From Wellington to Stanford, the growth mindset in action
Victoria’s Wellington story began in 2012, when she transferred to Wellington Tianjin as a year 10 pupil. She barely spoke English, which made the school’s already challenging curriculum even more difficult for her. Ever the optimist, Victoria embraced a growth mindset. With the help of a few very dedicated teachers, she was nearly fluent in three months. It was the first big step on a very transformative journey.
It was not long before Victoria discovered that she had a unique talent for mathematics and economics. She thrived in a learning environment that provided ample resources and supportive teachers and encouraged her to stretch herself far beyond her comfort zone. She found herself continuously surprised at what she could accomplish. And with each successive challenge become more confident, more capable.
Victoria (second from left) with former classmates
The seed for studying abroad was planted while she attended a summer camp overseas. She was inspired by how the school encouraged open discourse and independent thinking. Victoria then returned to China and began the new academic year with a wholly new ambition: studying at an international university.
Wellington College Tianjin's Class of 2016
In 2016, she graduated from Wellington Tianjin and crossed the Pacific to attend the University of California, Davis. That can-do spirit she cultivated at Wellington served her well as she pursued a double major in Economics and Environmental Management. She also decided to expand her communications toolbox with a minor in German! Victoria managed to balance a highly demanding class schedule with several internships working for various California state government agencies. And before she graduated, she wrote two theses.
University of California, Davis
Source: Official website of UC Davis
After UC Davis, Victoria decided to continue her studies and pursue a post-graduate degree. Her excellent work got the attention of renowned institutions like Yale and Cambridge, but she ultimately decided on Stanford. She rightly figured that the school’s deep connections with Silicon Valley would open countless doors for her as she pursued a PhD in Environmental Engineering.
Stanford University
Source: Official website of Stanford University
Like any elite university, Stanford proved to be highly competitive, but she also found it to be surprisingly collaborative and supportive. Her time at Stanford has also opened her eyes to the powerful potential of AI. Currently, she is experimenting with its possible applications in water conservation. This could be an opportunity for Victoria to be a real changemaker in her chosen field!
From Wellington to UC Davis to Stanford, Victoria’s learning journey has been marked by passion, hard work and resilience. Along the way, she has overcome language barriers, excelled in her studies, gained practical work experience and has even discovered new, exciting — and potentially groundbreaking — avenues for research. Her story is a testament to the power of the Wellington Way, and we cannot wait to see the positive impact she will have on the world after she crosses the stage at Stanford.
We call our graduates ‘Old Wellingtonians’ or OWs because, in our eyes, they never really leave us. Once a Wellingtonian, always a Wellingtonian. And it is in this spirit that we have launched We.Connect, a new alumni platform that brings the Wellington College China Community a wide range of benefits — from networking opportunities to mentorship programmes and so much more.
We. Connect
Alumni Meet-Ups in China and the US
The launch of We.Connect is an exciting new step for Wellington College China. It will empower our pupils with the resources they need to build a successful and fulfilling future. It will be a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who support and mentor each other. Most importantly, it will provide fertile soil where lifelong connections can flourish.
More stories about our Old Wellingtonians are coming soon! Stay tuned to our WeChat to hear from our alumni!
Shirley & Esther
Wellington College
International Shanghai
Class of 2017 & 2020
If you would like to widen your world with We.Connect. You can access our application form by scanning the QR code below.
