"Education is a journey of intellectual awakening. It starts with knowledge and ends with independence of character. Its ultimate goal is not to prepare someone for a job, but to help them find themselves, that is to think independently, identify problems, and use that awakening to build a better home, a stronger China, and a brighter era."
—— Ms. Tan Fuyun, Deputy Chairman of YK Pao School, at the 2026 Pao Trailblazers event
Twelve years is long enough for a seed to become a tree, and a child to come of age. The Class of 2026 has left the school gates, with each student now heading their own way. Among this cohort, no less than 27 students have spent their entire twelve years at Pao School, completing a full circle of growth. Their parents, who have walked every step with them, have much to share.
Quietly Flourishing
Contributed by Emily's mother
Twelve years took my daughter from a skipping little girl on West Wuding Road, to a thoughtful adolescent on Hongqiao Road, then to a vibrant young adult at Songjiang, and now to a university student bound for Chicago and Lake Michigan. It’s been a full circle.
"What makes Pao School special is that it encourages you to reshape yourself,” Emily often says. “Its teachers don't just teach, they guide you to look inward." The school's emphasis on critical thinking means having the courage to question one’s own assumptions. It values both teamwork and independent thought. Over twelve years, Emily has grasped the logic of math, the warmth of language, the art of collaboration, and the strength of being herself. She can proudly say she is a well-rounded Pao graduate, strong in both arts and sciences.
In primary school, we owe a special thanks to Ms. Chen, her math teacher. She sparked her love for math and built her confidence, which stayed with her all the way through to winning first place in a Shanghai international math competition. She still speaks of her as the best math teacher she ever had. We're also grateful to Ms. Lu, her high school Chinese teacher, who encouraged her consistently, helping her keep her independent thinking and her cultural identity. These are traits that will set her apart on the world stage, and Emily's eyes light up whenever she mentions Ms. Lu, revealing her genuine affection. We are also very thankful to her tutor Ms. Li, who was always there to listen, guide, and support Emily through ups and downs, as a true mentor and friend. Thanks to her, Emily's five years in boarding were both secure and fulfilling.
We watched classmates leave over the years, and we debated our choice at home, but we've always believed that Pao's holistic education was the right one. Now her younger sister is at the school, in Year 10.
We thank every teacher who accompanied Emily from Year 1 to Year 12, every friend who studied and grew with her, and Pao School for embedding its values into our ‘little Pao kids.’ Compassion means helping others, Integrity means honesty and fairness, and Balance means respecting differences. These are values they'll carry everywhere.
And to my daughter: thank you for making ‘quietly flourishing’ resonate so deeply. Go explore the bigger world and blossom even more brightly. We'll always be right there, to support you.
Standing a Little Further Away
Contributed by Mike's father
On the last evening of the May holiday, I drove Mike back to school for his IB exams. He stared quietly out the window, perhaps a litle nervously. At the gate, he grabbed his luggage, said "Byebye," and turned to leave. I said, "Good luck, Mike." He glanced back with a brief reply and walked in, suitcase in tow. I watched his silhouette in the dim light, already half a head taller than me, and realised he'd be graduating in two weeks.
I flashed back to those mornings on Wuding West Road: little Mike trailing his older brother on the narrow pavement, me carrying a bag almost half his size, him cheerfully greeting everyone he met.
What really caught my attention was the play Peter and the Starcatcher. Watching him bow as Peter on stage, I felt a father's pride. Our family is not exactly artistic, so what was even more surprising was that he'd developed a real theatrical flair. Yet I still think of him as a ‘science guy’ with an artistic twist. In Year 11, he asked me, "Dad, why does differentiating the sphere's volume formula give its surface area? Intuitively, how does that work?" The question has stayed with me.
Around this time we noticed he was handling more on his own. Once, when he was away for a summer programme and his flight to Hong Kong was cancelled due to a typhoon, he made the decision to switch to high-speed train himself. At the station, I kept reminding him about documents and safety. He just said, "Don't worry, I've got this," and walked off. In that moment, I knew the little boy who needed me to carry his bag was gone, replaced by someone ready for the unknown.
In Year 12, with university applications and exams piling up, he grew quieter. Over Christmas, we asked about a trip to the mall with friends. He casually mentioned they'd ridden shared bikes four kilometres in the rain to save on taxi fare. We were surprised; he shrugged it off. Then it hit me. This was Pao School’s value of “Balance” in action, in its most ordinary yet profound form.
Over the years, he's learned independence, responsibility, and giving back. Since the summer of 2021, he's spent several holidays in Yunnan's Baoshan region, running summer camps for mountain children. He designed lessons, helped with chores, ate with the local children, and was simply there with them. "Compassion is loving others." Those words from books gradually became real.
A scooter honk brought me back, and I looked up. Mike had disappeared into campus. In two weeks, he'll return to the primary campus one last time for graduation. And I'll likely think back to that morning on Wuding West Road, with a little boy carrying an oversized bag. Twelve years flew by. He's reached the end of this school chapter. And we've slowly learned to stand a little further away, watching him step into his own world.
