School Advisor Articles

From Public School to International School: Chua Zhi Yu's Epsom College Experience

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Nov 06, 2024

Moving from a public school to an international school can initially feel overwhelming. Students face a different curriculum focused on global perspectives and find themselves in classes with peers worldwide. While the new teaching styles and collaborative approaches can be challenging, they provide valuable opportunities for personal growth as well.

Students learn to appreciate diverse cultures, broaden their worldviews and develop critical thinking skills. With time and support from teachers and classmates, the transition becomes easier. Many students discover that, despite the initial challenges, attending an international school is an enriching experience that opens doors to lifelong friendships and exciting opportunities. Just ask Chua Zhi Yu, who went to do his A Levels at Epsom College in Malaysia after completing his SPM at SMK Kepong. 

"It is a very different experience regarding facilities, friends, teachers, opportunities, and culture," he says. "At international school, there’s much more opportunity to display your talents and discover your interest. For example, we can be exposed to golf, tennis, investment competitions, and music festivals at the school. These opportunities encourage students to explore more about their interests, passions and what they wanna do for their future."

That proved to be the case for Zhi Yu at Epsom. "Epsom is a great place to grow academically, socially, and leadership. I have the most out of the experience I could have had here. 

Zhi Yu had one of the most amazing experiences studying and boarding at Epsom College.

Studying at Epsom College

Epsom College in Malaysia, located on an impressive 80-acre campus in Bandar Enstek, creates a world-class environment for students to explore new interests and gain confidence through hands-on experiences. Here, the teachers and management team create an encouraging environment that invites students to try new things. They understand that mistakes are part of learning, making the student-teacher relationship feel more like a mentorship. You can see the respect between senior students and teachers, which helps close the gap often found in traditional schools.

"From my experiences, I work closely with some of my teachers, including Mr Chris and Mr Baloyo, who teach me economics and mathematics in my respective subjects. I received mentorship from both of them in terms of university choices, subject choice and competition guidance," Zhi Yu says.

Boarding at Epsom adds another layer of closeness and camaraderie. With six boarding houses, students from various age groups and nationalities live together, sharing experiences and creating lasting friendships. House events, such as excursions to Tadum Hill and paintball competitions, provide students with opportunities to bond. This boarding experience goes beyond academics, helping students build strong friendships and develop essential life skills.

Life at Epsom is lively and full of events. From house music competitions and drama performances to sports tournaments and cultural celebrations, there’s always something happening on campus. The school celebrates festivals like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali and Christmas, cultivating respect for diverse backgrounds and traditions. 

Academically, Epsom offers an experienced, diverse teaching team, with half the staff coming from countries like the US, UK, New Zealand and Egypt. Teachers are approachable and often provide extra support after hours to ensure students keep up with their studies. Many of these teachers bring rich industry experience to their classrooms. 

"For instance, my Chemistry teachers for A level were previously working as a chemist and engineers before teaching. Thus, it is really helpful for me to ask about their career and the experience they have in the industry so that I can choose my undergraduate studies and career path better."

Epsom also prioritises preparing students for life beyond school. The Higher Education (HE) team organises talks by professionals and industry leaders, offering students valuable exposure to various fields. Guests have included notable figures like former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Petronas CEO Tengku Taufik. These sessions give students a firsthand understanding of industry trends and help them think about their futures. 

When it comes to A Levels, Zhi Yu wanted to take Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Economics. However, after realising that economics and further maths conflicted, he switched to physics. He also took on the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), where he researched cryptocurrency and presented the findings to an audience, marking a significant academic achievement.

"My final subject combination consists of Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics, and EPQ. When I graduated from Epsom in 2023, I have received 5A* for my final grade."

As vice-captain of the football team, Zhi Yu participated in the BISP 7s Soccer Tournament in Thailand, marking his first time flying to another country and leading the team to the quarter-finals.

Leadership and Co-Curricular Excellence 

At Epsom, Zhi Yu fully embraced the wide range of extracurricular activities, sports and leadership roles. By his second year, he’d been appointed academic prefect, which allowed him to be a bridge between students and teachers, ensuring open and supportive communication.

One of Zhi Yu's key initiatives was organising the Epsom College Science Award, encouraging students to conduct independent research and present their findings. Through this, he developed essential skills like communication, teamwork, and resilience, which have become invaluable beyond the classroom.

Among his proudest achievements, Zhi Yu led financial workshops for students without a finance background, sharing insights on investment and the stock market. This initiative culminated in an investment competition where his team advanced to the semi-finals."This experience stands as my most exceptional achievement, as it provided me with a deeper understanding of my purpose and allowed me to contribute to the student's growth by sharing my knowledge."

Beyond that, Zhi Yu also took on a leadership role in sports, serving as vice-captain at the BISP 7s Soccer Tournament in Thailand. His love for mathematics shone through his achievements in national competitions, including a Gold and Silver in the Kangaroo Maths Challenge, strengthening his passion for pursuing mathematics at the undergraduate level.

When the application period started, Zhi Yu applied to universities in the UK, Canada and Hong Kong.  

Getting into The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The best part of studying at Epsom is that students get to participate in a two-week internship programme at RedQ, Airasia headquarters, which aims to give them a competitive edge for university applications and future careers. While the programme is optional, Zhi Yu applied to gain exposure to a professional work environment and explore potential career interests. 

In this internship programme, students can choose from several departments, including HR, engineering, finance and audit. Zhi Yu selected the finance department, eager to understand what professionals in this field do. During the internship, Zhi Yu has engaged in meetings with senior management and has assisted in preparing investment memos. The experience was enriched by two speaker series featuring industry leaders like Lim Ben Jie, Head of AirAsia SuperApp, and Sim Siew Shan, CFO of AirAsia. Zhi Yu also gained insights into Teleport and Asia Digital Engineering through shadowing sessions and interactions with employees across various departments.

When applying for universities, Zhi Yu believes Epsom provided him with all the relevant tools to succeed. “The Epsom HE team assisted me greatly in interest discovery, undergraduate studies, and application to earn an offer from top prestigious universities.”

One standout feature of the Epsom experience was the guidance he received from Mrs Brown, the director of higher education. She regularly shared valuable insights about global competitions, webinars and scholarships, broadening his perspective on study options beyond the UK, US and Australia. It was through her information that Zhi Yu learned about The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), which offers full scholarships for high achievers.

The HE team also facilitated interest discovery by collaborating with external agents who offered insights into various university pathways across different countries. They even contacted Epsom alumni, allowing current students to hear firsthand about their experiences and what to expect at the university.

As Tony Fernandes owns both Epsom College and AirAsia, Epsom College students receive internship opportunities to observe how an aviation company operates and navigates challenges post-COVID-19.

When application season arrived, Zhi Yu cast a wide net, applying to universities in the UK, Canada, and Hong Kong. Thanks to the HE team's extensive experience, he secured offers from renowned institutions, including UCL, the University of Toronto, King’s College London, LSE, and HKUST. Their support didn’t stop there. "They assisted me in crafting a compelling personal statement, writing tailored recommendation letters, and even conducting mock interviews."

This thorough preparation helped Zhi Yu gain admission to HKUST, where he is pursuing a BS in Mathematics and Economics.

All in all, Zhi Yu believes his time at Epsom has allowed him to grow in all aspects and is grateful to the school for bringing him where he is today. “If you embrace challenges and want to go further in your academic and social life, I believe that Epsom is the right place for you.”