1. How many years did you attend Chatsworth?
I attended Chatsworth for 5 years graduating in 2012.

2. What have you been up to since you graduated from Chatsworth?
After graduating I returned to England for a Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship working and attending College with John Crane who specialise in systems and solutions for the oil and gas industry. After my three year Apprenticeship I was offered the opportunity to manage the departments I had worked within for those three years. Currently I am the Gas Seals Assembly and Test production Manager in Slough, responsible for the on time production of John Cranes Gas Seal range developing the area and my team to be the center of excellence for Gas Seals.

3. Can you share some favourite memories at Chatsworth?
Travelling to Vietnam to visit the Blue Dragon charity, the early morning TOK presentations, playing football and helping to start the Rugby team (only played two games but it was a start!). I have a lot of very good memories, certainly too many for this word count but every memory was shared with the lasting friendships I made in Chatsworth!

4. Was there anyone in our community who played an important role in your time at Chatsworth?
All of my teachers put in 110% even though I may not have some days, they brought the best out in me and they changed the way I approached schooling. The three that stand out for me are Mr West, Mr Smith and Mrs Saha. I’m incredibly thankful for their effort and am glad to have been taught by them.

5. Which aspect of your Chatsworth education helped prepare you the most for life, personally or professionally beyond high school?
Whether it’s personal relationships or professional aptitude, both are developed through the IB program, especially TOK (Theory of Knowledge) which has given me the tools I need to tackle the majority of situations on a daily basis. 

6. What advice would you give to graduating students?
Every day is a school day. Take every situation as a learning opportunity, so don’t get hung up on a bad meeting or a bad interview learn from it and work hard for what you want in life but don’t forget to dedicate time to personal growth and relationships outside of work.

1. How many years did you attend Chatsworth?
Pretty much all of them! I was there from year 1 through to graduation.

2. What have you been up to since you graduated from Chatsworth?
I moved to Australia after graduating to study Marketing & Web Media at Curtin University, and then moved to London to pursue work in big tech after graduating. I am currently at Google as a Digital Marketing Programme Manager, and I am accountable for the successful management and delivery of the key digital marketing initiatives in region at scale. My key priority is developing a best in class digital shopping experience that drives conversion.

3. Can you share some favourite memories at Chatsworth?
There are so many because I was there from year one through to graduation. What stands out most are actually lots of little moments. From painting friends in year three, to excursions kayaking at pulau ubin - running around at lunch in an imaginary zoo to learning French while watching Jeux D'enfants. What links all these memories are the wonderful friends I made and the great community I found while there.

4. Was there anyone in our community who played an important role in your time at Chatsworth?
There are so many community members that stand out when I look back over my years at Chatsworth, but two that stand out were Mr. Leah for his incredible energy, support, and endless enthusiasm, and Mr. Smith for putting me on the path to business.

5. Which aspect of your Chatsworth education helped prepare you the most for life, personally or professionally beyond high school?
The IB programme offered a really holistic learning experience for me. I credit my comfort with public speaking and a lot of soft skills to doing Drama at IB - enabling me to explore my individual creative expression, whilst also improving my self-expression. The Theory of Knowledge played a really special role in my educational experience, as it enabled me to reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on how we know what we claim to know - the learnings of which I still carry and reflect on today.

6. What advice would you give to graduating students?
LinkedIn is a powerful tool to engage with agencies and employers. Make sure you have a great profile, and reach out to industry leaders for mentorship, and recruiters for opportunities. Also, embrace learning, it is a lifelong process and there are always great opportunities to learn something new.

1. How many years did you attend Chatsworth?
I’ve been in Chatsworth from Year 6 to 13, so in total 8 years.

2. What did you do after graduating from Chatsworth?
After graduating, I moved to London, enrolled into LSE and graduated after 3 years with a BSc in Actuarial Science. Since then, I’ve been working in London, working in various banks and even in the Bank of England. 

3. Where are you based now and what is your occupation?
I’m based in London at the moment, working in finance as a capital strategist.

