Expand Your Experiential Horizons: Keystone Hosts Exchange Student
It was a normal weekend at Keystone Academy, with Residential Students enjoying one of their regular trips around Beijing – this time to the scenic Wenyu River Park to explore the beautiful nature and see an amazing light show there. However, for one student in particular, this experience was something completely new. Audrey Hallmark, a Grade 9 exchange student from Singapore, was visiting Keystone on a three-week exchange program. Under the shimmering lights Audrey found a new passion for exploring new places and cultures and making new friends on the way.
Audrey’s exchange at Keystone was organized via Round Square, an internationally diverse network of more than 250 like-minded schools committed to character education and experiential learning, of which Keystone is a member. Although Keystone has participated in such exchanges before, Audrey was the first to visit the school in several years. Keystone worked with Audrey’s school, UWCSEA Dover Campus, another Round Square member school. Exchanges such as these offer students at both schools great cross-cultural learning opportunities, with boundless potential outcomes based on students’ own interests and experiences.
Each student who joins an exchange program has their own inspiration for travelling abroad to study. What motivated Audrey to apply for the exchange program at Keystone? “I wanted to come to Keystone because I would be able to practice Chinese,” she explains. “In terms of confidence, using Chinese in a more applicable setting really helped.” She had already studied the language in Singapore and was excited at her first opportunity to visit China. During her three-week adventure at Keystone, Audrey’s language skills became the key that unlocked the door to a whole new world for her.
Being immersed in a Chinese-language atmosphere was just one way this exchange program gave Audrey a boost of confidence. When Audrey thinks back to when she first boarded the 6-hour flight from Singapore to Beijing, she remembers feeling nervous. However, by the end of her time at Keystone, Audrey had developed a confidence that comes from thriving in an entirely new environment. The warm welcome she received from the Keystone community helped her quickly adapt to her new settings and have a wonderful time in the exchange program.
“I’m pretty comfortable now, because the community was really nice and I formed connections with a lot of the students,” Audrey describes. From the time she arrived at Keystone, Audrey received a warm welcome, especially from Keystone Grade 9 students Liv Lyu, who hosted Audrey in her dorm; Proud Sunthonmongkholkit, who bonded with Audrey over their shared Thai heritage; and Sarah Cartwright, who volunteered to be one of Audrey’s host buddies. Many other Keystone students also helped make Audrey feel at home. As much as Audrey got from the exchange, the students at Keystone who accompanied her on weekend trips and to Keystone Activities Program (KAP) sessions also reflected that hosting someone and sharing their culture with a new friend was an impactful learning experience.
In addition to the warm welcome Audrey received from the students, a lot more help went into making this exchange a success. Thanks to Keystone Facilities, Security, Chartwells, Residential Life, Student Life, Experiential Learning, and the Middle School Office, who were involved in the planning, preparation, and execution of this exchange. The collaboration by the Keystone team ensured that this exchange went smoothly for everyone, and the school is looking forward to hosting more exchange students in the future. After the program, when asked if she would be interested in going on more exchanges, Audrey’s answer was a resounding, “yes!” Keystone is excited about exchanges beginning again for our students and hopes that in the years to come we will both host more and more students on our campus and have chances for our students to go on exchanges to other countries, living our ideals of China and the world.
