Graduate story: Evelyn Li, Class of 2019

What is a memorable experience or moment from your Dulwich College Beijing years?

One of my most memorable experiences at DCB is winning first place in the ACAMIS Badminton competition for mixed doubles. I remember that my partner and I were so excited that we burst into tears when we won the final match. Training with my teammates and supporting each other in competitions taught me to respect others, be responsible, and to work hard for what you love. The friendship and joy that badminton has brought to me at DCB is one thing I will forever cherish.

What were your favourite extra-curricular roles or activities at DCB?

My favorite role was being the Health and Wellbeing Prefect when I was in Year 12. I really enjoyed designing fun wellbeing day activities such as mindfulness coloring, meditation, and cooking classes for students at DCB.

You are studying at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Why did you decide to apply for Cornell? What factors were most important in determining your “fit" university?

I applied Early Decision to Cornell because of the interdisciplinary courses of study that it offered. I had a range of academic interests at DCB such as psychology, business and visual arts, and I wanted to go to a college where all these areas could be explored. Furthermore, I wanted to go to a large university instead of a liberal arts college because I wanted to study with a large diversity of students where I could learn from peers from all over the world. Lastly, I wanted a campus experience for college and being in Ithaca, Cornell definitely has a beautiful campus that is separated from the busy city life.

You are majoring in Psychology and minoring in Visual Studies, Business and Film. How did you end up selecting your major/course of study? 

I chose Psychology during IGCSE and fell in love with it ever since. I love learning about social psychology and how people think when interacting with others. I then decided to choose IB HL Psychology and found out that psychology is a very interdisciplinary subject, which can relate with many other areas, such as Business or Education. When I was at DCB, I was determined that I would be working in industries that relate to psychology and communicating with people.

How has your education at DCB helped you with your university or work life?

DCB has taught me to be a well-rounded and passionate person. There are so many extracurricular activities and classes that I could choose from, and it has led me to have many hobbies, e.g., singing, badminton and painting.

Furthermore, after taking two years of IB classes, I have learnt to effectively manage my time and meet all deadlines on time, which helped my academics at Cornell university a lot. Being the Health and Wellbeing prefect at DCB has built my leadership skills, creativity and organization skills in event planning. This helped me a lot in my position as the Vice President of Cornell Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA).

What’s your favourite thing about Cornell? Did anything shock you when you first came here?

My favourite thing about Cornell is the positive and talented people. Everyone is very organized, hardworking, and passionate about their areas of study. I learn new things everyday by just hanging out with them! What shocked me most about Cornell is the lack of food choices here (really miss the food in Beijing!).

What are you busy with these days?

Currently, I’m taking a gap semester to work full time at an education company in the US. I am responsible for the marketing activities in New York City and for teaching students.

Tell us a little bit about some internships or jobs you’ve had.

I’m now working at Think Academy (学而思), an education company in the US. I am in charge of marketing in New York City and teaching US students’ maths. We are at a stage from zero to one and it is truly enjoyable process where there is no right or wrong way of doing anything, and it’s all up to experimenting.