Graduate Spotlight: Weaving Theatre, Community and Humanity

For Catherine, Dulwich College Beijing has never been just a school. Having joined in Year 1 and spent almost thirteen years growing within the community, it became the space where curiosity was encouraged, interests were cultivated and identity slowly took shape.

'I didn't anticipate how much essay writing and reflection IB Theatre would require but I've become accustomed to it.' Catherine shared a glimpse of how IB Theatre brought her a multifaceted learning experience that sharpened her English learning, analytical thinking, research skills and academic confidence. She found herself transferring theatrical analysis directly into English Literature and even into subjects like History.

Her Extended Essay focused on history, exploring the vilification of Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great. Theatre was never separate from academics and thinking; it was a lens through which thinking became sharper.

Yet Catherine's growth at DCB extended far beyond the classroom and the stage. Leadership became another space where her instinct for empathy quietly shaped her impact. From Junior School House Captain to Senior School House Prefect and Head Prefect, she learned that leadership was less about authority and more about connection.

She describes leadership as 'joining the crowd and weaving nets between people' enacted through small, human gestures that make a community feel seen: a wave in the corridor, sitting with students who don't yet want to participate, joining before directing.

'When you are managing over 200 members from your House, it really helps that you have personal connections with at least some of them. Sometimes just sitting with them and joining the conversation is just as meaningful.'

That same philosophy guided her work leading the Women's Health and Menstruation (WHM) , a student-led club that educates younger girls and donates sanitary items to girls in rural China.

Building upon the strong sisterhood built by the previous leaders, Catherine is very passionate about having carried on the legacy, 'It's really about normalising the conversation about women's health and knowing what's it like when girls make meaningful connections through these dialogues and feeling supported. It can be really powerful.'

Through lectures, outreach, fundraising and collaboration beyond the school, WHM became a space of reassurance and trust—one that acknowledged real experiences while building solidarity through knowledge.

But her journey of leadership is not without setbacks. When Catherine ran for Chair of the Student Council in Senior School, the moment overwhelmed her. 'I got stage fright. I went on stage and froze. I wasn't selected, but it's an experience I am so grateful for. It made me realise that when things don't go your way, you learn from it and adapt for next time.'

Theatre, leadership, community—all of these threads eventually led Catherine to a deeper realisation about why theatre matters to her, especially in a world that feels increasingly divided.

'You can sit in the theatre and you can watch the same show and you can be moved by the same story and feel the same emotions with someone who may have different beliefs than you… and I think that is the sort of uniting experience that we need as a society.'

This belief was further strengthened during her summer programme at Northwestern University where theatre was treated as both craft and observation, sometimes loud and expressive in formats such as the Clown workshops, sometimes slow and still while students meditate over rocks and ponds.

'Sometimes it wasn't about moving, but it's more about looking and observing and hearing the world around us.'

Northwestern University is known for having one of the best collegiate theatre programs in the country. What makes it especially compelling for Catherine is the breadth that sits alongside that excellence. Rather than focusing exclusively on conservatory-style training, Northwestern places theatre within a wider liberal arts framework, encouraging students to engage deeply across disciplines while developing their craft. This balance allows Catherine to continue her theatrical journey with greater intellectual range, connecting performance to broader academic inquiry and preparing her for a future shaped by both artistic depth and critical perspective.

Now preparing to continue her journey at Northwestern, Catherine looks ahead with both excitement and honesty—eager for new theatre practices, new communities and the challenge of redefining herself beyond a place that has shaped her for over a decade. 'I think finding who I am outside of DCB… is something I'm looking forward to and also something a little intimidating.'

When asked what advice she would give to younger students, Catherine's answer is simple, hard-earned and deeply her own. 'Don't let the fear of embarrassment and don't let the fear of failure stop you… put yourself out there and make the most of the opportunities around you.'

Thirteen years at Dulwich College Beijing, Catherine recognises that her journey was shaped by many people along the way. She is deeply grateful to her teachers, friends, staff and family who supported,  stretched, inspired and believed in her, and whose encouragement helped shape both her achievements and who she is today.