An Interview with Iris Cheung

Which exam results are you most proud of and why?

I’m proud of all my results. Every letter and number reflects my hard work and work ethic. In particular, scoring 9 in English because I did not feel as confident in this subject at the start of the course – I have to thank my English teacher Mr. Joyce, as he gave me a lot of support throughout the course. Biology, as I worked really hard on the whole course – getting a lot of help and support from my Biology teacher Mr. Starkey as well –  and didn’t get complacent.

What would you love to do in the future once you've graduated and why?

I really like science and maths, so problem-solving and exploring. For university, I’d like to go to Imperial College London or UCL to study biological sciences or biomedical sciences. If I’m being ambitious, Oxford would a fantastic placement.

How was the NAE-UNICEF Student Summit in New York?

Truly an amazing experience. It broadened my vision. Discussing world issues with passionate people and analysing them in depth. Learning how we can all help solve problems together and learning about other cultures and issues in different countries.

We went to the UN building and saw the stats about how many are going through hunger and poverty around the world. We met so many other students from different ethnic backgrounds, with different ideas that we can bring together to create solutions. We listened to Richard Curtis give a speech — he presented issues in a funny way but the meaning was serious and an important one to deliver.

Describe a situation where you've found something at school difficult and had to push yourself to overcome it. How did BSG support you?

Studying physics for example — sometimes it can be hard to get your head around things. During lessons, I make sure I am concentrated at all times, and that I understand what is being taught. Afterwards, if I don’t understand, I would ask my Physics teacher Mr. Howell.

I also learn piano, and one of the hardest things is it needs a lot of practice, hard work and time. During my IGCSE exams, I had to do a piano exam for performance diploma around April/May, so I had trouble with time management and finding a good balance so I had to follow a rigid schedule. I used piano practice as a time to relax between other revision.

Tell us about a time when you've had to make a big decision. 

When I chose triple science. I wasn’t always passionate about it, but at the time I had the idea for what I wanted to do, like bioengineering in the future. I had to take the harder sciences, and to do them well, you need to put a lot of effort in and have good time management. I had to push myself to get what I wanted, and to know I made the right choice.

How do you think you have changed and grown as a person at BSG since you joined?

I think I’ve become more involved in our community. Opportunities the school provides really pushed me, and teachers told me to be more active with music, sports, productions and leadership roles. They made me more mature and confident, and helped me grow as a person. I’ve had ups n downs, but I’ve learned to hope for the best and plan for the worst. You have to keep in mind that your life isn’t screwed, even if the worse comes, because you can always change it as long as you keep the motivation. Keep the passion and you’ll thrive in whatever you do.

Which teachers have made learning enjoyable and how?

Mr Noyek has taught me science since Year 7, and back then, I didn’t feel that I was on the right track as I didn’t really know how to effectively revise or study. He taught me a variety of revision techniques to use that aren’t boring, and we could choose what helped us the most or alternate between the different methods to make revision more enjoyable.

Mr Hallas during geography lessons, whilst keeping good focus on the syllabus, would also integrate the wider curriculum and teach us about world issues, letting us know real-life situations and applying the theories we learned from class.

What do you think makes BSG a special school?

BSG’s community is one of the best things about the school and how we interact. It’s helped me to develop emotionally, academically and socially. Different from other schools, we have more of an active, energetic vibe — everyone’s supportive and focused to reach targets and thrive, which motivates you.