The Yew Chung International School of Beijing student body is made up of students from across the world who have certainly been affected by COVID-19 which has now been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation. With over 100 countries inundated by the virus, there are also lessons to learn from this experience.

Hovin Wong, Alumni Relations officer at Yew Chung Education Foundation, is a YCIS Beijing alumnus from the Class 2012 and he shares some of his lessons and reflections with us.

What has the COVID-19 outbreak taught you about the world at large?

We should learn from this tragedy and to understand that alone we can do so little, but together we can achieve so much! As a global citizen, this virus might’ve started in China, but it is certainly not time to put blame on anyboy. This is a world problem now and we should stand together. It might be the first time for many of us to experience this, but this isn’t a time for ignorance and self-interest.  

I sincerely hope that we can stay positive and strong and I’m certain that we can overcome this challenge if we believe in ourselves and if we can come together as a whole!

What do you think students should reflect on during this time?

Students are in a very difficult position right now and I am pretty sure parents are worried as well. We should bear in mind that the suspension of our school doesn’t mean the end of our education.

Don’t look at this as more play time, but think of it as a chance to be responsible and independent. Being able to keep up the good work at home is undoubtedly more difficult, and being able to develop the self- motivation is important. School might have been suspended for a few months, but life hasn’t, it is a good start in preparing you for the future.

That being said, I’m not saying you should have no play time. Giving yourself a break and time to relax after a long day of “Zooming” is important. I am pretty sure that at the end of this period, you will have developed time-management skills. Prepare yourself for learning by having enough fun and exercises! This is a great time to find the balance and maintain a good learning and living habits.

What message do you have for the YCIS Community during the lockdown?

2020 may not have started well, but I am sure that after every storm, there is a rainbow! The best wishes now for everyone is to stay safe and healthy. I know this can be very difficult for many of us, but instead of having negative thoughts, keep in mind that we are all part of the YCIS Community, this big family of ours should unite and overcome this challenge. We are always here to support each other, and I am confident in telling you not to worry because we’ve got each other’s back no matter what happens!

It is important to maintain calm and to educate ourselves about the virus by using reliable news sources during this time.

To read about how to avoid information inaccuracies, click here and to read about strategies on how parents can talk to their children about COVID-19, click here.