The success of Pao School is not measured only by Ivy League admissions, but by whether each of you, on your life's journey, cultivates relationships with those around you, builds strong families, and manages AI's contribution to humanity.
My Chinese dream will never come to an end; it is a journey that never stops.
——Professor Anna Pao Sohmen, Chairman
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May 23 was the YK Pao School Year 12 graduation day, held on its Songjiang campus. Attending the ceremony were Mr. Chen Huang, Director of the Songjiang District Education Bureau, and Ms. Lv Hing Yun, Principal of Hong Kong Braemar Hill Nursery School. Together with YK Pao School teachers, parents, and students, these guests witnessed the important moment when a new generation of YK Pao graduates bid farewell to their alma mater to embark on a new phase of their life journeys.
Speech by High School Principal James Lyng
The graduation ceremony was hosted by Zang Na, High School Deputy Principal
High School Principal James Lyng, in his opening address, highly praised the graduates. He noted that, with "compassion, integrity, and balance" as their foundation, they had found the right balance between academic excellence and holistic development.
Speech by President Xu Yongchu
President Xu Yongchu urged the Class of 2026 to listen and take responsibility: listen to the times and become a 'translator' bridging differences; listen for the future and become a 'problem owner' moving forward with questions rather than quick answers; listen to your heart and have the courage not to pander, staying true to yourself. "YK Pao School will always be the lighthouse you can look back to," she said, in closing.
Speech by Executive Headmaster Iain Kilpatrick
Executive Headmaster Iain Kilpatrick, centring his speech on the theme 'The Roads We Choose,' urged graduates to choose without fear, walk their road fully and grow where they choose, while making peace with the road not taken. The only difference with the road chosen is that it is yours. "Every road lies covered in leaves which no step has trodden black," he said. "Go, walk your road. Make it yours."
Speeches from teacher and student representatives followed, looking back on the years at YK Pao School from different perspectives. Mr. Yifan Shen, through a series of 'thank yous,' recounted the marks of growth left by this cohort of graduates. Mr. Aaron Walker reminded them that the important question is not 'what you need' but 'who you need.' Friendships 'forged in the furnace' of Pao School will carry you further than any skill you can name.
Under the theme of 'solitude and love,' Aina Gao explained how walking alone is not loneliness, because love allows us to see the world through each other's eyes, intertwining our lives forever. Jane Yang said that if there's one thing we learned at YK Pao School, it's to never be afraid to take risks and to keep turn new pages.
Homecoming and Pao Trailblazers events
At noon on May 25, nearly 60 members of the Class of 2026 returned to the middle school campus for a warm homecoming event. They had lunch with former teachers, visited the new Anna Pao Sohmen Building, and explored their old classrooms. The new facilities impressed them, and the posters reminded them how much richer middle school activities have become since their day. Student representatives interviewed the graduates, who reflected on their high‑school experiences and shared study tips with younger students. Their stories inspired and encouraged middle‑schoolers, helping to pass a culture of continuous growth from one generation of Pao students to the next.
Following tradition, the school also held its 'Pao Trailblazers' event for those who had spent twelve years at the school. Deputy Chairman Tan Fuyun, President Xu Yongchu, and Executive Headmaster Iain Kilpatrick, along with primary school teachers and parents, witnessed their growth and transformation.
"Education is a journey of intellectual awakening," said Madam Tan Fuyun shared. "It begins with knowledge and ends with independence of character. Its purpose is not to find a job, but to find oneself, to think independently, and to create a better world." She thanked parents for walking hand in hand with the school for twelve years.
Teacher representative Irene Gong wished the graduates well as they move from childhood to youth, while offering three words: kindness, reverence, and gratitude. The parent representative, Anya and Kiran's mom recalled her children's stages of growth, reminding the audience: "Tenacity gets you where you want to go; gratitude makes you enjoy the journey."
Student hosts Lance Ding and Yanru He commented: "This journey of 12 years is paved with our friendships, with knowledge, building such kindness and audacity to take on new ventures across the world. The Pao core values compassion integrity and balance radiate from us, and we shall conquer wherever go."
