 |
It's almost 6:00pm on a Tuesday night and Graham, a Grade 12 student at WAB, reclines on a red sofa in the High School Library, surrounded by a fortress of thick, hard-backed books.
He puts down a Henry Kissinger tome and removes his earphones. "I'm busy preparing for my IB exams. Actually I've been staying late, until 8:00 or 9:00pm for the past two months. I've discovered that I can study more efficiently here, so I take advantage of the time. Sometimes I go out to eat with friends, but I've been spending a lot of time here, preparing for exams."
Graham sorts through the books piled on the Chinese-style table. “The IB History exam always includes a question about the cause of World War I,” he says, “which is why I'm re-reading John Keegan. And the Cold War is an essential topic for 20th century history, hence the Kissinger.” He tosses aside a Physics textbook and lingers over a dog-eared copy of “To Rule the Waves.” “This one’s for general interest,” he says. “I'll use a few quotes to improve my essay.” He points at the last book, “The Opium Wars,” and explains, “The exam will also cover Chinese history from 1793 to the death of Mao.”
History is Graham's greatest passion, and he hopes to combine a major in European History with studies in international relations at university. He has a conditional offer at St. Andrew's (Scotland) as well as an offer from the University of Edinburgh. "I like the university system in Scotland," he says. "And I think it's a beautiful country."
Though Graham grew up in Hong Kong, his family moved to the US before coming to Beijing two years ago. "I wish I'd been here at WAB longer," he says.
But Graham isn't leaving Beijing for another year. After graduation, he plans to enroll in a Chinese university to study Mandarin, at least for a semester, until he's fluent enough to serve effectively as a volunteer with a local charity. At the same time, he hopes to volunteer his time with the MUN program at WAB.
"I'm really involved with Model UN now," he says. Graham, who was named outstanding delegate for the security council at the Cairo Model United Nations (MUN) earlier this school year, wants to continue his involvement with the MUN program at WAB. "I've been really dedicated to it and I want to continue working with students I've helped this year."
Graham appreciates the opportunities WAB, as a new and diverse school, has offered him. "I really appreciate the sense of growth and freedom here," he says. "WAB is still so new, and it's okay to be unorthodox about things here...it allows for things to be more interesting." He also refers to the excitement of being able to set a precedent for student run programs, such as student council, which he served on this year.
Graham fiddles with his i-Pod. "I've got this on shuffle now," he says. "Some Doors, REM, Radiohead. But my favorite artist is Bruce Springsteen. I like his song 'Thunder Road.' It's got a sense of hope and desperation...." He brushes his dirty-blond hair from his eyes. "There's a sense of breaking free in that song...the lull of the open road...living in the now....” The tall Grade 12 student leans forward, hand already reaching for Kissinger. "I mean, that sense of hope isn't necessarily true, but it's appealing."
WAB wishes the best to Graham as he continues preparing for his IB exams, and for what awaits him, on the open road ahead.