Reflecting on her ten years at AIS, Juwon describes her experience as “enriching and dynamic.” There were highs and lows, moments of celebration and challenge, but all of it contributed to a journey she calls meaningful and rewarding. “Balancing academics with school life wasn’t always easy,” she admits, “but every moment helped shape who I am today.”
Driven by a long-held ambition to study at her dream university, Juwon credits her academic success to both the high expectations of her family and an inner motivation that kept her focused. “I always told myself, ‘I’ll do better next time,’” she explains. “That mindset became a constant source of motivation.”
A pivotal turning point came when she entered the IB Diploma Programme. “Up until IGCSE, I hadn’t needed to work too hard to get the grades I wanted. But when I took that same approach to IB Chemistry, it didn’t work.” That moment of realisation - and the score she received - became a catalyst for change. “It pushed me to reflect on my attitude towards study and take my academics seriously.”
The challenges didn’t stop there. In the early months of Year 13, she was inundated with deadlines - three Internal Assessments, a Theory of Knowledge essay, and her Extended Essay - all while preparing for monthly subject tests. “It was stressful, but I’ve never worked harder than I did during that time,” she recalls. “It taught me how to manage my workload and stay focused, even when it felt overwhelming.”
Her efforts paid off. Despite the pressure of conditional offers and uncertainty, she approached the final IB exams with determination, studying from the end of each school day until bedtime. “Walking out of those exams feeling confident - that’s one of my proudest achievements.”
Beyond academics, it was the friendships and extracurriculars that made her school life complete. From organising school-wide events like SAIMUSE and AIS’s Got Talent to serving as the life sciences leader for the NSC, Juwon pushed herself out of her comfort zone and into leadership. “Before those experiences, I was afraid to even speak in front of others. But they helped me grow my communication skills and gave me the confidence to try new things.”
This growth played a crucial role in her successful application to Yonsei University, where she will study biochemistry - a decision shaped by her long-standing dream of becoming a pharmaceutical researcher. “Yonsei’s focus on research into aging, cancer development, and cell biology made it the ideal place to pursue this goal,” she says.
Juwon believes AIS helped her prepare for this next step in every possible way. “The school created a strong academic foundation, but also encouraged us to explore extracurriculars, leadership, and self-development. Even as someone who used to be introverted, I was able to find my voice and build experiences that are highly valued by Korean universities.”
As she looks to the future, her focus remains clear. “I’m most excited about developing the skills I need to become the researcher I’ve always dreamed of being.”
Her advice for younger students? “Don’t give up before you try. Even if things seem uncertain, your effort will matter. And remember, academics are important - but your experiences beyond the classroom are just as valuable.”
If she could speak to her Year 4 self, it would be with encouragement: “You’re doing well. Don’t doubt yourself - just keep moving forward with confidence.”
As Juwon steps into her next chapter, there is no doubt she’ll continue to do exactly that. The entire AIS community congratulates her on her success and looks forward to seeing her reach new heights in Korea and beyond.
