I am Korean, but Indonesia is my home. I have lived here my entire life, and my youngest sister was even born in Indonesia. Before moving to SPH, I attended a national school in South Sumatra. At that time, adapting to a new language—Bahasa Indonesia—was not easy. I often felt lost, but with the help of my friends, I slowly found my way. Because my family and I were the only Koreans in the school, we stood out, and in a way, that made me feel both different and proud.

However, when we decided to move to SPH, I was scared. Once again, facing my old challenge was hard. My Bahasa Indonesia was not yet fluent, but I had been able to adapt because of the welcoming environment I was in. SPH, however, was an international school. This time, I was no longer the “only Korean,” and the language barrier felt even bigger.

English was a language I wanted to avoid. I struggled to read even simple English books. I was scared to say the wrong things and read the wrong words. Even after entering SPH, my biggest fears were spelling tests and reading time. Unlike Bahasa Indonesia, where words are read and written as they sound, English felt unpredictable and confusing, making every sentence feel like a challenge.

Despite these challenges, I was blessed with supportive friends and teachers. They patiently waited for me and helped me learn how to read and write in English. During reading time, my friends would come up to me first and ask if I wanted to read together. We took turns reading each paragraph, and when it was my turn, they waited patiently. They never made fun of me or pressured me to read faster.

I truly admire how loving this community is. The people here have made this school feel like a second home for me. Not just my friends, but my teachers as well. Whenever I struggled, they came alongside me and guided me through each step. Rather than highlighting my weaknesses, they encouraged self-reflection and helped me grow from it.

A unique feature of the IB program is self-evaluation. This process encourages students to look back on their learning and identify both their strengths and weaknesses. I see this as an amazing opportunity for growth. Recognising my own weaknesses allows me to improve next time. Reflections helped me to view myself more objectively, helping me to recognise where I am right now, and only on my future goals.

I have learned that growth is impossible alone. It takes patience, hard work, and that is a supportive community. SPH has truly shaped my core values, teaching me the importance of collaboration and care for others.

Looking ahead, I am hoping to become a servant leader who can lead the people but also at the same time serve them, just like Jesus did. I hope to be someone who can help those who are in need of help and guide them to be the best version of themselves. I’m very excited for the new challenges that will bring me closer to seeing how God works in my life once again.