Hiromi's Wellington Journey: From Learner to Changemaker

At her former school, Waseda Jitsugyo in Japan, Hiromi was used to a learning style focused on memorisation and efficiency. "In maths, we memorised many formulas, which was useful in Japan," she recalls.

At Wellington the focus shifted to understanding and explaining concepts, even requiring students to prove theorems. This change from memorisation to comprehension and acceptance to inquiry ignited a profound intellectual curiosity. Her remarkable performance in various international mathematics competitions testifies to this inner motivation.

Language was initially Hiromi's biggest challenge at Wellington. However, with the help of the school's ESL programme and her teachers, she gradually overcame this obstacle through persistent reading and practice.

Learning Chinese also posed challenges. Despite her foundation in Japanese Kanji and hearing Chinese spoken in her home, her reading and writing started almost from scratch.

Her teachers understood her needs and offered patient guidance. Through diligent effort and personalised support from her Mandarin teachers, she achieved a top-in-the-world score in IGCSE Chinese (Foreign Language).

Now, she views Chinese, Japanese, and English as key tools for forging her future.

Wellington's diverse and inclusive environment encouraged Hiromi to grow beyond textbooks. She seized opportunities to participate in and organise activities, collaborating with pupils from different year groups.

"I've become more confident and more willing to express myself and cooperate with people from different backgrounds," she shares.

This confidence extended to her passion for the piano. Having started playing at the age of three, she previously practised mostly alone. However, by participating in school performances and competitions at Wellington, she found a true platform for self-expression. 

This year, she received a silver award in the China final round of the 29th PIARA International Piano Competition, earning her a place in the global finals in Japan.

Perhaps the most telling example of her exploratory spirit is her journey in VEX Robotics. When first introduced to VEX, Hiromi admits she "didn't find it particularly fun," as she knew nothing about robot building or programming.

However, encouraged by her Computer Science teacher, Mr Tobias Oyugi, she didn’t give up easily. After a year of immersion and practice, she has now grown into a team captain.

Her VEX journey, moving from initial uncertainty to her current assured leadership, showcases the most valuable qualities a learner can possess when facing challenges: maintaining curiosity, persevering in exploration, and growing continuously through trial and error.

Hiromi's desire to be a changemaker is clear in her efforts to translate personal interests into social value.

As an experienced ballet dancer, she and her teammates utilised video motion tracking technology at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). They systematically analysed data including height, distance, angle, speed, and landing impact, applying principles of physics and biomechanics such as impulse and angular momentum. 

Building on this analysis, they created a prototype tool that evaluates jump recordings and provides technical feedback, aimed at helping dancers train more safely and effectively.

Notably, this summer she volunteered with Stepping Stones, a Shanghai-based NPO that supports the improvement of education for underserved children. There she taught LEGO SPIKE robot programming to children from diverse backgrounds. She also accompanied one of her students to a competition in Hangzhou.

Inspired by this experience, she initiated a Girl-Powered STEM workshop at school to encourage more girls to pursue STEM fields.

"I learned how to manage resources and coordinate people as a leader," she shares. Although this is her first time leading such an activity and the team is small, she is actively reaching out to external speakers, striving to infuse the event with greater impact.

Reflecting on her time at Wellington, Hiromi's academic ambitions have expanded. Originally focused on attending a leading Japanese university, she is now exploring options globally, including prestigious institutions in the United States and other regions. She hopes to become a bridge connecting Japan, China, and the wider world, creating a positive societal impact.

Hiromi's journey at Wellington Shanghai embodies the ethos of Learner, Connector, and Changemaker. Here, she has found joy in learning, built cross-cultural confidence, and ignited a passion for using technology to serve society and effect change.

Her Wellingtonian story continues to unfold.