#GraduateStory | Sunny Zhou: As I Reach for Life, Life Reaches Back

Part 01

Discovering Biology

I have been curious about living things since childhood. As a toddler, I watched ants carry food through our community garden and snails extend their antennae and crawl along fences after rain. I wondered how they moved. In kindergarten, I began wondering how thoughts arose and why mine differed from other people's.

In primary school, I received my first microscope. I examined tiny insects on bayberries and mosquitoes preparing to bite my leg. BBC documentaries introduced me to biology, showing the remarkable abilities and diversity of living things. My fascination with life made me eager to understand it more deeply.

In middle school, I met a kind, engaging biology teacher. After class, I often asked about things I had observed and tried to understand the biological processes behind them. Finding explanations gave me great satisfaction. Biology became one of my favorite subjects, my grades were consistently among the highest in my year, and I began dreaming of becoming a biologist.

In Grade 10, teachers noticed my knowledge of biology and confidence with laboratory techniques. Ms. Dai Ying often praised my aptitude, encouraging me to pursue the subject further.



Introducing the biochemistry laboratory to visiting families

During high school, I completed every biology and chemistry course the school offered and participated in BBO and HOSA, as well as iGEM. Laboratory classes were my favorite. I enjoyed observing cell division under a microscope and conducting plant stress experiments with capsaicin and auxin to investigate external effects on growth. In MFP, we pickled cabbage and examined how common household ingredients removed nitrites under simulated stomach-acid conditions. These experiments absorbed me completely.



Leading a team for the HOSA Public Service Announcement Competition in Grade 11

The advanced biology elective Stem Cells and Cancer, offered through the Global Academician Research Workshop, substantially broadened my understanding. I was among eleven students selected across three grades for this distinctive BAID course taught by a Harvard professor. Studying cellular and molecular biology connected theory with disease treatment and deepened my appreciation of biotechnology's potential to improve lives. At the end of the semester, I read more than thirty research papers and wrote a literature review on drug resistance in leukemia stem cells and potential therapeutic targets. This strengthened my biological knowledge and academic writing, and increased my enthusiasm for cancer treatment research.

Part 02

Exploring Art

Drawing is my favorite activity outside schoolwork. I enjoy designing anime characters and have designed merchandise for a school Student Club. Before the Dongba campus opened, the Jinju campus cared for several stray cats. I designed cartoon versions of Xiaomizhou and Zimizhou, which the BAID Humanity Club and student company used for merchandise popular with teachers and students.





Part 03

Understanding Myself Through Writing

My applications went smoothly. Years of studying biology in middle school and high school had made my intended field clear. I chose universities primarily by their urban surroundings. Boston is my favorite city; I lived and studied there in Grade 4. I love its cultural history and distinct seasons, its open academic environment and encouragement of innovation, and its opportunities for kayaking. Its concentration of top universities appealed to me. Boston University's biomedical program, which ranks among the top ten nationally, suited my academic plans, so it became my target.

Writing essays helped me review and understand my experiences. My Common App personal statement explored a middle school experience involving setbacks and a realization that influenced my development. With my preference for scientific thinking, expressing my feelings and reflections fluently was challenging. I revised repeatedly, considering my experiences from a reader's perspective and choosing words that would convey my thoughts accurately.

My UC and UCAS essays emphasized academic enthusiasm and abilities. Examining my experiences helped me recognize a fuller account of myself beyond GPA and TOEFL scores. My interests in art and sport gave me greater appreciation of the person I was becoming. Writing helped me understand myself again and feel more confident.

Part 04

Stepping Forward When Needed

High school gave me a clearer understanding of what I wanted and what I loved, and a more definite sense of my future. I hope to study diligently while maintaining those interests and living a varied life true to my priorities.

The Grade 11 school basketball tournament is among my most memorable experiences. Five minutes before the game, one of our class's female players became unavailable. Players and the teacher refereeing were worried. The captain asked classmates with basketball experience to substitute, but everyone declined. Seeing their disappointment, I volunteered despite having no formal training. I wanted our class to have the chance to compete after months of anticipation. I ran hard and passed the ball, contributing several assists while classmates cheered throughout. We finished without a championship, but I treasure that game and feel proud of having accepted responsibility.

Part 05

Advice for Younger Students

I would continue balancing study with rest and recreation if I could repeat high school. Learning is one part of life. I would improve the timing of my TOEFL preparation. Starting systematically in the summer before Grade 10, or earlier, would have reduced the pressure of my first semester.

My main advice is to strengthen your English before entering Grade 10. BAID's courses include Integrated English and Enhanced English, along with EFL. Your English foundation can affect your GPA across several courses, so developing language proficiency early is important.

As a devoted music listener and amateur singer, I recommend Bliss by the Japanese singer Milet. Its promise of returning after a long night, through waves and darkness toward the warmth of spring, encourages me. I hope younger students will face setbacks with courage, remain committed to what they love, and reach the futures they hope for.

My favorite campus activity is BAID's Got Talent. You can perform and share your abilities, or join the audience and appreciate classmates' talents and enthusiasm. Its welcoming atmosphere accommodates many kinds of performance.

Part 06

Acknowledgments

BAID has been a welcoming, supportive place, with dedicated and caring teachers. As I graduate, I thank every teacher who guided and helped me.

Thank you to my calculus instructor, Ms. Hou Xuening. In the first semester of Grade 10, difficulty achieving my desired language exam result discouraged me and affected my calculus work. Ms. Hou encouraged me and publicly affirmed my mathematical ability, giving me confidence. Whenever illness caused me to miss classes, she patiently helped me catch up outside lessons. My results improved, and I eventually ranked among the strongest students in the class.

Thank you to my biology instructor, Ms. Dai Ying, and chemistry instructor, Ms. Hu Mingbo, for their careful teaching and strong recommendations during applications. Ms. Dai recognized my aptitude and continually offered opportunities to develop academically and personally.

I particularly thank my Homeroom Teacher and College Counselor, Ms. Tan. She offered attentive care and detailed guidance throughout applications, spending many hours refining essays with me word by word and checking every piece of application information.

Thank you to Ms. Liang, our Head of Grade, and the approachable Principal Zhou. Throughout these three years, you gave us understanding and respect as we navigated adolescence, allowing us to grow freely and concentrate on learning.

Above all, thank you to my mother. You accompanied me throughout applications and supported each choice unconditionally. Your confidence in me helped me overcome anxiety and meet challenges optimistically. I will bring that enthusiasm to university and the possibilities ahead.

Thank you to Beijing Academy for these years. May we continue making the most of our time, learning and growing as we move forward.