School Advisor Articles

From Struggles to Success: How Hin Hao Leveraged International Education to Thrive

Published by SchoolAdvisor | May 15, 2024

“Absolutely everything in life is an investment. Whether it be time, money, or effort, to achieve anything in tomorrow’s world, you must leverage all three today.”

Hin Hao Loh, a firm believer in this philosophy, has been weaving this principle into his life since he was 18. Today, the 20-year-old student is pursuing a double degree in Accounting and Financial Planning at RMIT University.

A World of Opportunity Opens at Alice Smith

Hin Hao spent his early academic years at SJK (C) Lick Hung, a public Chinese-medium school. Despite being five years and nine months at Lick Hung, Hin Hao struggled. The language barrier was immense; his limited grasp of Chinese hindered his performance in most subjects.

The move to Alice Smith, an international school based in Kuala Lumpur, changed everything. Hin Hao’s first day was a revelation — for the first time, he interacted with a Caucasian person, a novelty only previously experienced on YouTube.

While the initial adjustment was challenging for Hin Hao due to shyness and limited social experience, he noticed a stark difference in the school culture. “In public schools, it felt like there was a clear barrier between the students and the teachers, whilst in an international school, although they are still the authoritative figure, you could still come to talk to them, somewhat like a friend.”

This shift in dynamics, alongside the international setting, opened a new world of learning and social interaction for Hin Hao.

Hin Hao studied at Alice Smith for two years and three months. 

Despite missing out on foundational learning for several years before enrolling, he found the teachers incredibly supportive and understanding. “The teachers were very kind and understanding, and I had managed to catch up on 5 years' worth of work in just a few years.”

Beyond academics, Alice Smith was pivotal in confronting Hin Hao’s fear of water. Initially resistant to swimming lessons, the school’s firm yet encouraging approach proved life-changing. Though initially frustrated by the mandatory participation, Hin Hao ultimately credits the teachers’ persistence for his eventual success. This experience exemplifies the school’s commitment to fostering well-rounded individuals, going beyond the classroom to address personal challenges. The faculty served as mentors, offering knowledge and a safe space for open communication and growth.

AISM: Adapting and Leading

The Australian International School Malaysia (AISM) offered an unexpectedly enriching experience for Hin Hao, who was at a crossroads due to COVID-19. Having previously attended the prestigious Geelong Grammar School (GGS) in Australia, online learning presented a dilemma – continue with GGS or join AISM in hopes of returning to Australia in 2021. The decision, true to form, came at the eleventh hour.

“What happened was that I couldn’t decide what to do until the very night before AISM started. Very late on the night of June 13, my father and I transferred the AISM deposit and fee.”

Due to Covid-19, Hin Hao joined AISM and experienced an enriching learning experience at the school.

In a twist of fate, Hin Hao arrived at AISM on the first day of school, June 14th, 2020, before officially enrolling. Confused by COVID protocols, the front desk was understandably hesitant. However, a stroke of luck intervened when the Head of Middle & Senior School, Ivan McLean, recognised Hin Hao from their pre-enrollment interview.  With his characteristic warmth and humour, he vouched for Hin Hao, allowing him to stay.

The sense of community at AISM was evident from that very first day. Despite social distancing protocols, Ivan’s friendly demeanour and Hin Hao’s conversation with fellow students fostered an immediate sense of belonging.

Though his time at AISM was shorter than at GGS, it proved equally valuable. The supportive environment, coupled with the dedication of the teachers, made the transition seamless. When the opportunity to return to GGS arose in 2021, Hin Hao chose to remain at AISM — which speaks volumes about the school’s positive impact on him.

Academic Challenges and Growth at AISM

Transitioning to a new school curriculum can be daunting, and for Hin Hao at AISM, it meant significant adjustments. Accustomed to excelling in Accounting, Physics and Method Mathematics at GGS under the VCE curriculum, AISM presented a new landscape. Due to curriculum differences and scheduling conflicts, Hin Hao had to adapt to Business, Society & Culture and Standard Mathematics — subjects he’d never encountered. This meant catching up on six to 18 months of content while juggling entirely revamped Geography, English and Economics versions under the HSC syllabus.

Despite the initial struggle, Hin Hao thrived in his new environment. For example,  Business with Mr. Antony Beadle wasn’t just about commerce; it was a life skills workshop. Mr. Beadle’s insights from his legal background added a valuable layer to the curriculum, and Hin Hao excelled with a final mark of 80%. Though initially intimidating, Society & Culture with Mrs. Gayatri Unsworth was another enriching experience.

“At first, I was intimidated by how she stared me down in the first class, but later learned she was an extremely kind person who just wanted the best for all her students.”

Hin Hao credits his impressive progress at AISM to attentive listening during classes and expresses gratitude for the support of his teachers, whose guidance proved invaluable in his academic journey.

Standard Mathematics with Mr. Ivan McLean and later Mr. Raymond Pollock became Hin Hao’s strongest subject. Their friendly relationship fostered a focused learning environment, leading to a perfect score of 88% on the final exam. Meanwhile, English with Ms. Nicole Commins was a turning point. For the first time, Hin Hao found himself enjoying learning the language. This newfound appreciation was crucial, considering English is his primary mode of communication. Ms. Commins’ engaging approach led to a final mark of 78%.

Despite the initial challenges of adapting to a new curriculum, Hin Hao’s journey at AISM was successful. With a final ATAR of 79.15, he surpassed his own expectations. “I was able to achieve what I did in such a short time by listening to my teachers during class throughout the year. I was extremely grateful and lucky to have them.”

Despite a challenging year with limited co-curricular activities due to the pandemic, Hin Hao thrived at AISM. In just his second month, he rose to house captain, leading hundreds of students across age groups. This role wasn’t without its hurdles. Motivating a diverse group for online video competitions demanded strong leadership and management skills, which Hin Hao honed through this experience. The newfound confidence he gained proved invaluable.

Hin Hao’s leadership extended beyond his official role. When the graduating class needed a point person for their year-end video, he took a proactive managerial and logistical role. The result? A well-organised and impactful video showcasing the graduating cohort.

Hin Hao graduated from AISM in 2021 and is pursuing a double degree in Business (Accounting) and Business (Financial Planning) at RMIT.

Charting a Course for the Future

Gaining admission to RMIT University was a smooth process, thanks to the guidance of his siblings. While he didn’t require extensive admissions support from AISM, Mr. Christopher Broadbent did provide valuable assistance with his  Special Entrance Access Scheme (SEAS) application.

Hin Hao is currently pursuing a double degree in Business (Accounting) and Business (Financial Planning) at RMIT.  He aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the financial world. This pursuit aligns with his natural entrepreneurial spirit, evident from his early attempts at reselling items in elementary school.

“I’ve had a mind for business from a very young age. Even in year 3 at Lick Hung, I bought items from the cafeteria and resold them for a class markup.”

The A Lasting Impact of International Education

Beyond academics, Hin Hao credits his international schooling experience for shaping who he is today. He believes these schools foster adaptability, critical thinking and the ability to see things from different perspectives. Studying alongside a diverse group of students allowed him to discern genuine connections. This, along with the emotional intelligence and social skills nurtured at AISM, has helped him make better choices in his personal and professional life.