Greetings to all members of the Beanstalk Community! Yes, this is Enpan Koo, another key member of the “Hungry Wolves’ Gang” back in my Beanstalk days between 2005 and 2008. Now I have grown up and have already graduated with a concentration in painting and drawing from the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University.
At the age of 10, my parents chose to transfer me from a Chinese public school in Beijing to Beanstalk to take advantage of its bilingual immersion programs.
Back then, I was amazed by the diverse nationalities and backgrounds my classmates represented. Although they came from countries as different as the U.K., the U.S., Japan, Mongolia, Indonesian, Spain and more, they did share one thing in common: friendliness. In spite of my broken English at the beginning of my Beanstalk days, I got along very well with all my teachers and classmates and made many good friends soon.
Looking back, I thank Beanstalk for providing me an inclusive and supportive environment which allowed me to fit in and make progress quickly. I thank all the great help my teachers and fellow classmates extended me in my studies. I thank the bilingual and multicultural immersion program the school offered me which enabled me to adapt quickly to any international environment. I also thank Beanstalk for building me a strong Chinese foundation to prepare me well enough for undergraduate studies at Tsinghua, the most prestigious university in China.
Grateful for what I have been blessed, I have maintained a long lasting friendship with my fellow classmates and teachers including our beloved Chinese teacher Ms. Lisa Li who is now Vice Principal of Beanstalk Dongrun Campus. We are so happy for what Ms. Lisa has achieved in both her career at Beanstalk and personal life as a happy mother of two wonderful babies.
I am also extremely delighted and honored to be invited by Ms. Lisa to make illustrations for a book on Good Manners for G1 students’ use at Dongrun Campus. Being capable and enthusiastic to serve the society and community is a great Beanstalk heritage that we have cherished and wishing to pass on to all current and future Beanstalk students. As people say, a great education educates both the mind and the heart. Beanstalk, thank you for making me a better and complete person and may you grow to benefit more young people like me.
Last but not least, I miss and love all of you, my Beanstalk teachers, classmates and members of the “Hungry Wolves’ Gang”. May joy, peace and progress be always with you!