Ten years have passed since our BCIS Class of 2014 threw their caps into the air and waved goodbye to their high school lives for the last time, and a decade on, we catch up with a few of our alumni as they fill us in on their stories. They have all embarked on a wide range of diverse journeys, each filled with unique experiences and personal growth, with some having ventured into new nations, seeking something new, while others have forged successful careers in prestigious organizations, turning their passions into thriving professions.

This ten-year mark was celebrated with a special online reunion, as they convened, spanning tens of time zones, to relive some of their most cherished memories at BCIS, as well as sharing the varied trajectories of their lives. These conversations underscored how the education they received at BCIS has profoundly shaped and influenced their paths moving forward, and cementing ‘Once a BCISer, Always a BCISer’.

“Moved to France last summer and onto the next step of my journey.”

Over the past decade, Daniele has embarked on a global journey, traversing continents and cultures. Originally from Italy, he relocated with his family to Beijing as a high schooler, where he and his little sister then enrolled at BCIS. After completing his undergraduate studies in Ningbo, Daniele decided to stay in the Zhejiang city, getting into the import/export industry, bringing in equipment and mechanical components from Italy. This year marked a significant return for Daniele as he visited BCIS, as well as being our 2024 alumni representative to deliver his well wishes to this years’ seniors at their graduation ceremony.

Reflecting on his time at BCIS, Daniele recalled the enriching experience of being surrounded by peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, which instilled in him a deep appreciation for tolerance and open-mindedness. Having been born in one country and raised in another during his formative years, Daniele's journey in these cosmopolitan environments taught him the value of continuous learning and adapting to change. Each move—from Italy to Beijing, then Ningbo, and now Rouen in France—has expanded his understanding of "home" and nurtured his resilience in embracing new cultures and environments.

Now settled in France with his wife, Daniele eagerly embraces the challenges of integrating into a new cultural, professional, and personal landscape. He is proactively enhancing his career prospects by learning French and pursuing a graduate degree at Noria Business School. His journey continues to evolve, driven by a spirit of anticipation and readiness for whatever the future holds.

“Growing professional confidence through capitalizing on my unique strengths!”

Hailing from Spain, Claudia has shared how her experiences living and studying in China has profoundly influenced her life and career. As a native speaker of Spanish, her time at BCIS not only enhanced her proficiency in Chinese and English but also deepened her love for different languages and cultures. During her undergraduate years, Claudia decided to return to China from Spain for an exchange program at Shanghai’s Tongji University, focusing on environmental science. Despite the slight hitch of accidentally signing up for the Chinese-language stream of this course, Claudia took this in her stride, mastering the complex technical terminology in her third language!

After completing her bachelor's degree, Claudia secured a position at a European environmental consulting firm in Spain, where her trilingual abilities and cross-cultural understanding gave her a unique advantage compared to her peers.

"I always seek diverse cultural experiences and enjoy collaborating with people from different nationalities and backgrounds," Claudia remarked. "Growing up in an international environment has made me more empathetic in my interactions. I can more easily grasp the cultural influences behind certain actions, especially when clients require tailored, culturally specific sustainable environmental plans."

Currently, Claudia is working as an environmental consultant at multinational firm KPMG, with one of her particular professional highlights being the lead role she took in the development of a ‘water footprint’ dashboard and data model, using her leadership and people-skills to provide assistance and clarity to an international client. She has mentioned how her past experiences have broadened her perspectives and mindset. "China's rapid development taught me the importance of embracing change, even when others resist. I thrive on challenging and unknown projects."

“Just living my wildest childhood dream of working in the NBA！”

At last school year's secondary school sports awards dinner, Gary, a member of the Class of 2014, returned to the hallowed turf where he once plied his athletic trade and shared a heartfelt message with his younger peers: “Keep dreaming and work harder until the dream comes true.” Currently serving as the Chinese social media manager for NBA China in Beijing, wowing the student athletes in the crowd, Gary has always aspired to work in the world of sport.

