School Advisor Articles

Kaitlyn Ch’ng Kai Wei’s Journey from Nexus International School to Monash University and Beyond

Published by SchoolAdvisor | May 06, 2024

Great schools empower students to shape their potential and help them discover their path. They provide a nurturing environment that fosters academic growth, personal development and critical thinking skills. This allows students to explore their interests, navigate challenges and build the confidence to pursue their goals.

At Nexus International School, students gain that and more. Just ask Kaitlyn Ch’ng Kai Wei, who studied IGCSE, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP) at the school. “My time with Nexus has been significant in shaping the trajectory of my life moving forward. The skills, values and mindsets I’ve shaped will stay with me for a long time.”

A World of Cultures, A World of Learning

Kaitlyn’s experience at Nexus was nothing short of transformative. In fact, it has gone on to shape her worldview and perspectives moving forward fundamentally.

It wasn’t just about academics; Nexus offered a vibrant tapestry woven with cultural celebrations, diverse learning environments and a supportive community. Whether it was dressing up for Spirit Days, or participating in inter-house games, every day was an opportunity to connect and celebrate.

What’s more, the school offers a comprehensive boarding school facility where students can live on campus. This fosters a vibrant sense of community among its students. The teaching environment is enriched by a diverse faculty, with academic staff from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, making students like Kaitlyn’s learning experience fundamentally diverse.

Kaitlyn chose to pursue IB as she wanted a holistic, rigorous and challenging learning experience for herself. 

 

Choosing the IB Path

Kaitlyn’s academic journey began with the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme’s Middle Years Programme (MYP) at the Western Academy of Beijing.  Those four formative years in China instilled in her a love for creative problem-solving and a diverse set of learning tools.  The MYP’s emphasis on mind-mapping, reflective thinking and a dynamic learning environment fostered a curiosity and love of learning that Kaitlyn carried with her.

After returning to Malaysia, Kaitlyn faced a crucial decision: to choose between international schools focused on the UK curriculum, the Australian curriculum or the IB programme for her secondary studies. She eventually chose the IB programme.

“Studying IB just felt right for me, as I wanted a holistic, rigorous and challenging learning experience for myself. I was a curious kid who had a keen interest in everything, so I also appreciated the ability to diversify my learning by mixing science and arts subjects with the core components of extracurricular activities in CAS, research in EE and philosophical studies in TOK.”

At Nexus, Kaitlyn’s IB experience thrived. The supportive environment allowed her to delve into a subject mix of Biology, Business and Psychology at the Higher Level, complemented by Math, English Literature and Mandarin at the Standard Level.  This diverse course load provided a strong foundation across all academic disciplines while nurturing potential interests. 

However, the true benefit of the IB programme, according to Kaitlyn, lies in its core subjects. The emphasis on research, writing and citation skills honed through the Extended Essay project proved invaluable and gave her a significant advantage in university. Unlike many of her university peers, Kaitlyn was able to hit the ground running, thanks to her exposure to the academic research that she gained.

“Nearly four years after completing my IB Diploma, I still feel deeply appreciative of the opportunity to have studied in such a rewarding curriculum, and I would highly recommend it to aspiring students.”

Beyond Academics: Leadership and Growth

Kaitlyn’s time at Nexus was marked by a vibrant engagement with cocurricular activities (CCAs) and student initiatives.  She actively sought leadership roles, honing her soft skills and discovering her leadership style.

As Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook Committee (2019), Head of Public Relations and Design for the MUN Conference (2020) and Director of Marketing and Design for the school prom (2020), Kaitlyn combined her creative passion with opportunities to develop collaboration, communication and teamwork. These experiences proved invaluable as she gained many vital skills.

Above all, these leadership roles allowed Kaitlyn to discover her strengths as an empathetic and supportive leader who thrives on motivating others.

Her engagement wasn’t limited to leadership roles. She actively participated in various CCAs and sports, including volleyball, art classes and dance.  Playing volleyball for the school team on excursions and competitions further enriched her experience by fostering a sense of community with students from other international schools.

 

Kaitlyn believes her time at Nexus has significantly shaped her life's trajectory, leaving her with enduring skills, values and mindsets.

Nexus Higher Education team

Kaitlyn’s journey to Monash University began with the strong support system at Nexus. As an IB student, she benefited from a dedicated Higher Education (HE) team composed of core teachers and subject specialists. This team went beyond delivering the IB curriculum. They provided close guidance from the start, offering a holistic approach to university admissions.

Kaitlyn received one-on-one support, gaining a clear understanding of different admissions systems around the world. This helped her strategically select universities that aligned with her aspirations. The HE team wasn’t just about pointing towards universities – they provided Kaitlyn with the tools to build a competitive application. From crafting a compelling resume to honing her essay-writing skills, Kaitlyn received dedicated resources. The team even offered assistance with application portals like UCAS (UK) and personalised guidance for Monash University’s specific requirements.

“One thing I particularly appreciated about the HE team at Nexus was that they always encouraged and prioritised the university choices that we felt most aligned with and always tailored advice towards our personal preferences. We held big aspirations to attend university in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Singapore, and the Core team would always provide personalised guidance for them.”

This unwavering support, focused on individual needs, made all the difference in Kaitlyn’s successful application to Monash University Malaysia. Later, she eventually went on an exchange programme and transferred to the Australian campus.

From IB to Monash: Nurturing a Double Major

Studying IB Business and Psychology at Higher Level significantly influenced Kaitlyn’s decision to pursue a double major in Strategic Marketing and Psychology at Monash University.

Her longstanding fascination with human behaviour, coupled with her creative passion for art, graphic design and video editing made it a perfect combination. “This creative passion also led to my interest in studying Marketing. With the IB Programme, I was free to explore both passions in great depth, with teachers that constantly provided their full support.”

Kaitlyn thrived during her double-major programme at Monash, graduating with High Distinction in December 2023. “I especially loved how I was able to continue pursuing two of my passions at the same time and studying different disciplines with varying schools of thought challenged me to be adaptable and inquisitive.”

Looking forward, Kaitlyn aspires to leverage her combined skillset to spearhead initiatives in positive and ethical behavioural research.

Today, Kaitlyn is a media planner at PHD, a media agency. 

Landing a dream job at Apple

Kaitlyn’s career path took a bite-sized detour toward tech giant Apple shortly before she graduated from Monash University. Having grown accustomed to MacBooks since middle school, Kaitlyn developed a deep appreciation for the brand and its design tools thanks to her Apple-based education at Nexus.

Her role at Apple encompassed everything from matching customer needs with the perfect product to providing exceptional customer service. But it went beyond transactions. Apple’s Specialist teams are trained troubleshooters, adept at asking the right questions to unearth those hidden needs.

For aspiring Apple employees, Kaitlyn's advice is simple: be yourself. "Apple celebrates your individuality above all else; technical and product knowledge can always be trained, but your personality is irreplaceable."

Kaitlyn’s Apple journey concluded in February 2024 as she decided to pursue a full-time career aligned with her academic passions in Marketing and/or Psychology. 

She believes both Nexus and Apple have provided her with unique, unforgettable experiences and life lessons that she will cherish and carry forward as she starts to navigate the next chapters of her life.