Good afternoon, my dear classmates,
Remember your first few days of school: nervous, afraid, embarrassed; However, Tianyi is a center of welcoming and openness: we have friendly teachers and classmates, who cared for us and protect us. Before we were students of Tianyi, we had many options: Gaokao, A Level, other private schools, and yet we chose Tianyi. Here, we were welcomed; Here, we have a sense of belonging; Here, we feel the culture of the school, which is openness, love, and care. It’s up you, my juniors, to continue that culture.
To further understand how the culture of the school helps students immerse themselves in a supporting, loving environment, I conducted a student survey on the relationship between adolescent romantic relationships and school rules. The survey revealed that the breakup of romantic relationships significantly harms one’s life satisfaction. Some of you may have even participated in that survey. This research marked the first time I actively addressed mental health issues among students at our school. My motivation to conduct the study came from witnessing the breakup of a romantic relationship between two of my friends. Many people believe that mental health problems are far removed from our daily lives or as easy to cure as a cold or fever. But that is not correct—not at all. In fact, 2 in 5 teenagers are struggling with mental health issues.
In our school, where academic pressure is relatively high, mental health becomes even more significant. Many students face the stress of achieving higher grades in their courses and preparing for TOEFL exams as non-native English speakers. It is challenging, and it’s understandable that students sometimes complain, feel frustrated, or feel unmotivated to even listen to an English speech like mine.
If you attended the summer school at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, you might remember Mr. Ruby teaching an acronym: “EPIC” (PowerPoint Slide). Among its four letters, I want to emphasize the letter “I,” which stands for “impact.” We all aspire to do something meaningful, to create an impact that improves our community and touches the lives of others. That is why I, together with some of your senior classmates, established an organization called “WhisHeart.”
“WhisHeart” combines the words “Whisper” and “Heart” (PowerPoint Slide). Our mission is to use our hearts to listen to your whispers—those thoughts and feelings you may not share with anyone else. Currently, we use tools like OH cards in our activities to support students dealing with depression and anxiety. Since we just started, we know we will face challenges and may have deficiencies. However, we will not give up, because we are committed to making an impact—a lasting, positive impact—on the Tianyi campus in order to ensure that our campus remains that welcoming, open environment that we all experienced in our first few days here..
Now, I want to invite all of you to participate. You don’t have to be a psychology student to join our organization. All that’s needed is a desire to help others and, most importantly, a passion for making a positive impact on the Tianyi community. Beyond joining WhisHeart, you can also make an impact in your daily life. If you notice a friend who seems unhappy, show care. Ask them what happened and whether you can help. Even if you can’t solve their problem, your care and concern will warm their hearts and make them feel a little better.
Before I go, I want to leave you with one question: When we graduate, what kind of school do we want to look back on? A place of pressure, or a place of growth and belonging? When you become a senior, can you confidently tell your juniors that Tianyi is a warm and safe place to learn and live, a supportive community that has helped you throughout your three years here? Yes, we can—because together, we can make our school not just a place of learning, but a community of care and love.
Thank you.
Remember your first few days of school: nervous, afraid, embarrassed; However, Tianyi is a center of welcoming and openness: we have friendly teachers and classmates, who cared for us and protect us. Before we were students of Tianyi, we had many options: Gaokao, A Level, other private schools, and yet we chose Tianyi. Here, we were welcomed; Here, we have a sense of belonging; Here, we feel the culture of the school, which is openness, love, and care. It’s up you, my juniors, to continue that culture.
To further understand how the culture of the school helps students immerse themselves in a supporting, loving environment, I conducted a student survey on the relationship between adolescent romantic relationships and school rules. The survey revealed that the breakup of romantic relationships significantly harms one’s life satisfaction. Some of you may have even participated in that survey. This research marked the first time I actively addressed mental health issues among students at our school. My motivation to conduct the study came from witnessing the breakup of a romantic relationship between two of my friends. Many people believe that mental health problems are far removed from our daily lives or as easy to cure as a cold or fever. But that is not correct—not at all. In fact, 2 in 5 teenagers are struggling with mental health issues.
In our school, where academic pressure is relatively high, mental health becomes even more significant. Many students face the stress of achieving higher grades in their courses and preparing for TOEFL exams as non-native English speakers. It is challenging, and it’s understandable that students sometimes complain, feel frustrated, or feel unmotivated to even listen to an English speech like mine.
If you attended the summer school at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, you might remember Mr. Ruby teaching an acronym: “EPIC” (PowerPoint Slide). Among its four letters, I want to emphasize the letter “I,” which stands for “impact.” We all aspire to do something meaningful, to create an impact that improves our community and touches the lives of others. That is why I, together with some of your senior classmates, established an organization called “WhisHeart.”
“WhisHeart” combines the words “Whisper” and “Heart” (PowerPoint Slide). Our mission is to use our hearts to listen to your whispers—those thoughts and feelings you may not share with anyone else. Currently, we use tools like OH cards in our activities to support students dealing with depression and anxiety. Since we just started, we know we will face challenges and may have deficiencies. However, we will not give up, because we are committed to making an impact—a lasting, positive impact—on the Tianyi campus in order to ensure that our campus remains that welcoming, open environment that we all experienced in our first few days here..
Now, I want to invite all of you to participate. You don’t have to be a psychology student to join our organization. All that’s needed is a desire to help others and, most importantly, a passion for making a positive impact on the Tianyi community. Beyond joining WhisHeart, you can also make an impact in your daily life. If you notice a friend who seems unhappy, show care. Ask them what happened and whether you can help. Even if you can’t solve their problem, your care and concern will warm their hearts and make them feel a little better.
Before I go, I want to leave you with one question: When we graduate, what kind of school do we want to look back on? A place of pressure, or a place of growth and belonging? When you become a senior, can you confidently tell your juniors that Tianyi is a warm and safe place to learn and live, a supportive community that has helped you throughout your three years here? Yes, we can—because together, we can make our school not just a place of learning, but a community of care and love.
Thank you.
Go Back