4. Can you share some favourite memories at Chatsworth?
I would say studying with my friends together, working on TOK and CAS together for IB and sharing ideas in Chatsworth have been fun. What I can say is that knowing friends from different backgrounds and countries in Chatsworth, pursuing different fields from me, helped me become a well-rounded person.

5. Do you feel your experiences and education at Chatsworth prepared you for life beyond high school?
Yea it did, pursuing IB in Chatsworth and debating ideas with teachers and friends have prepared me well to think critically on issues making the headlines. My time in Chatsworth has also helped me understand different cultures to be able to work and be friends with people from all over the world either in University or at work. Thanks to the teachers I had in Chatsworth, they have always pushed me to my potential in my studies and ensured that I got the grades I needed for University.

6. Given your achievements and experiences, what advice would you give to the graduating students?
Dream big, aim high and plan ahead! Be ambitious!  Back then, I'd never have thought of going to University abroad if it were not for my teachers that I had in Chatsworth who saw my potential.

1. How many years did you attend Chatsworth?
I attended Chatsworth for 11 years, from 2002-2013.

2. What have you been up to since you graduated from Chatsworth? 
After graduating I moved to Vancouver where I studied philosophy at the University of British Columbia. I then came to Chicago, where I currently live, and got a job working for a nonprofit that provides after-school programming to students residing in the city’s homeless shelters. I’m now pursuing work in grant writing and community development.

3. Can you share some favourite memories at Chatsworth?
I have a ton of amazing memories from Chatsworth, like enjoying lunch at the umbrellas above the basketball court and celebrating events like UN day. I still miss making small talk with Mr. Kee in the canteen.

4. Was there anyone in our community who played an important role in your time at Chatsworth?
There are way too many people to name! Some that stand out include Mr. Leah, Ms. Kelly, Ms. Favaro, Mr. Reid, Mrs. Saxena, Ms. Maggs, Mr. Bendik, Sra. Martinez... I’m definitely missing a lot. I had wonderful teachers at Chatsworth.

5. Which aspect of your Chatsworth education helped prepare you the most for life, personally or professionally beyond high school?
I would say the close, welcoming and diverse community. I made great friends from all over the world and learned from teachers that really cared about my well-being and success.

6. What advice would you give to graduating students?
Take everything in and be proud of your accomplishment! Never again will you be part of a community like Chatsworth, so appreciate your final moments there. At the same time, don’t be fearful of the future. Many amazing experiences await you!

1. How many years did you attend Chatsworth?
I attended Chatsworth for almost my entire international education in Singapore from K2 to Year 13 and that's 13.5 years!

2. What did you do after graduating from Chatsworth?
I moved to London and attended Queen Mary University of London and Studied Geography with Business.

3. Where are you based now and what is your occupation?
I am currently a Global Recruitment Consultant in London.

4. Can you share some favourite memories at Chatsworth?
Almost too many! Playing sport was a major part of my time at Chatsworth and playing Football, Cricket, Basketball, Rugby with other international schools was great. CEW was also great, travelling to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia every year was amazing. It was just nice to be in such an international environment where everyone got along and you could be yourself. The assemblies that we had to perform in Elementary were also funny to think about (even though at the time it was a nightmare!)

5. Was there anyone in our community who played an important role in your time at Chatsworth?
Each year, there were always a few people who really helped me. Towards the end of my time at Chatsworth, which was probably the most important, Mrs Saxena, Mrs Saha, Mr Morley and Mr Louis really supported and guided me towards the next step.

6. Which aspect of your Chatsworth education helped prepare you the most for life, personally or professionally beyond high school?
Personally - Confidence was key when I moved to London, which was built up over time in my years at Chatsworth. Also it is a good conversation starter when you lived overseas for so long so making friends wasn't as difficult!

Professionally - I speak to people from all around the world every day in my current job so that cultural awareness and rapport is much easier to build since I came from an international background.

