Don't Believe in Luck; Believe only in Hard Work!

近年來，美國一批包括常春藤大學在內的著名高等學府的錄取率連創新低，頂級名校的入學名額成為極為稀缺的資源，其激烈的競爭程度讓人嘆為觀止。

Among the many applicants worldwide, there are many students that are not only academically capable and well-rounded but also supported by a strong family background. In recent years, due to the influence of social media, a variety of articles describing US college admissions has filled parents’ social media feeds. Such news has once again brought attention to the US application process as well as concern to the parents of aspiring children. They commonly ask, “Is it still possible for my children to have a fair chance in the college application process?”

放眼全球，在為數眾多的申請人當中，不乏一些不僅學業優秀，個人綜合素質強，而且家庭背景實力異常雄厚的申請者。過去幾年中，由于社交媒體越來越強大，各類關于美國名牌大學招生的解讀和新聞充斥著家長們的“朋友圈”。這再次把眾人的視線集中到美國知名大學的招生上，也讓那些想要把子女送到美國就讀名校的家長們再度繃緊了本已緊張的神經。他們不斷發問：不占有生產資料和人脈資源的我們，子女還有多少進入美國名校的競爭機會？

Shanghai High School International Division (SHSID) is a school located in Shanghai’s Xuhui District for international students. The school encompasses grades one through twelve and has over 2,800 students from over 60 different countries, the majority of which are Asian. Upon enrollment, parents no longer have to worry about their children’s education as the school cares for each and every student with its “no child left behind” policy from Grade 1 to Grade 12, striving to ensure that each student successfully graduates from high school. Each year, approximately 50% of SHSID graduates enroll in US colleges, while the others choose to go to Canada, Australia, the UK, Singapore, Japan, Korea, or other countries around the globe. The majority of SHSID students come from middle class families. Out of the students applying to US colleges, around 90% enroll in a Top 50 university each year; there are also acceptances from Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Stanford University, or MIT annually. (Official school website:www.shsid.org) Outstanding college matriculation is merely one result of SHSID’s educational philosophy, which is to contribute to the personal and lifelong development of every student through the “four pillars”.

上海中學國際部（簡稱上中國際）是一所地處上海市徐匯區的外籍人員子女學校，招收1-12年級學生，目前在校生數超過2800人，學生生源來自60多個國家和地區，其中亞裔學生居多。學生一旦在某個年級被錄取，相當于乘上了基礎教育直通車，家長不用再為子女的擇校焦慮，因為這所學校關注每一位學生的學習體驗，實行“零淘汰”，爭取讓每一位學生順利高中畢業。上中國際每屆畢業生前往美國深造的人數比例約為50%，其余畢業生前往加拿大，澳大利亞，英國，新加坡，日本，韓國等國家和地區深造。畢業生中的大部分來自知識分子或中產階級家庭。在實行1-12年級“零淘汰”的背景下，上中國際近年來畢業生被美國本科排名前50的大學錄取率穩定在90%以上。這樣的結果頗為不易，且每年都收獲“哈耶普斯麻”之類頂級名校的錄取。（學校官方網站：www.shsid.org）

不錯的大學錄取只是上中國際用心做教育的“副產品”，她的使命是通過強化“四大支柱”，努力培養每一個孩子，成為“個性化和終身發展的學習者”。Let us discover the stories behind four SHSID graduates from the class of 2019 and explore their personal experiences, hopes, talents, and dreams as well as how they worked hard to earn their place in top US colleges.下面讓我們通過四位來自上中國際2019屆畢業生的故事，了解他們的成長經歷，從中可以看出：有夢想、有才華、努力拼搏的年輕人，仍然有機會贏得通往美國名校的入場券。