This Thursday, May 21, sixty-four international section students graduated from No. 55 High School (including Chinese instruction international section and IB section). The ceremony was held at The Place. In their black robes with traditional Chinese patterned blue and purple sashes with yellow lining that draped behind the necklines in traditional style, the graduates embraced the day.
The graduation venue was filled laughter as graduates chatted with their friends, parents, and teachers. The middle school students graduated as well (9th grade is the last year of middle school for the Chinese school system. Other No. 55 students dressed in their white shirts; plaid skirts for girls and black pants for boys, all in black ties, were present to wish their school mates a farewell.
A variety of government officials and faculty from universities in Beijing also joined in the celebration, including faculty from Tsinghua University and Beijing University Medical School.
Musical arrangements were provided by the school band, the official ceremony began with the sound of traditional Chinese drums. “We hope our students will move on with the hope of their parents… They have achieved high soaring academic scores” noted the faculty speaker.
Graduates and parents presented the schools with gifts, to honor and remember the 2012 No. 55 High School international section graduates. Graduates then received their diplomas and all smiled for the camera. They then tossed their caps into the air, and bid farewell to their high school years, it was a most joyous occasion. Graduates hail from more than twenty countries including America, Bulgaria, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Finland, and Iceland.
Jie Mi (Jimmy) represented his class, and gave the student speech. Jimmy is of Western and Eastern mixed heritage. He reminisced old times, hardships in school, and cherished memorable moments. Students were then awarded with Leaders’ awards and medals were also given to excellent students. Leaders’ awards were also given to teachers, and a speech was given by the head of faculty.
For more photos from the big day click here.
Graduates have been accepted to the University of British Columbia, University of California Los Angeles, University of Warwick, and the University of Sydney. For Chinese universities, 13 international section students have been accepted to Beihang University, 5 admitted to Tsinghua University, and 5 more admitted to Beihang University, the Communication University of China, and the University of Business and Economics among others.
Students took the highway and left their former years behind that day. They not only worked hard for their dreams but set an example for their middle school peers as well.
Beijing No. 55 High School is the first public school in Beijing to accept students of foreign nationality (since 1975). The school consists of an international section separate from the local Chinese system that teaches students in Chinese instruction language (preparing students for Chinese universities) and also provides an International Baccalaureate (IB) system that prepares students for university back in their home countries or abroad.
