Many schools talk about helping students develop a “love for learning.” But what does this really mean? Is it about enjoying a favourite subject, or feeling motivated to study harder for exams? At the British International School Hanoi (BIS Hanoi), it goes much deeper. A love for learning means nurturing curiosity, encouraging independence, and showing students that knowledge connects far beyond the boundaries of a textbook.
For Gia Khanh, a Year 13 student and Head Student at BIS Hanoi, this has been her experience. Inspired by her teachers and supported by her community, she has come to see learning as something meaningful, purposeful, and lifelong.
Gia Khanh is the epitome of what it means to be a BIS Hanoi student: compassionate, confident, articulate, a leader, intellectually curious, and deeply thoughtful. In our conversation with her, she spoke movingly about her teachers and the BIS Hanoi staff—how they have shaped her journey, created safe spaces for her to be herself, encouraged her to take on challenges, and supported her every step of the way. As a Year 13 student studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), Khanh has learned to embrace both challenge and independence.
“I really like to explore the topics beyond the textbook, so that’s what the IA (Internal Assessment) and EEs (Extended Essay) are for. It forces us to be independent, and I think that prepares us a lot for university because we will have to do a lot of research.”
For Khanh, research is not just an academic requirement; it is a chance to explore topics that genuinely spark her curiosity.
One moment in Vietnamese class with her teacher, the Head of Vietnamese, Ms Hai, proved transformative.
“Ms Hai inspired us to go beyond the curriculum. We learned about The Sorrow of War by Bao Ninh. I went into a discussion with her after class, and she encouraged me to research more. I got my first research paper, a literary paper on The Sorrow of War, published.”
Khanh’s paper, Conceptual Metaphor and Eco-Temporality in Bao Ninh’s The Sorrow of War, was published in The Schola, a global journal that showcases the best scholarly work by high school students around the world. Out of thousands of submissions, only nine students were selected, making Khanh the youngest author featured.
Reflecting on the experience, Gia Khanh said, “Mrs Hai’s guidance was invaluable in shaping my research paper.”
More than an accolade, the publication reflects what happens when a teacher inspires curiosity and a student is encouraged to follow it all the way through.
Alongside her academic journey, Khanh speaks warmly of the care she has received from staff at BIS Hanoi.
“My favourite teacher is a teacher who doesn’t teach me, Mr Taylor. He’s very open to students, he always welcomes us and always checks in with us, whether our wellbeing is ok. He provides such a safe space, there’s no judgment there, there’s just real thoughtful care. Knowing that there’s that support system available alleviates whatever I am going through.”
That sense of care extends across school life, from the encouragement of coaches, to the team spirit of her peers, to the behind-the-scenes dedication she has witnessed as Head Student.
“I was able to witness a lot of quiet, thoughtful work behind the scenes, the effort put into making the school better, making it more inclusive, improving belonging, and the meticulous details I hadn’t noticed before, and being in this position makes me feel really grateful that we are being deeply cared for.”
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Khanh’s love of learning and spirit of care go hand in hand with her leadership. She has been an active member of the Philosophy Club, Debate Club, and Student Council, and co-founded Chalk Road, a social project recently awarded the Nord Anglia Social Impact Grant, the first-ever BIS Hanoi student-led project to receive this recognition.
These achievements reflect not just her own drive, but also the culture of encouragement and opportunity that defines the BIS Hanoi community.
Looking ahead to university in the United States, Khanh is considering a pathway that bridges philosophy, literature, and culture, a journey inspired by the way her teachers have shown her that every subject holds something to be passionate about.
At the British International School Hanoi, this is what “a love for learning” truly means: not just the pursuit of knowledge, but the discovery of purpose; not just academic challenge, but the reassurance of a community that inspires, supports, and cares deeply for its students.
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