7. Given your achievements and experience, what sort of advice would you give to current Chatsworth students?
Embrace living overseas, especially in such a great city like Singapore. I always wanted to live in London when I was at school but now I would love to move back to Asia! Don't take it for granted and even if you think you aren't achieving much, you are - because international education is invaluable

1. Which year levels have you attended at Chatsworth? 
I have attended years 3-13.

2. Where are you based at now, can you tell us what you have been up to? 
I am living in Sydney Australia, and have finished a bachelor and a master's degree for speech pathology. I am now a speech language pathologist working in adult rehabilitation.

 3. How has your IB education informed your university studies? |
The IB diploma set me up for good habits and knowledge to take on university with ease. During the IB course, I continuously learnt to find balance with studies and looking after myself by enjoying social or sporting events. IB allowed me to challenge myself by balancing those two as well as learning so much content. What you do in terms of workload and your CAS activities teaches you a lot for the future! I still try using the tips I learnt from the IB.

 4. Can you share some favourite memories at Chatsworth?
My favourite memories were built with the friends I made at the community at Chatsworth. I am still close to all my friends at Chatsworth till this day. The Chatsworth community always did their best to make me feel at home.

5. Was there anyone in our community who played an important role in your time at Chatsworth?  
It was a whole collective support from teachers and friends. I could not pick out a specific role model as we all learnt from one another.

6. What advice would you give to graduating students?
Build good habits and try to utilise them in your day to day life. Keep good friends/teachers/people around, as they will be your role models that lead you to a brighter future.

1. Which year levels did you attend Chatsworth? 
I attended Chatsworth for all four years of high school, from Year 10 to Year 13.

2. Where are you based at now, can you tell us what you have been up to? 
After taking a gap year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I am currently studying Business Administration at the National University of Singapore. During my first few months as a university student, I have had the honour of representing Singapore and NUS at the finals for the CFA Ethics Competition and the HKFBS Business Administration Paper 2021. Over the next few years, I intend to specialise in Finance and Business Analytics, and minor in Communications and New Media.

3. How has your IB education informed your university studies?
The IB program has particularly informed my studies in two ways. Firstly, the skills and techniques I adopted in pursuing the Extended Essay (EE) primed my approach to writing and communication in a business environment. At university, I have applied many of the frameworks Ms. Melis taught us during EE workshops not just in academic essays but business proposals, speeches, and presentations. Secondly, the rigour of the IB program demanded that I learn how to manage time wisely and balance academics, leisure, and other life responsibilities. Despite juggling six courses and extracurriculars every semester, I regularly make time to read, watch movies, and annoy my younger sister, as I can apply the time management skills I developed throughout high school.

4. Can you share some favourite memories at Chatsworth? 
My favourite memories were actually in the classroom with my peers. Chatsworth’s small class size allowed us to openly discuss the concepts we were studying and further explore them through varying perspectives. Even when the content was heavy or difficult, these discussions always made learning more engaging, as everyone was encouraged to participate and take initiative in sharing ideas. This was especially prominent in Theory of Knowledge (TOK) classes, where we would often have chaotic (but highly productive and educational) debates over subjective topics such as ethics, values, and religion. Through these interactions, I was not only able to evolve my views and understanding of the subjects taught, but also my relationships with my peers, many of whom I still consider my close friends today. 

5. Was there anyone in our community who played an important role in your time at Chatsworth?  
As I mentioned above, the memories I made with my friends shaped my experience at Chatsworth. Whether in the classroom, on CEW, or at a sports game, we created treasured moments we still reminisce about to this day. However, many of these memories would not have occurred if it were not for our teachers, who continuously supported and guided us in our academic learning, as well as our growth as individuals in society. I speak for my friends when I say that many of our teachers were role models who taught us lessons about life and were always open to offer a hand and ear whenever we faced a problem (be it academic or personal). On behalf of my cohort, I would like to especially thank Ms. Scott for civilising our TOK classes and being the teacher every student could go to for support; Mr. Jenson for enlightening our Geography classes about the world far beyond the IB syllabus; and Mr. Ballgobin for somehow enduring our testosterone-filled Physics classes and sparking greater curiosity in every one of us about the universe we live in. 

