Curiosity in Conversation
On 13 September, Wellington College Education's global flagship bilingual boarding school, Hiba Academy Nantong, buzzed with voices, ideas and stories as we welcomed the Yixi Youth × Hiba Academy Nantong lecture event to our theatre. The afternoon began with a deceptively simple question: “Curious young minds, are you curious?”
Over the course of the afternoon, six remarkable speakers — each on their own journey fuelled by curiosity — took to the stage. Their words resonated with over 400 attendees, including Hiba pupils and parents, visiting guests from near and far, and members of the wider community. Together, we embarked on a shared quest to reignite curiosity and celebrate the joy of learning.
"The purpose of education is to nourish a life of human flourishing."
The event opened with a warm and inspiring welcome from Joy Qiao, Chair of Wellington College Education (China). From the timeless wisdom of the Confucian classics to the inspiring journeys of pupils at Wellington and Hiba, and from the swift, unrelenting rise of artificial intelligence to the sweeping transformations of our modern age, she delved into a vital question: in an era where uncertainty walks hand in hand with opportunity, the true mission of education is no longer merely to serve human capital but to nurture in every pupil the capacity to craft a life of depth, purpose and beauty. For only when each individual flourishes in their full splendour can the future shine with its brightest light.
Six Stories,
Six Pathways of Curiosity
As the lights dimmed, six speakers stepped forward one by one, each weaving a true story in which curiosity was the guiding thread.
01
Science communicator Lucheng Wang, drawn to typhoons since the age of five, has spent years chasing storms. With a heart full of wonder, he follows the paths of typhoons and tornadoes, feeling the sheer, humbling power of nature as he nears the eye of the storm.
02
While many parents are wary of video games, Gaole Huang transformed his own love of gaming into a career. He encouraged the audience to look beyond stereotypes, revealing the design, logic and creativity within games — suggesting they could even be a golden key to future opportunities.
03
Writer, cyber reading guide and literature teacher Qiuzi Zhang, from China’s south-west border region, shared her reflections on friendship. For her, friendship appears in many forms — sometimes radiant as the morning sun, sometimes veiled in uncertainty.
04
With the world facing melting Antarctic sea ice and increasingly extreme weather, Shihui Zhang presented compelling data to inspire reflection on climate change. Her curiosity leads her to ask: in our shared life with nature, what more can we do for Mother Earth?
05
Once a top Tsinghua scholar and high-flying investment banker, Zhaofan Guo now channels his curiosity towards critical thinking. In an era of intense academic competition, he challenges us to consider whether parental “careful planning” truly enables children to soar — or quietly clips their wings.
06
As a child, science writer Shou Tuo was known as “a walking book of a hundred thousand whys”. Today, he uses data to explore social issues and science to answer even the most whimsical questions. What others might see as trivial curiosity has long been his inexhaustible source of inspiration.
These stories, told with honesty and without embellishment, flowed through the theatre like a living stream. They sparked curiosity in every listener, offering moments of reflection and leaving echoes that will linger long after the applause fades.
Curiosity Beyond the Stage
A First Glimpse of the Hiba Classroom
Though their backgrounds and fields differ, all six speakers are connected by an invisible thread of curiosity. Within it, interests, ambitions and responsibilities intertwine, leading them to open door after door to the unknown.
It was a joy to see so many pupils and parents among our audience. Before the speeches, they took part in experience lessons specially prepared by Hiba Academy Nantong, spanning drama, sport and art.
Guided patiently by Hiba teachers, pupils soon shed their initial shyness. In drama, they learnt to tell stories through movement and emotion; in sport, they felt the exhilaration of speed and strength; in art, they explored the boundless possibilities of imagination and expression. In just 45 minutes, their eyes shone with excitement — the unmistakeable light of curiosity taking root.
From Sparks to Beacons
For visiting pupils, this was a new adventure born of curiosity; for Hiba pupils, it was also an immersive opportunity for learning and practice. On stage, they spoke with confidence to hundreds of unfamiliar faces as assured masters of ceremony. Behind the scenes, the pupil press team worked diligently to interview the speakers in the school’s broadcast studio.
At Wellington College Education (China) schools, every major event on campus is a stage for deep learning. Whether in planning, organisation, hosting, coordination or media reporting, every step of exploration, every spark of curiosity, is seen and nurtured.
At Wellington and Hiba schools, learning is never confined to the classroom. Practical opportunities flow outward from lessons into school life and onwards into the wider world. This collaboration with Yixi Youth is only the beginning. In the future, we will partner with more outstanding organisations, bringing the richness and variety of the world into our campus and helping our pupils step into lives of greater breadth, purpose and fulfilment.
