On December 16, 2025, the 2025 Elite Program and Stellar Principal Scholarships Award Ceremony of Wuxi United International School was successfully held. Co-principal Mr. Meng Xiaodong、Dr. Max Caruso，Vice Principal Mr. Zhou Zuyu、Ms. Ella Zhang、Ms. Rebecca Cao，CPC Mr. Lu lei，and all the teachers and students from secondary and senior high schools, as well as some parents attended.A total of 46 students received scholarships totaling 1.41 million RMB.
Secondly, we celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement. What you have accomplished today is the result of your efforts and diligence yesterday, and it will undoubtedly bring greater confidence tomorrow. Your dedication is priceless. Behind these academic awards lie not only talent and good fortune, but also perseverance through countless mornings and late nights—the library lights that never went out, the densely annotated notes, and the persistent “one more try” in the face of difficulty.
Thirdly, we encourage progress and self-transcendence. While only a few receive awards today, their success will inspire everyone present. You may think, “They shine so brightly, while I remain ordinary.” But remember—what matters is not where you stand, but the direction you face. Their extraordinary achievements come from a steadfast commitment to daily efforts. Self-transcendence is not a race against others, but a dialogue with oneself. It is okay to stumble, but remember to learn from each fall. True progress is like water wearing away stone—each small breakthrough reshapes you. Knowledge grows through accumulation, courage builds through attempts, and vision expands with persistence. On this campus, no one is “destined to be ordinary”; there is only light yet to be discovered. Your potential defines your future far more than any award ever could.
Turning “One” into “Two”: Offering both scholarship opportunities and background-enhancement support, we cater to students in both the IB and A-level curriculum systems.
Extending from “One Year” to “Six Years”: Covering grades 7 through 12, the awards are granted annually, accompanied by a long-term tracking and support system that fosters sustained student growth over time.
To Students: Life is not a race where happiness is delayed until the finish line. It is a journey, with beautiful scenery to be appreciated along the way. Cherish your youth—a time full of possibility yet also fleeting. When the young Li Bai left his hometown for Chang’an, he proclaimed, “He left, head held high, laughing toward the sky—I am no ordinary soul!” Such was his boldness and spirit.
In your teenage years, time may seem plentiful, yet it is also your most precious asset. “The prime of life does not come twice, just as no day has two dawns,” wrote Tao Yuanming in *Cherish Time*. Do not idle away your youth, only to regret it when your hair turns white.
This is also the key period to know yourself. Align your growth with the ten IB learner profile attributes and the four A-Level objectives, and strive to live your best years with purpose.
To Parents: View international education through the lens of long-term investment rather than short-term gains. It is not merely about immediate academic results, university admissions, or career returns. Lifting your children up with a forward-looking vision means valuing their entire journey of growth.
To Teachers: Only excellent educators can nurture those who may one day surpass them. A teacher’s excellence is reflected in three dimensions: the warmth they show in guiding students, the depth of their professionalism, and the breadth of their knowledge.
Today is a day of celebration. We have all gathered not merely to acknowledge achievement, but to honour stories. Each of you being recognised today has authored a remarkable chapter in the story of our school and of your success. You have distinguished yourselves through your intellect, your dedication, and your character. You have set a powerful example, and on behalf of the entire WUIS community, I offer you our deepest congratulations.
When we look at you, we see and recognise your vibrant, ongoing journey. A journey that aligns perfectly with the core of our school’s mission: to cultivate students with Chinese roots, inner strength, and external excellence.
Today, I want to reflect on this journey with you, because it holds lessons for every student in this room, indeed, for all aspirant students in our school.
A journey is a symphony of effort, indeed… a journey to achievement is rarely a straight line. It is not a sprint, but a series of steps, some bold and confident, others hesitant and requiring more effort.
Let’s consider your journey as a scholar. Potentially it began not with a grand ambition, but with a simple act of curiosity. Perhaps it was a challenging problem in a mathematics class that you refused to let go of. Maybe it was a historical question that sent you deep into research. In that moment, you were embodying the very essence of an inquirer.
But inquiry alone is not enough. It must be paired with persistence. How many times did you face a concept that seemed impenetrable? How many drafts of an essay did you write, each one a little sharper than the last? This is where your inner strength, which our school holds so dear, was forged. In the quiet moments of re-working a problem, of studying while others slept, of balancing schoolwork with your other passions and responsibilities. This persistence is the very essence of being a thinker and being principled—showing integrity in your work, even when no one is watching.
And you did not walk this path alone. Your teachers offered guidance, your classmates provided collaboration, and your families offered unwavering support. This reflects the spirit of ‘Xié gōng hé zhōng’ (协恭和衷)—the diligent collaboration and unity from our school’s motto. It shows you understand the power of being a communicator and caring for the shared goal of excellence.”
Maintaining a mindset for the Road Ahead – Looking Forward… as today, you receive your scholarship. But more importantly, you have proven you possess something far more valuable: a growth mindset. You have shown that you believe your abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. A scholarship is a recognition of your currentexcellence, but a growth mindset is the engine of your future excellence.
As you look ahead, I challenge you to view this award not as a final destination, but as a springboard to your future selves..
Continue to be knowledgeable, but also strive to be open-minded. The world you will help lead is beautifully complex and interconnected. Seek out perspectives different from your own.
Continue to be thinkers, but also dare to be risk-takers. Do not fear thoughtful failure; fear only the unwillingness to try. The greatest innovations and solutions come from courageous leaps.
And above all, continue to cultivate your Chinese roots and inner strength. Let the values of diligence, respect, and resilience that have brought you here be the compass that guides you as you develop your external excellence to become true, balanced global citizens.”
Therefore, in congratulationsdear scholars: carry this moment with you. Remember the journey that brought you here—the curiosity, the persistence, the collaboration. Hold fast to the growth mindset that turns challenges into opportunities.
You are the embodiment of our Xiehe vision. You make us profoundly optimistic for the future.
My heartfelt congratulations to each of you, and to our families and teachers who have supported you. Go forward and continue to achieve, to learn, and to make a meaningful difference.
It is especially worth mentioning that among our Class of 2026 students, we have already received multiple offers from universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Hong Kong. This serves as proof to us all of the importance of sustained effort and patient cultivation. We also wish our 2026 graduates many more offers of their choice in the future! Finally, let us once again congratulate the scholarship recipients.