6. What are your plans after graduation? 
Ideally, I plan on marrying a Wall Street hedge fund manager and becoming a part-time TikTok celebrity. If that doesn’t work out, I will probably resort to a career in private equity, insurance, or wealth management and eventually pursue an MBA.

Alternatively, I am interested in journalism. I have been increasingly disappointed by the current era of internet hoaxes and partisan new stories that feed on and cater to mob psychology. With the core values of the IB program in mind, I believe it is imperative for all mediums of information to be transparent, balanced, and reflective—as only then can current and future generations become open-minded thinkers instead of the blinded string puppets we too often see today. So, if not financial journalism, I would love to support, or even start a news media company that prioritises objective truths over political agendas and performative ethics.

With the pandemic coming to an end, I also hope to travel more with my friends and family. I recently watched a documentary about Cyprus’s history, and am most excited to visit the island country to learn more about its culture and hang out with its native wild donkeys.

1. Which year levels have you attended at Chatsworth?
I attended Chatsworth from Year 5 all the way until Year 13.

2. Where are you based at now, can you tell us what you have been up to?

I am currently in Switzerland, starting my fourth year at the École hôtelière de Lausanne studying International Hospitality Management. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to complete two internships working in the hospitality industry, one in Brussels and the other back here in Singapore. Not only did this allow me to further apply concepts that I had learnt in class to real-life situations, but I also got to work with people from all different backgrounds, which was something I was familiar with having been exposed to such cultural diversity at Chatsworth.

3. How has your IB education informed your university studies? 

The rigorous and demanding program that is the IB has aided me in more than one way during my university studies. Understanding how to navigate the intense workload and regular examinations that we encountered was a crucial part of the IBDP and is something I have been able to apply during my university studies. Additionally, finding a balance between multiple classes and sustaining a social life is another aspect that I grasped thanks to IB, and I now utilise in order to manage nine courses which vary every semester, something quite rare for most universities.

4. Can you share some favourite memories at Chatsworth? 

There are so many to choose from but I definitely think that the memories I have made from the numerous CEW trips are some that I will truly cherish forever. Whether it is white water rafting in Malaysia, climbing Mount Bromo or touring the temples of Cambodia, being able to discover new places, cultures and people as well as spending time with my best friends have made these trips unforgettable. I love reliving these memories through photos and videos whenever I have the chance.

5. Was there anyone in our community who played an important role in your time at Chatsworth?
Everyone I have encountered during my nine years at Chatsworth has had an impact in one way or another on the person I am today, that being my teachers, my peers or even staff. Chatsworth's strong sense of community is often brought up when students are asked what they like most about this school and I can confirm that during my time here, I truly felt as if I were part of a close-knit family. Having kind and approachable teachers, small class sizes and friendly peers all contributed to me feeling supported, safe, and like I could fully express myself. I have been extremely lucky to have had many people positively impact my studies however special mentions go out to my teachers; Ms Horan, Mr Hudson, Ms Saxena, Mr Davis and Mr Gutierrez who always believed in me and went the extra mile as well as my best friend Angela Mathie that I've known since Year 5 whom I don't think I would have survived secondary school without!

6. Where do you see yourself in five years - both personally and professionally? 

This is a question I often have a hard time answering as I sometimes find it hard to project myself however, I'd say that in five years, I see myself hopefully happy, having continued to travel the world, checking things off my bucket list and discovering more of who I am as a person. Professionally speaking, I hope to have a job in the hospitality industry that I am passionate about that also provides me with financial stability, as well as expand my network and meet people with insightful stories on their paths to success.

1. How many years have you attended Chatsworth?
I’ve been at Chatsworth for nine years at all three campuses – I started at the East Coast campus which later closed, so I moved to the Orchard campus and finished at Bukit Timah, which is where the older students attend.
 
