School Advisor Articles

How Sarah Ooi Went from Charterhouse Malaysia to KCL Nursing

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Feb 28, 2025

It's never easy to transition between schools. But imagine moving from a Chinese government school to an international school — suddenly, everything is different. The teaching style shifts from rote memorisation to open discussions, the curriculum introduces new subjects and perspectives, and the language of instruction changes entirely.

For many students, this transition is both exciting and overwhelming — as was the case with Sarah Ooi.

Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Sarah's early years at SJKC Puay Chai 2, a Chinese government school, were challenging, mainly due to the language barrier. Despite studying all subjects in Mandarin, her proficiency remained a struggle, making the eventual shift to English even more daunting. The environment was strict, with disciplinary measures like caning and an intense academic routine filled with rigorous homework.

Things changed when she moved to HELP International School. The environment was more relaxed, giving her the chance to explore leadership roles and participate in sports—opportunities she didn’t have access to before. After completing her IGCSE there, she went to Charterhouse Malaysia, where she pursued her A-Levels programme. 

“I know some people may not say the same thing as I do, but I think my experience at Charterhouse Malaysia was the best two years of my life,” she says. 

After completing her studies at HELP International School, Sarah chose Charterhouse Malaysia for her A-Levels programme.

Studying at Charterhouse Malaysia

At Charterhouse Malaysia, Sarah was in the most challenging yet rewarding two years. Surrounded by motivated and ambitious peers, the environment pushed her to work hard and focus on her goals. Everyone around her had one common objective: to achieve excellent grades and secure spots at top universities.

A key factor in Sarah's success was the support she received from her teachers. They treated the students like adults, creating a mature and professional atmosphere that helped her stay focused. What stood out most to Sarah was how teachers, not just the ones she worked with directly, were eager to support her in her university aspirations. This close-knit, supportive community created an environment where students genuinely felt cared for and understood, making all the difference in Sarah’s journey.

For her A-levels, Sarah took Psychology, English Literature, and Biology. She scored a decent grade — a significant improvement from the AS level — which led her to gain admission into King's College London, one of the leading universities in the world.

Her teachers were a huge part of this progress, offering support that helped her thrive in each subject. For instance, her psychology teacher played a pivotal role in helping her prepare for the exams, personalising notes and focusing only on the key information she needed. In literature, her teacher provided clear schedules and plans, ensuring that Sarah kept up with the syllabus and had ample time for revision. Biology was where Sarah needed extra help, and her teacher was quick to offer support classes when Sarah struggled with specific topics.

Beyond academic support, the teachers at Charterhouse Malaysia genuinely cared about Sarah’s mental well-being. Although often overwhelmed by the workload, she knew she could always turn to her teachers for guidance. Whether they helped her make a study plan, offered extra lessons, or simply provided a reality check when she needed one, Sarah never felt alone in her journey.

Alongside her academic growth, Sarah had the chance to participate in the school’s IGNITE internship programme, but she chose to pursue her own opportunity. Since she dreamed of becoming a nurse, she secured a summer internship at KPJ Damansara Hospital, where she shadowed various nursing teams. Her time at the hospital was eye-opening. 

“Other than the doctors, the nurses are the ones running the ward and providing that round-the-clock care to the patients, and it left me so determined even harder to get into nursing school.”

During her two years at Charterhouse Malaysia, Sarah had the privilege of captaining the girls’ football team.

How Leadership in Sports Prepared Sarah for Nursing

Though the campus was small, Sarah felt the school did its best to cater to student interests, offering facilities like rented football pitches and basketball and badminton courts. "Despite the lack of sports facilities, the school did do their best to provide as many opportunities as they could."

During her two years at the school, Sarah had the honour of captaining the girls' football team, a role that presented its own challenges. Without a dedicated school pitch, she coordinated off-site training sessions, hired coaches, and planned practice schedules. In addition, she served as one of the school's sports officers, sharing the responsibility with a colleague.

"These roles required me to navigate a significant level of responsibility, learning to balance academic commitments with extracurricular demands. This experience was instrumental in shaping my character. It instilled in me the understanding that achieving positive outcomes — whether winning a football match or excelling academically — is directly tied to the effort and preparation invested."

Now a nursing student, Sarah finds that the skills she developed — like leadership, teamwork and communication — are just as critical in healthcare. These experiences not only helped her during university interviews but continue to support her every day in clinical practice, where they help her work well with colleagues and care for patients.

Since childhood, Sarah aspired to a patient-focused career, and a personality test confirmed nursing as a top choice.

Getting into KCL

Sarah credits much of her success in securing a place at KCL to the support from the Higher Education team at Charterhouse. She worked closely with Ms. Amy, the Head of Future Pathways, who guided Sarah through the entire university application process, from refining her personal statement to selecting the right universities. 

"I applied to the University of Leeds, Manchester, Exeter and Liverpool alongside King’s College London. Ms Amy ensured that my personal statement was thoroughly checked and up to par before submitting it."

When Sarah learned she had interviews for all five universities, she felt overwhelmed. However, Ms. Amy referred her to another teacher at Charterhouse, an ex-nurse, who helped her prepare. Together, they reviewed potential interview questions and discussed the qualities needed to succeed as a nurse, which boosted Sarah’s confidence and preparation.

Sarah’s decision to pursue nursing was influenced by her long-standing desire for patient interaction. This became even clearer after she took a career test that recommended nursing. Plus, watching her late grandfathers in the hospital, she saw the compassionate care the nurses provided. This experience shaped her commitment to offering the same compassionate support to her future patients.

And her passion for the profession deepened as she researched top nursing schools. That's when she discovered KCL’s prestigious nursing program which then became her top choice. Ranked second in the world at the time, KCL’s strong faculty and connections to renowned hospitals made it the ideal destination for Sarah. “To date, KCL has consistently maintained its rankings; it is ranked #1 in the UK and still #2 in the world. That’s when I knew that, since Year 9, KCL had been a dream school of mine.”

Sarah is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing programme at KCL.

 

Parting message

During her time at Charterhouse, Sarah often felt out of place. While everyone around her seemed to grasp the syllabus quickly, she struggled to keep up. This mindset became a barrier, distracting her from focusing on her abilities and studies. However, she eventually realised an important lesson.

"At this point in life, you can be and control the outcome. You are the captain steering that wheel to get to your desired destination. It is a destination that is uniquely yours, not anyone else’s. It’s okay if it takes you an extra day, a week, or even longer to understand something. What truly matters is the effort and sacrifices you make along the way."

She reiterates that hard work might not yield immediate results, but the sense of accomplishment that comes with reaching one's goal makes every struggle worthwhile.

Sarah also learned that the journey isn't meant to be walked alone. The people she met along the way were also striving for their dreams. By leaning on one another, sharing challenges and celebrating wins together, she found the strength to pursue her dream. 

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unwavering support of my friends and teachers, who constantly encouraged and motivated me to keep going — especially those who sat with me every day, studying for long hours before my exams. They reminded me that perseverance, collaboration, and belief in oneself ultimately lead to success.”