Catching up with our alumni: Christabel’s journey after King’s InterHigh

Well, this is actually quite an interesting story!

I ended up at King's InterHigh when my previous school, My Online Schooling, joined together with it. Prior to that, my parents and I hadn’t heard of King’s InterHigh. However, we were immediately impressed by the wide range of A-Level subjects offered — including Law! In fact, if I hadn’t joined King’s InterHigh, I probably wouldn’t have taken A-Level Law. It wasn’t available at my previous online school.  To this day, it remains one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I fell in love with Law from the very first class, and my interest kept growing, thanks to my brilliant teachers and the engaging content they taught us. 

Online schooling at King’s InterHigh really suited my needs at the time due to my background as a homeschooled student. Prior to A-Levels, I’d originally spent most of my time training as a classical pianist and violinist, and I’d been homeschooled for around 10 years. I hadn’t really emphasised much on academics till after the pandemic, when I decided to make the leap from pursuing a musical career to full-time studying.

Up until that time, I had mostly undertaken self-paced learning, alongside reading and creative writing in my free time.  King’s InterHigh aided me greatly in transitioning from music to academics as my main focus. This was a huge life move for me, but one which I felt I had to make. Overall, the school gave me the chance to start anew in my personal journey, something which I remain deeply grateful for.

Back then, I faced various challenges when trying to re-enter mainstream schooling. Fortunately, though, opting for online schooling (especially at King’s InterHigh) ended up giving me better standards of education than I could have obtained locally. Also, because I chose humanities subjects for the A-Levels, studying at local private schools or colleges could have been tricky. There is a considerable shortage of teachers for A-Level humanities subjects in Malaysia, which might have impacted my education if I’d studied at a physical school or college here.

The flexible nature of online schooling also suited my personal circumstances, helping me to perform my best academically. I had plenty of time to emphasise on independent learning, which I was accustomed to, but with regular classroom interactions and assessments. This really helped me to grow personally and academically! The school environment encouraged me to maintain my individuality, whilst also pushing me to attain thorough knowledge of my chosen subjects.

One thing I found especially useful were the consistent ‘cycle tests’ held with exam-style questions throughout each school year. As these were low-stakes and students got to know the topics that would be assessed in advance, they weren’t too pressurising. Instead, they acted as a stepping-stone for encouraging regular studying, as well as practising questions under timed conditions similar to those in the exams. This helped me to manage my anxiety and stress during the actual AS and A-Level exams, as I had gained prior experience in doing so during cycle testing.

Also, I really loved the fact that King’s InterHigh regularly taught (and reminded) students of good study habits, such as active recall and spaced learning. In addition, I also learnt about the Cornell note-taking method during my time there, which has worked so well that I plan to continue using it at university!

Overall, this was something I hadn’t encountered in my previous online school, and it really made a tremendous difference when it came to revising for the final exams. I emerged from each school year at King’s InterHigh with more confidence  in studying effectively, thanks to the comprehensive guidance I was given.

Yes, I have a favourite memory of my time there! It’s a brief one, but it still makes me smile. It happened during my Year 13 Law Explore class, when a classmate gave me a double thumbs-up on camera. Honestly, it was a really sweet and spontaneous gesture that caught me by surprise. My classmate did that to encourage me on an answer I’d shared in the classroom chat, for a tort law scenario. I was slightly tired as it was late in my time zone, but seeing that really made my day! It was an invaluable reminder that even in an online school, genuine kindness and connection between peers is possible.

 Besides that, however, another highlight of my time at King’s InterHigh would probably be AS and A-Level Law classes! Law ended up becoming my favourite subject, and I wouldn’t even have had the chance to study it for the A-Levels, if not for the school’s extensive subject choices. My teachers were all incredibly passionate and knowledgeable, and they made every class so fun for us! I’m pretty sure most of my former classmates would agree; many of them ended up enjoying Law greatly too. We were also actively encouraged to express our own views, without fear of being judged or making mistakes.

I’m currently on a gap year, but I believe that one skill I gained at King’ InterHigh will be incredibly useful: digital literacy. Thanks to my time here, I’m now familiar with most aspects of essential tools for university studies and professional work. In addition, I learnt to collaborate effectively with teachers and classmates on online platforms. With hybrid work being on the rise in higher education and professional settings, these experiences will definitely serve me well! The constant lessons on online safety in assemblies and Reflect classes were invaluable too: I can’t emphasise enough how much they have protected me in online spaces.

 Also, the opportunity I had at King’s InterHigh to interact with international peers was incredibly enlightening. I wouldn’t have been able to partake in this if I’d attended a physical school, or even a smaller online school for that matter. I learnt so much about different cultures from classmates in the process, which greatly expanded my worldview. In the long term, I can definitely see this preparing me for future relationships at university and work, where individuals often come from diverse backgrounds.

Currently, I’m applying to major in either Law or Journalism at university. I’ll have to see which offers I’ll get, and then make a decision! In the meantime, I’m also searching for part-time jobs and internships to gain work experience. I should be at university by September this year.

Firstly, of course enjoy your time at the school, and do your best in your studies! I met the most incredible peers and teachers here, and I still miss it all greatly. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for help, whether academically or personally. The teachers and staff at King’s InterHigh are incredibly kind, and they are more than willing to support you, as I experienced myself here!

Beyond that, don’t be afraid to remain true to yourself and to pursue your dreams, no matter how impossible or daunting it may seem. Although school and exams are important, they aren’t the final measure of success. What matters in the long run is your personal character, and how you view life. Did you find the strength to keep going, even when things were tough? Or even something simpler, like being there for someone when they needed it? These are just some examples; basically, I’d say that the little things matter in making a person who they are, often more than we think. We all hold so many dreams in our hearts, and every individual has their own hopes and aspirations. Recognising that we are all unique, and acknowledging it to ourselves, will help us live fuller lives than making comparisons or generalisations.  

Also, remember that when things don’t go to plan, there are always other (and better!) paths out there. Persistence is important - I’m not saying you should give up easily on goals, but recognising what doesn’t align with your personal values or development is equally crucial. Learning to fail and try again, and to walk away from unhealthy situations that don’t serve you, is part of the key to success. Without knowing what works for you and what doesn’t, and developing resilience, it might be harder to achieve this. Look at the bigger picture, whilst recognising that success looks different for everyone, and keep believing in yourself!