Reflecting on his time at BCIS, Gary recalled his journey from Boston back to Beijing. Despite the pressures of senior year exams and college applications, the IB curriculum and international school model intrigued him, allowing him to pursue his passions both in and out of the classroom. With a love for writing, communication, and social media, Gary conducted street interviews and created videos on air quality and pollution for his school research projects. A basketball enthusiast, he immediately became highly active in the world of BCIS basketball, participating in matches and tournaments, further nurturing his passion for the sport. 

After completing his undergraduate studies, Gary pursued a master's degree in sports management at Columbia University. In the summer of 2019, he officially entered the sports industry with an internship at NBA China in Shanghai. During his final year of graduate school, Gary transitioned to a role in operations with the Brooklyn Nets before joining a digital marketing team in New Jersey post-graduation. In 2021, he returned to Beijing, where he currently excels in the media department, running the social media platforms of NBA in China.

"I've always been a huge sports fan. In this industry, I've had the privilege of working alongside talented, dynamic young people and engaging in brand communications different and diverse cultural settings, creating localized content," Gary shared. "I hope to continue deepening my roots in the sports industry in the future." Just like never giving up while 10 points down during his Warrior gamedays, Gary has bounced back from the setbacks of the pandemic and turned his passion into a thriving career path. 

“Moved to Shanghai from Hong Kong, doing investment at a private equity firm.”

In Grade 10, Sunny earned herself a full scholarship to at BCIS, setting her on a path to graduate high school in a distinct manner, and eventually enroll at the University of California, Berkeley. Faced with a choice between pursuing medicine or financial economics, Sunny decided to explore both fields during her undergraduate years. Through summer internships in finance, she discovered a growing interest in roles that involved communication and economics.

After graduating university, Sunny was drawn to an exciting job offer from an investment bank in Hong Kong, leading her into three years of challenging and fast-paced work in the equally fast-paced city. Later, she moved to Shanghai, transitioning from investment banking to the private equity sector, where she found even greater satisfaction in her career. Reflecting on her role and responsibilities, Sunny explained, "Our work goes beyond routine tasks; it involves managing diverse projects, collaborating with different companies and industries to achieve short-term, high-intensity goals. The most fulfilling aspect of my work is engaging with founders of various companies, as I am inspired by their unique strengths and entrepreneurial stories."

Looking back, Sunny believes each decision she made was crucial for her personal and professional growth. "Accepting the job offer right after college was the right move, especially considering the significant changes in the economic landscape since then," she noted. Emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities as they arise, Sunny is confident that she has found her ideal work rhythm and lifestyle. She combines her academic background in biology, finding the intersection with her current involvement in health-related investment projects. Recently, Sunny became the youngest board member of a NASDAQ-listed company in the healthcare industry.

At BCIS, we are a school of lifelong learners. This philosophy of long-term education accompanies individuals throughout their lives, revealing its benefits over time. A decade after graduation, our alumni are thriving in their respective diverse fields, all impacted in one way or another by the cultural diversity and international outlook in the community, as well as the devotion to high-quality and future-focused education at BCIS. The principles of having a cosmopolitan education, global citizenship, and personalized learning have helped them become true global citizens, embracing different cultures, facing challenges bravely, and contributing actively to their communities.

At the end of the 2023-24 academic year, we hosted our annual on-campus Alumni Open Day, where seventy alumni from various years returned to their old stomping grounds at BCIS and participated in sports, social, and networking events. During the information sharing session, alumni from top universities shared their learning and work experiences with their younger counterparts. This Open Day was a unique reunion and an inspiration for the Class of 2024 as they prepared to take the next steps of their journeys. Engaging with their predecessors gave them valuable insights and confidence in their aspirations moving forward. University is just the first step in their journey, and these stories will motivate them to embrace their future adventures, regardless of any uncertainty that may come their way.