2. You are enrolled in a Life Science programme at the National University of Singapore. What led you to choose this field of study?
I believe the last two years in the IB programme really helped me to consolidate what I wanted to pursue in my further studies in university. In biology classes, I was able to learn about the different aspects of life sciences covering immunity, molecular cell biology, and human metabolism and neurology - all of which really appealed to me and revealed to me the array of opportunities and relevance of this course. When I had to choose a subject for my EE, I decided on biology. From then on, I had an idea that life sciences would be the field I wanted to pursue further education in.
 
3. What are your favourite memories of Chatsworth?
One of my favourite memories of Chatsworth includes UN Day - where my friends and I would get an opportunity to come to school in our national outfit and try out different cultural activities and food. Even though the celebration is held every year, I always learned something new, and it has really allowed me to cultivate an appreciation of diversity as an international student.
 
4. You were awarded Chatsworth’s IBDP scholarship for Years 12 and 13. What has that meant to you and your family?
The Chatsworth scholarship helped to relieve my family’s financial burden. It allowed me to focus on my studies, especially with the provision of a MacBook Air, which I heavily relied on during my last two years. It also taught me a sense of responsibility and helped me to maintain high expectations for myself. I needed a minimum score to maintain the scholarship, which provided me with a reference point and guided me to achieve higher scores later.
 
5. Do you think Chatsworth has helped you define your aspirations?
Definitely, Chatsworth gave me many chances to explore my own interests - beginning early on from the MYP personal project, to extra co-curricular activities where I could try out a variety of my interests. Apart from that, having teachers that always held high expectations for us encouraged me to set higher goals to continuously challenge myself.
 
6. What would you say to graduating students?
I’d advise them to make the most out of the last year, because it passes by so quickly! For me, I really stepped out of my comfort zone to try what I would never have thought of doing - like performing a dance routine in school for the first time, participating in peer counselling, etc. It’s really these memories that stay with you after graduating. So while studying is important, take advantage of the school’s supportive community and give yourself time to explore new areas of interests to grow in ways more than just academically!

1. How many years have you attended Chatsworth?
I attended Chatsworth for eight years, from Years 6 through 13.

2. You are currently undertaking International Liberal Studies at Waseda University in Tokyo. What made you choose this field?
The reason why I wanted to study at Waseda University is because Waseda is situated in the midst of a bustling city but it is also a place where I can call home (Tokyo). As for the reason why I applied for the Faculty of International Liberal Studies, is because I had no idea as to what I wanted to pursue, what I truly found interest in, as well as where I wanted to be after graduating university. The Liberal Arts allow students to study in many different disciplines for those to truly find their passion. Waseda’s Liberal Studies consists of a wide range of learning from Life Science, Economics, Literature, to even American Politics. Moreover, this faculty allows students to study abroad for one year which grants students to further expand their knowledge upon different cultures, different fields as well as legitimately becoming a part of a community far from home. Besides, knowing what you truly want to pursue while still being a high school student is extremely challenging especially because today with rapid technological advancements, new professions are being created every single day. The job you pursue in the future may have yet to be discovered. Therefore, by joining the faculty of Liberal Studies I can experiment in many different fields which I believe is an advantage to the markets in the future.

3. How has your IB education informed your university studies?
The International Baccalaureate is one of the most prestigious education programs and I am now more than grateful that I had undergone this challenging, yet rewarding two -year course. During the two years of the IB, I despised the amount of work I was given and dreaded the hours I had to put in to study for the everlasting tests and exams. Moreover, at that time, I always thought CAS was not very helpful and never understood its importance and significance. However, I now understand how amazing opportunities in CAS have been - it enabled me to give back to the community as well as keep myself fit and healthy. The IB experience has helped and still helps me so much in university and life in general. I am surprised to learn that many students do not know how to give a presentation, format a report, cite sources, and much more. Whereas with the acquisition of the IB education, I am capable of exploiting multidisciplinary skills as well as think in a logical yet open-minded approach. Thereupon, I am extremely thankful for the skills, opportunity, and advantage that IB gave me for my further studies, but also for the acquisition of my future profession.

