Business, UCI and UCD, among other universities.

I see myself as an explorer and someone who acts on ideas, reflects on them, and communicates with others.



Part 01

High School as a Time of Exploration

My academic interests combine business and social science. They began with my love of reading and writing. Literature prompted questions about human emotions and decisions, and about what makes us who we are. I increasingly enjoyed observing people and investigating their experiences, seeking my own understanding.

In high school, I explored those interests systematically through Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, Behavioral Economics and Psychology. I wanted to understand individual decisions and the workings of society. These courses helped me appreciate the human concerns behind problems that might initially appear numerical.

I also enjoyed practical work across disciplines. In the Pioneer Scholar research program, I investigated an electric vehicle collision warning system. I initially associated research with building models and adjusting parameters. Reading extensively and interviewing riders on the street introduced me to their safety concerns and everyday habits. Combining those observations with engineering reasoning helped me improve the proposal and appreciate the value of connecting technical knowledge with social investigation.

I found that I could develop my ideas into practical projects. I ran a literary WeChat public account and co-founded Wings of Culture, a charitable cultural exchange initiative. Organizing events and communicating our work, together with coordinating implementation, developed my business thinking and ability to plan systematically.

These experiences clarified my enthusiasm for work connecting different fields. I wanted to understand people and bring resources together to create concrete benefits. That became the direction I hoped to pursue.

Part 02

Reconsidering Who I Was

My central application decision was choosing a suitable major. During the preceding summer, I reviewed my activities and research, along with awards, and saw a wide range of interests. I enjoyed writing and scientific research, social issues and economics, including practical business projects. Each experience had begun with an interest of my own. Their variety nevertheless made me worry that my background lacked a clear focus.

Conversations with my College Counselor Ms. Li Hui helped me reconsider that assumption. She suggested interdisciplinary programs and flexible options for applying with an undeclared major. I recognized a connection among my experiences: exploring relationships between fields and developing ideas where they overlap. I ultimately focused my applications on business and social science.

Reflection helped me understand applications as an opportunity to examine my development honestly and find a direction suited to me. Writing from actual experiences clarified how I understood myself and made it easier to explain my story.

Applying to several countries was demanding. Coursework and deadlines overlapped with different application systems and requirements, leaving me uncertain and tired at times. Handling the process also developed my independence and initiative. I gathered university information and researched requirements, asked older graduates for advice and contacted admissions offices, seeking resources myself.

Beyond admission offers, applications taught me that I could solve complex problems independently and pursue a direction even when the outcome was uncertain.

Part 03

Committing to What I Loved

Over three years, I developed from a student focused on exam results into someone who actively explored the world and understood his own direction. Beijing Academy's international curriculum gave me freedom to investigate different fields and appreciate learning as a way to understand the world and discover my interests.

I pursued subjects I had scarcely considered before. The John Locke Writing Competition encouraged reflection on philosophical questions about values and responsibility, including human nature. Mechanical engineering research led me to investigate electric vehicle collision warnings. I worked on ecological protection and river management, studied economics systematically, and participated in social science projects. Exploring these possibilities helped me discover what suited me.

Alongside academics, I maintained two projects for two years: my literary WeChat public account and Wings of Culture. We organized several in-person charity activities that supported others' development and earned positive responses from readers and participants. I learned how committed work on something I cared about could have a concrete social effect.



My Head of Grade, Ms. Liang Xiao, had a particularly significant influence. She offered instruction and friendship, guiding my development with the belief that something I truly loved deserved wholehearted, lasting commitment. That advice accompanied me throughout high school.

When I first enrolled, classmates seemed to identify directions and join activities quickly. I felt anxious about my own uncertainty and spoke with Ms. Liang. She encouraged me to reconsider my interests: “You already love writing and literature. Why not begin with something you enjoy and do well?” She suggested starting a WeChat public account.

I had tried writing when I was younger and struggled to continue, which made me hesitate. Maintaining a project every day would require effort. Ms. Liang encouraged me and suggested inviting people who shared my interest. Two close classmates eventually joined me. Together, we progressed from tentative beginnings to regular posts and kept the account running.

I had scarcely imagined this small project would accompany me throughout high school. We plan to continue at university, giving our shared interest a future beyond these school memories.

Part 04

Advice for Younger Students

My advice is to pursue what you truly love with courage and sustained commitment.

If I could begin high school again, I would still explore different fields and new possibilities, while continuing the interests that absorbed me most. Experiences motivated by enthusiasm and maintained through commitment contributed most to my development.

I wish I had released my anxiety sooner about an activity's practical benefit or application value, and about whether I was keeping pace with others. Each person develops at a different pace and follows their own direction.

For studies and everyday life, including application planning, build your decisions around interests and values you sincerely hold. An honest account of yourself can explain your direction clearly. Commitment is easier to sustain when the work reflects what you believe in and enjoy.

Part 05

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Ms. Liang Xiao for guiding me through uncertainty and offering encouragement when I felt anxious or discouraged. You repeatedly urged me to pursue my interests wholeheartedly and continue with determination. Your support helped me handle application pressures and keep trying through setbacks. I also thank my Homeroom Teacher Ms. Liu Siyu for her patience and extensive support.

My College Counselor Ms. Li Hui gave patient, professional guidance throughout application season. You repeatedly discussed ideas with me while revising essays and clarifying plans. You introduced different countries' application systems and explained their requirements, while teaching practical skills I can carry forward. Your considerable time and care helped me gain confidence in my direction.

Thank you to Ms. Gao Mengchan for your encouragement and professional guidance. You helped us establish our team and develop Wings of Culture through repeated discussions and practical work. When we struggled for ideas or encountered obstacles, your broader perspective helped us find another approach. You gave up weekends to support our in-person activities. I particularly remember preparing my talk for the youth innovation project sharing session: you helped organize the content and refine my delivery, considering details patiently. That experience made me more confident speaking onstage. Your support has given me lasting reassurance.

Finally, thank you to my parents for respecting me and allowing me freedom throughout high school. You supported my interests and decisions about my future, giving me courage to explore work I believed in. Whatever difficulties or outcomes lie ahead, I know I can rely on your love and support.