ISNS celebrates commencement for Class of 2024

The International School of Nanshan Shenzhen (ISNS) hosted a graduation ceremony for 26 members of the Class of 2024 in the school’s auditorium Wednesday afternoon.

Faculty, staff, family, and friends gathered to watch the school’s 17th graduating class receive their diplomas and celebrate this milestone in their lives.

Graduates from the Class of 2024 at the International School of Nanshan Shenzhen (ISNS) throw their caps into the air during the school’s graduation ceremony Wednesday afternoon, marking a momentous end to their high school journey. Courtesy of ISNS

Donning traditional caps and gowns, and with smiling faces, the students enthusiastically entered the auditorium for the ceremony, which was followed by the Chinese and Canadian national anthems.

Dr. Francis Pang, chairman of the ISNS school board, delivered a heartfelt message via video link. Reflecting on the students’ journey from kindergarten to graduation, he said, “You have transformed from young learners into accomplished, capable young adults.”

Joyce Pang, the ISNS executive director, echoed this sentiment in person. She urged the graduates to uphold the values of embracing diversity and striving for excellence, emphasizing the profound impact of empathy and understanding in bridging diverse cultures and communities.

Dr. Addie Loy, head of the school, emphasized the school’s ethos of “caring locally, thriving globally.” She also detailed the multi-faceted nature of caring, stating, “We address the importance of caring in three ways: We care for ourselves, care for each other, and care for the global community. The true happiness and meaning in life comes not from selfish pursuits, but from the ability to look beyond ourselves and to cultivate compassion for others.”

The speeches were interspersed with captivating performances including a Latin dance by Candy Cheng, a violin duet by Angel Zhang and Starry Fu, and a singing performance by Grace Zhang, who are all seniors.

According to the ISNS, the scholars of the 2024 graduating class have been accepted into prestigious universities across the globe and have received more than 7.86 million yuan (US$1.08 million) in scholarships to support their academic endeavors.