4. What are your favourite memories during your time at Chatsworth?
I have so many fun memories during my time at Chatsworth which include the yearly CEW trips, sports day, playing sports for the school, and lunch breaks with my friends. However, the most memorable and emotional moment I had was the time my U19 basketball team won the Division 2 tournament in my final year at Chatsworth. I played basketball for seven consecutive years at Chatsworth and this was the first time I was able to experience winning a gold medal in my favourite sport with the best teammates. What made this moment so special was that we lost against this team before. Yet, in the finals, we had another chance to play against them and earn the gold medal. Chatsworth is a much smaller school compared to the other international schools in Singapore, yet the fact that we were able to gather a small group of girls that work so well together was such a valuable experience. I will never forget the members of the team, people who supported us, and the school for giving me this opportunity to experience such a priceless moment.

5. What advice would you give to the graduating students?
I felt a lot of pressure when deciding where and what to study in university, but you don’t have to know what you want to study in university, let alone what you want to pursue in the future. I thought that I needed to specialise in one of the HL subjects that I chose to focus on in the IB, but I don’t think you should limit yourself to one particular field (unless you’re truly passionate about it). You don’t even have to attend university the semester after graduating. You can take a gap year or even two to explore the world, test your passions, and then apply to a university. By receiving the IB diploma, you are already in an extremely respected position as a person with a wide range of skills and an malleable way of thinking, an attribute which most universities look out for. Just take your time and don’t worry about the future. The job you pursue in the future might not even exist as for now.

6. What are your plans after graduation?
My experience in the Liberal Studies in university and living in Japan, in general, has opened me up to many different fields and perspectives. Throughout my time in Japan, I put myself in many different situations to find where I truly belong or where I feel comfortable and motivated to be fully committed to. Recently, I have started to notice that I should stop focusing so much on what I want to do in my job, but think more about where I want to work. I started to think more about the environment of the workplace, the culture of the community, and the employees’ values. Similar to my basketball team in Chatsworth, I want to find a place where I would want to go every day and focus on my work.. I want to feel welcomed, happy and excited about my work. This being said, I want to work for a foreign company in Japan. I have noticed that I do not see myself situated in a completely Japanese community, but rather work in an international environment where I can maximise my multilingual capabilities. I also know I want to pursue a job where I can endeavour to emphasise my creativity and simultaneously apply my logical thinking skills.

1. Which year levels have you attended Chatsworth?
I attended Chatsworth from Year 9 to Year 13.
 

2. What have you been up to since you graduated from Chatsworth?
I have completed my Robotics Engineering degree with Queen Mary University of London and am now pursuing a one year Master’s of Science in Advanced Robotics at the same university. I am also continuing to work for the company Reventec in order to continue the projects that I had started last year as part of my internship.
 
3. Has Chatsworth helped you define your aspirations?
Yes, being a small school I had the opportunity of trying various extra activities which I would not have had the chance to try in other schools because of higher competition. Thanks to this, Chatsworth gave me the tools and experience required to better understand the world around me and make informed decisions.
 
4. Can you share some fond memories from your time at Chatsworth?
 The sense of community that I felt in Chatsworth is something that is quite unique compared to many schools. I always felt welcome and part of the community. I remember the welcoming attitude of the students over there who were willing to make new friends and who would often hang out after school playing sports or exploring Singapore. I also really enjoyed the openness and helpfulness of the teachers who were willing to support me with coursework and university applications.
 
5. What advice would you give to the graduating students?
Learn to be proactive in life and assume your own responsibilities. Try not to lie to yourself. Learn to send emails and talk to people, you will be surprised by how much communication is helpful in getting what you need. School gives you objectives and a direction to follow, however when you graduate you will have to give yourself a direction with the risk of making a wrong choice. Make sure you have a clear goal and beware of new people that give you easy solutions or tell you what to become.

6. What are your plans after graduation?
I am looking to seek a career as an engineer in the robotic, industrial and automotive sector especially focused on electric vehicles research and development. Personally I think I will still be in the UK but I will possibly be looking at moving to a different country or be back in Singapore.