Empowered by the knowledge and skills she has acquired with an AISG education, Mayvelee Bugh will go on to do more great things in her next journey at university. We take pride in knowing that Mayvelee will keep on pursuing her passions and discovering more about herself. Read more about her impressionable time at AISG. 

Now that your senior year has ended, was there any moment or event this past year that made a defining impact or lasting impression? 

A moment that made a deep impression to me was our graduation rehearsal. After long weeks of IB exams, we had spent an entire day together as a class to rehearse and celebrate. I loved the feeling of working together towards making our graduation a memorable one and being together again, especially after not seeing each other for more than a month during study leave. The joy of seeing my class together made it a wonderful memory, as well as the love and care from our teachers. That day I witnessed all the work Dr. Walker, Dr. Lyso, Ms. Siemens, Ms. Hong and Mr. Sambula, Mr. Ken, Ms. Laura and Ms. Yien, just to name a few, had put into making us feel special on our graduation. As we were practicing walking along the theatre and onto the stage, I felt very special and loved. I’d like to thank all students, faculty, and staff on behalf of the class of 2022 for making this a special moment for us.

How did the IB curriculum affect your perspective towards education? 

The IB curriculum has been a fairly interesting experience for the most of us. Not only has it taught me to work productively - that is, to finish the maximum amount of work while spending the least time possible, it had made be rethink what it means to have fair assessment of students’ learning. It was interesting to notice that education systems tend to assess students in ways that do not demonstrate learning. For example, essays and question-based assessments may not be suitable for every learner. Essays and long written answers require students to be expressive writers and anything otherwise would cause them to insufficiently showcase the knowledge they gained through learning. While being expressive is an important skill to possess, I disagree that all individuals necessarily need this skill to be successful beyond the classroom. That said, during my studies with the IB curriculum, I realized that there is room for improvement for our current education system. This has inspired me to dedicate some time in the future in the development of our children’s education. 

In regards to the outbreak of COVID-19, what was the biggest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it? 

One of the biggest challenges was definitely the cancellation of this year’s musical, Bugsy Malone. In the musical I was challenged to play the role of Tallulah, a sleeky and seductive gangster’s girlfriend/singer in the 1920s. This was a big leap for me in my musical and acting journey in comparison to previous roles I’ve played. After more than 3 months of hard work, we were not able to put on our show due to Covid-19 restrictions. Many of the cast members and pit band instrumentalists had felt that coming because the musical had been postponed again and again. However, I remained optimistic about our show in the midst of uncertainty and cheered for others to keep practicing dances, songs and lines. In the end, it was finally decided that the show just wouldn’t happen. At that time, the stage was already set up and our props and our costumes were mostly ready. I remember sneaking in the theatre alone, watching the sets get taken down, I couldn’t help it but I started crying. Still, we had a celebration to bring closure to the work we’ve done by eating pizzas and spraying cans of Silly Strings on each other. Although it was a pity that the show didn’t happen (my last musical in high school), the great memories we’ve had during rehearsals, dance practices and the colorful celebration will be remembered.

Where will you be going to college and what are you looking forward to the most? 

I will be attending the University of British Columbia this fall. I can’t wait to explore the beautiful lakes, mountains and trails in British Columbia - imagine having wild foxes at my window - that would be fun. I am looking forward to an exciting university experience and a well-rounded education in a school where students are recognized for their strengths and talents. I’m also hoping to discover new possibilities and ways I could contribute to this community. Moreover, we have many alumni at UBC and I’m thrilled to meet more Rams outside Guangzhou. This definitely speaks to the advantages of our school’s strong alumni network!

This year we celebrated AISG’s 40th Anniversary. What thoughts or emotions come to mind and what does this mean to you? 

I feel very proud to be a part of our school’s history! Looking at the past 40 years, our school has really progressed into a closely bonded community where student voices are always heard. We are cultivated to become intellectually rigorous within the beautiful grounds of our school campus. I believe that our teachers have helped us unleash our full potential while our presence at AISG has challenged our teachers and school to become better educators. Together, I hope that we can create a supportive learning environment where young learners feel comfortable to speak up and make their voices heard. 

What advice do you have for current students to make the most of their experience at AISG? 

Step out of your comfort zone! Try stage acting, join a sport, make new friends from another grade or talk to a teacher you’ve never talked to. Make the step and when you look back 10 years from now, you will not have any regrets. Taking part in school varsity teams was a new and unique experience for me. But the experience had led me to discover joy and tremendous growth as an athlete. The sense of belonging, the laughter in the changing rooms, the sweat and tears we’ve shared were truly something I will miss from high school.

What accomplishments do you dream to achieve in the next five years and how will your education at AISG help you achieve these?

In another 5 years I will be finishing my tertiary education and starting a whole new career as an adult. I aspire to continue my passion in music and discover more about myself, what I am capable of and who I want to be. My education in AISG has prepared me with the academic skills and soft skills I will need to thrive in university and beyond.

Mayvelee's extracurriculars/activities/awards/etc. from her time at AISG: 

• Upper Secondary Choir Ensemble  
• Lead Role in Upper Secondary Musical 
• Head of Upper Secondary Media Crew 
• APAC Choir Ensemble 
• Varsity Girls Swimming 
• Varsity Girls Tennis 
• Art Club  
• Model United Nations 
• Honor Roll 
• APAC Choir Most Valuable Performer 
• Musical Most Improved Performer 
• Model United Nations Most Improved Delegate 
• Photographer and Editor of Few Senior Portraits Featured in Yearbook 

Congratulations to the class of 2022! The best is yet to come!