It has been more than two months since the new academic year began, and for Max Zhang Tianyi (currently in AS grade), the summer vacation brought him tremendous changes, along with a sense of pressure on his shoulders.
He swapped his original physics course for an economics one; he decided to self-study Japanese and tackle his seventh IG subject; he became a student challenging the A-Level English subject; he was full of ambition to make his English reading club a success; and he took on the role of the new president of the Qilin News Society...
Carrying the dream of attending a prestigious university and scaling academic peaks, shouldering the responsibilities of student leadership and leading by example; on one side, intense studies; on the other, complex affairs, what gives Max the courage to accept challenges and forge ahead with heavy responsibilities?
As the plane landed at Heathrow Airport, I felt lost and overwhelmed by the thought of what was to come. The long flight, jet lag, and the loss of a beloved item on the plane had dampened my enthusiasm for the start of this Oxbridge study tour.
However, it was only when I stepped into the centuries-old "New Court" of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, walked up the creaky wooden stairs, and strolled along the bustling King's Parade that I began to feel the excitement of being immersed in an English-speaking world.
Later on, the team project of simulating an interview with a well-known Cambridge alumnus brought my five-member group and me thunderous applause. We arranged a drama, added rap content... I loved the beauty of this teamwork, where you can strongly feel the connection of hearts and the brilliant sparks of colliding ideas.
Especially that one "boring" lecture given by Mr. Hughes, a professional lecturer from Oxford University, on the topic of English literature.
I say "boring" because most of my peers seemed to have "I don't understand" and "I'm not interested" written on their faces throughout the entire lecture. But for me, it was completely different. I was pleasantly surprised to find the information related to Old English and ancient culture fascinating, and I felt the charm of language development deeply touching my heart.
Before this, my desire for the English language had long been extinguished, leaving only faint embers. At this moment, the lecturer's words reignited it, bringing me back to life. I had never felt so alive in a lecture or a classroom before.
Many years ago, when my mother suggested that I pursue linguistics-related research in the future, I didn't take it seriously.
One day before the summer vacation, Ms. Victoria also talked to me about a similar topic and asked if I had considered majoring in linguistics in college.
Were these just coincidences?
As I walked out of the lecture hall, I reflected on my past experiences with languages: I had mastered English rhyming at a young age and enjoyed writing stories in English; I was not a fan of Japanese anime, but I had developed an interest in learning Japanese; and today's lecture had left me feeling rejuvenated and immersed in the world of languages... Language has a natural attraction for me. It is a feeling that no other subject has ever given me, a strong desire for knowledge.
Encountering my "true love" - linguistics and its knowledge - in the lecture hall was undoubtedly the greatest takeaway from this Oxbridge study tour. Once I realized this, everything in the subsequent journey seemed to move quickly, and I couldn't wait to tell everyone around me that I finally understood what I wanted and had found my true goal.
After returning to school, I switched my major from physics to economics and began to study English more deeply. I used my free time for extensive reading and creative writing, and I also decided to teach myself Japanese and take it as my seventh IG course.
But still, I felt like I wasn't doing enough for my dream.
Just then, Ms. Chaplin, the head of the English department and my favorite English teacher from G2, approached me. She discussed the possibility of me studying A-Level English and expressed her willingness to offer one-on-one tuition, just for me.
I was fully aware of how busy Ms. Chaplin was as both the vice-principal and an English teacher. When she told me that she was willing to set aside her precious free time to provide me with dedicated guidance, I was genuinely touched.
She meticulously reviewed everything I had learned so far and earnestly gave me study advice. Ms. Chaplin's selflessness and care towards me motivated me to make a firm decision to study hard, not only to achieve good grades but also to make her proud of me.
This academic year, I have been elected as the new president of the Qilin Club, entrusted with a new mission by this press club, which is closely related to my beloved language. We plan to relaunch the school magazine project, and some more interesting ideas are gradually being implemented. In this process, I believe that my English proficiency and creative writing skills will be greatly improved.
Of course, I am also responsible for the English reading club that I co-founded. Reading has always been a habit of mine, and I think it is a very meaningful thing to be able to use the power of the club to encourage more people to participate in reading English works together and improve their English ability.
This academic year, I have indeed become busier, and I have clearly felt the pressure from both my studies and club responsibilities.
All of these have pushed me to learn how to allocate my energy, plan my time, become more disciplined, and move forward towards my dreams with even more determination and strength.
