Meet DAIS/DHS Class of 2023 Graduates: Interview with Jed Zhao

We're continuing our series of interviews with Dalian American International School and Dalian Huamei School Class of 2023 graduates. We recently talked to Jed Zhao, a young man with ambitions and dreams who learned a lot about himself in high school. What is so special about his story?

The University of Leipzig (German: Universität Leipzig), located in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany, was founded in 1409 and is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the second oldest university in Germany today with an unbroken operational history, after the University of Heidelberg (1386). After nearly 600 years of teaching and research since its foundation, the University of Leipzig has grown to include 14 colleges, 152 programs and more than 30,000 students. The great German poet Goethe and the famous philosopher Nietzsche are both alumni of the University of Leipzig.

Jed, a tall Chinese boy with a passion for basketball, decided to continue his education in Europe after graduating from DAIS/DHS. He said the reason for selecting this school in Leipzig was simple: he used to go to Germany a lot as a child and was familiar with the culture and the environment. So how did Jed end up choosing one of Europe's oldest universities?

Jed entered our school in Grade 9 with a strong goal to go international in the future, but he was so into basketball that he didn't really care about his studies. He spent most of his time playing basketball, interacting with his friends, socializing and playing games. Jed said that at first he thought it was only Grade 9 and there were still four years ahead. "Take your time, no need to hurry. Study can always be put back. Homework, exams, grades - they are mere words... The more haste, the less speed!" Jed reassured himself.

However, time passed much faster than he thought it would. In Grade 10 and 11, Jed started to feel the tension and pressure, and realized that he was getting farther and farther away from his initial goal. Unfortunately, he seemed to have developed a scattered study habit that wasn't easy to break.

In Grade 11, I changed my attitude a lot, started to take my classes seriously and to do my homework. I took my tests on time, and focused on my studies. Mr. Burton offered me a rule: if I don't finish my homework or have a "D", I'm not allowed to play basketball 🥲 Shortly, I found out that study is not that hard. I just need to listen to the teacher, finish the homework and take the test on time.

Jed Zhao
DAIS/DHS Class of 2023

Mr. Burton, the Secondary Principal, knows each of his students very well. It was thanks to his customized approach that Jed started to stand out.

DAIS: In which subjects do you think you improved the most?

Jed: In PE (especially basketball skills) and Math. Our PE teacher, Mr. Jones, has given our team clear tactical goals and a whole new training system. We got a new training schedule: before every practice starts, we have a layup challenge, which is 12 people, divided into 4 groups of 3 players, relaying 15 layups. If one of them misses, we must start from the beginning. It took us 1.5 hours the first time...

DAIS: And how about now?

Jed: It takes like five minutes, no more than ten minutes now! This really touched me because I saw the teamwork, the dedication of the teachers, and it was all this sweat and persistence that brought us to the ACAMIS Basketball champions.

DAIS: What other teachers made a difference to you?

Jed: Ms. Ang (Mathematics and Science) is a very dedicated teacher. She stayed after school every day to tutor us, patiently explaining what we did not understand in class. After every test, she remembers every mistake that each student made.

DAIS: Indeed? Can she remember everyone’s mistake?

Jed: Yes, she remembers every mistake of ours and would like to help us analyze them with so much patience. And Mr. Mazarakis is very good too. His Transition to College Math and Statistics is a really difficult subject, and I wanted to give up many times. It was his patience that kept me going.

Jed has been a boarding student since Grade 9, and it is his passion for basketball, helpfulness, and positive attitude that has left a lasting impression on the younger students at boarding. Mr. Rivera, Director of Boarding, said that once he was chatting with one of the elementary boarders, and the boy said, "I want to become Jed when I grow up." We can see how strong the power of role model is!

Jed gave current students a lot of valuable advice.

Think twice before you make every decision. All the bad decisions you make will bring consequences, and when the bad consequences occur, it's too late to regret.

Make real friends who will support and help you in a positive way. If a friend asks you to do anything that violates school rules, make sure you discourage and stop him. Trust me, that's what a real friend should do.

Love your life, enrich your life by joining different ASA clubs and making friends. Always have faith in yourself.

To those young athletes: cherish every practice and treat every game as if it was your last. Every game is improving you, and every practice is vital! Make sure to train well! Don't be afraid of hard work. The moment you win, you will know how worthy this moment is. Otherwise, you will regret it when you graduate. Trust the coach! Every winning game is made up of hard training.

Jed Zhao
DAIS/DHS Class of 2023

We wish all the best to Jed in The University of Leipzig!