School Advisor Articles

How HELP International School Shaped Melody Cheng's Journey to the University of Edinburgh

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Nov 19, 2024

It's not very often that a student calls their school a second home. If they do, the school must have something extraordinary — a welcoming environment, supportive teachers and a community that feels more like family than peers. This kind of school cultivates not only academic growth but also personal development, creating a place where students feel safe, valued and inspired every day.

Enter Help International School (HIS). Established in 2014, HIS offers the British Curriculum from preschool to A-Levels, with a current enrolment of 1,300 students. Here, students find a vibrant community where they can pursue their passions, build lifelong friendships and grow in confidence, all while being supported by dedicated teachers and staff. Just ask Melody (Zhe Rong) Cheng, an alumnus of HIS, who is currently studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial and Product Design at the University of Edinburgh.

"HIS is my second home," she says. "As a pioneer student, I joined the school in its first year, starting in Year 3 in 2014, and graduated a decade later in Year 13 in 2024. The teachers are our support systems and have become close friends as well. We receive constant support not only in academics but also with any other pressures in our lives."

Representing HIS, Melody was part of the Top 10 qualifying team at the 2018 World Scholars Cup Global Round (Y7).

Studying at HIS

Melody took 10 subjects for her IGCSEs at HIS, starting with Malay as a Foreign Language in Year 9. By Year 11, her subjects expanded to English Language (with an Oral Endorsement), English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Spanish as a Foreign Language, Design and Technology: Product Design, and Global Perspectives. Remarkably, Melody earned an A* in every subject.

But it was not a straightforward path. Studying during the pandemic meant her IGCSE experience wasn’t typical, but she remembers the effort her teachers put into making learning effective and engaging. "Our teachers did try to make the classes as beneficial and engaging as possible despite the limitations of online learning."

As exams approached, they held optional crash courses that efficiently reviewed entire syllabuses in just a few hours. Teachers also stayed accessible over Google Chat and email, answering questions and offering a supportive presence through the uncertainty of the pandemic. 

Melody completed her A-Levels at HIS, studying three subjects: Design and Technology (DT), Product Design, Mathematics, and English Literature. "It was an easy choice to stay at HIS to continue A-Levels. The two main features of the school which attracted me were the opportunities provided and the teachers I would be mentored by."

Melody gained an enriching and well-rounded education at HIS.

HIS’s Sixth Form programme offered Melody plenty of hands-on learning experiences. The supercurricular programme encouraged students to pursue activities beyond the syllabus. Melody participated in VITA (virtual integrated training assistant), where she and two classmates, guided by her DT teacher, Mr. Kevin, built an F1 simulator rig from scratch. Her role focused on 3D modelling and printing, a skill she honed in HIS’s DT lab, which helped her discover new applications for her talents. 

Another standout opportunity was Project Purpose, a programme that taught students the basics of entrepreneurship by having them pitch ideas to industry professionals. Through the Demo Day presentations, students like Melody gained invaluable exposure to the working world and built connections that led to internship offers and investment opportunities.

The support Melody received from the Sixth Form faculty was instrumental in her growth and confidence. Mr Paul, the head of Sixth Form, played a vital role in preparing students for university admissions interviews, encouraging them to aim high. Melody's supercurriculum coordinator, Ms Manmeet, helped her bring a startup idea called Hydraid to life, even guiding her in pitching to HIS’s board of governors, leading the project to the stage of submitting a design patent. The university coordinator, Ms. Chan, dedicated herself to helping each student find the right pathway, arranging university fairs and inviting alumni for advice. Finally, Mr. Wong, the academic coordinator, made sure students were on track with academics while building a strong sense of community through homerooms and school trips.

"All of these teachers teach their subjects and A-Level classes on top of all the support they give our year as a whole."

The result? Melody scored all As for A Levels, including a rare full mark in her coursework for DT, which reinforced her passion for the field.

For Melody, the two years in Sixth Form were some of the best of her life as she balanced academics, extracurriculars, and university applications. "Our cohort is so tight-knit, and we’ve become close with our teachers, eating lunch with them in the Cafe and going on school trips with them. The Sixth Form community is my favourite and will be the people I miss the most in university."

Melody was highly active in school and community, seizing nearly every CCA and leadership opportunity over ten years.

Melody's Active Involvement and Growth at HIS

Beyond academics, Melody has fully immersed herself in various activities, from clubs to leadership roles, showcasing her enthusiasm and dedication. She embraced nearly every CCA and leadership opportunity, from her early days as a primary school prefect to taking on the role of House Captain, where she led 500 students and organised various house events. 

"From basketball to debate teams, the CCAs in HIS demonstrate life in all its fullness — the school’s motto. When I look back at my time at HIS and even preparing for my university applications, I’m always astonished at the amount of activities and things I've achieved here, as well as how much I’ve grown up as a person."

One standout experience for her was the HIS Harmonies concert, organised entirely by her Year 13 class. Not only was it a memorable final performance for the school community, but it also served as a fundraiser for prom and graduation. What’s more, serving as House Captain brought her great fulfilment, watching her journey from a Year 6 House Representative to the leader of the entire House, where she inspired house spirit and celebrated victories with her peers.

That’s not all. At Sixth Form, students in Year 12 and Year 13 have the opportunity to apply for a variety of internships, from marketing communications to lab technician roles. Melody took part in the EdTech Internship earlier this year, gaining valuable hands-on experience. As part of the program, students also receive support in writing resumes, setting up LinkedIn profiles, and applying for internal and external internships, including summer placements.

Melody chose the EdTech internship to expand her knowledge of electronics, hardware, and software, which would be useful for her Product Design coursework. She was especially excited about working with the school's 3D printers. “Albeit a short internship, I learnt a lot and had lots of hands-on experience, which eventually led to working closely with EdTech in my second year of Sixth Form whilst building the F1 SimRig as we sorted through software issues and 3D printing parts.”

Melody believes she couldn’t have achieved even a fraction of her accomplishments without the opportunities and unique classes offered by an international school.

HIS’s Support Helps Melody Secure a Spot at Edinburgh

When it came to applying to university, HELP’s Higher Education team was there every step of the way. Teachers like Mr Kevin and Ms Jessica helped Melody navigate portfolio submissions, while Mr Paul and Ms Chan guided her through multiple drafts of her personal statement. Thanks to this individualised support, mock interviews and partnerships with organisations like Mabecs (an organisation that helps and empowers Malaysian students to pursue higher education in the UK), she felt fully prepared when she submitted her application for Product Design at the University of Edinburgh, confident and well-supported.

“The team didn’t spoon-feed us material or try to steer us in a certain direction but took our goals, dreams and concerns into consideration to devise a personalised plan for each student to achieve the university and pathway they wanted.”

When choosing a university, the University of Edinburgh stood out for Melody. After researching and speaking with alumni, she was drawn to its strong academic reputation and the vibrant lifestyle of the city. “I knew I had to work hard to get into Product Design, one of the courses in the University with the lowest admission statistics.”

And she did just that — thanks to her hard work and HIS’s excellent learning system and guidance. 

“I wouldn't be able to accomplish even a quarter of what I have done without all the opportunities and unique classes an international school like HIS has compared to a government or private school in Malaysia.”