2025 Graduate Story | Rory: Be you. Be Bold.
In an era of globalisation, educational choices often define life's pivotal moments. For Rory, born to one British and one Chinese parent, the 9,000-kilometre journey from the UK to Wellington College Hangzhou represented far more than geographical relocation. It became a profound exploration of cultural identity and future aspirations, leading him to an environment where multicultural understanding and creative expression truly flourish.
Showcasing outstanding academic prowess, Rory secured offers from three prestigious and historically renowned universities in the UK in the 2025 application season, including the world-renowned University of Edinburgh, King's College London in the heart of the city and the University of Warwick, celebrated for its innovation and research excellence. The courses Rory was offered include cutting-edge fields such as Computer Science, and diverse disciplines like Software Programming and Design.
Rory does not overwhelm himself with academic competitions. Instead, he channels his remarkable focus into what truly inspires him, dedicating most of his time to his deepest passions. Through frequent and in-depth discussions, Wellington College Hangzhou's university counselling team helped him piece together his interests, gradually uncovering his true aspirations. Together, they wove these passions into a coherent and meaningful growth journey.
Throughout the application process, Rory consistently engaged in timely reflection and strategic adjustments at every stage: rather than blindly chasing prestigious competition awards, he focused on areas he could commit to long-term, emphasising genuine contributions and teamwork, particularly making a deep impact within the school community. All of these ultimately became the key factors that set him apart.
Rory's eventual recognition by his dream university serves as another reminder: what top universities truly value is never a flawless resume, but rather an individual's uniqueness and authentic passion.
For many, a gap year means travel or relaxation, but for Rory, it became a transformative journey of self-discovery.
As the child of a British father and Chinese mother, he had navigated between two cultures since childhood. He is familiar with the rigours of British education and yearns for an environment that reflects his dual identity.
This search led him to Wellington College Hangzhou's distinctive Sino-British model, where East and West converge not simply through mere curriculum combination, but through an intentionally designed learning community where divergent ways of thinking coexist in harmony.
“I was looking for a place that could reflect both sides of who I am, while pushing me to grow in new directions.”
It is the forward-thinking curriculum, global perspective and uniquely inclusive learning environment where East meet West at Wellington College Hangzhou that revealed possibilities far beyond traditional British education, possibilities that Rory had long envisioned.
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in this data-driven era has propelled the flourishing of data science. The University of Edinburgh, with its distinguished reputation in both data science and computer science, has become an ideal university destination for many pupils, including Rory.
While many experienced uncertainties over course selection, Rory had his future focus decided early on. This allowed the university counselling team at Wellington College Hangzhou to provide highly targeted support.
Yet this goal once seemed beyond reach. While computer science spans intricate theories, programming languages and software architecture, Rory's grasp of the field was elementary at the beginning.
Building a foundation is crucial. The first step, which proved transformative for Rory, was mastering programming languages. With guidance from Wellington College Hangzhou's ICT teachers, he quickly developed core programming competency and solidified his professional skills through diverse projects.
Rory believes that authentic computer science education extends beyond textbooks. He was accustomed to a rather structured learning routine by learning theory before applying it - it did work, but he had always felt limited in wielding his creativity but the ICT curriculum at Wellington College Hangzhou overturned this pattern.
“It wasn't just about chasing the right answer, but about experimenting and getting things wrong, as well as figuring out why you got it wrong.”
The ICT courses emphasise computational thinking and real-world problem solving, enabling him to freely explore projects ranging from basic programming challenges to complex system designs - each exercise further liberating his creative thinking.
What impressed him even more was the transformation of the teachers' roles. Teachers transformed from conventional knowledge transmitters into true mentors, fostering pupils' deep thinking through independent inquiry.
"They don't just tell me what to do but raise questions that inspire me to reflect on the logic behind every decision."
This shift from remembering facts to expressing oneself makes learning both dynamic and purposeful.
Ronald Harry Coase, a Nobel laureate in economics, once said, “If you torture the data long enough, it will confess to everything.”
Unlike other pupils strong in science, Rory doesn't just solve problems; his understanding of computer science has risen to a philosophical level.
In an era of rapid technological development, where innovation often succumbs to 'technology for technology's sake.' Rory is keenly aware of this: "The question of who can benefit from my creation remains my fundamental priority."
He understands that any technology innovation, no matter how impressive, loses its value if it fails to serve its users properly or even adds to their confusion. This conviction drives him to invest significant time gathering feedback before writing a single line of code, ensuring he never works in isolation.
Yet caution is never equal to conservatism. Once a project's foundation is solidified, Rory boldly uses cutting-edge technologies for groundbreaking attempts. "It'd be a great pity to miss the chance to push boundaries," he reflects. He embraces experimentation's inherent risks, viewing failure not as a setback but as a vital part of growth.
Rory in the Changemakers' Trip in Thailand
If Rory were to code a metaphor for his Wellington journey, he would choose a recursive algorithm, a programming method that solves problems by calling itself repeatedly. Every stage of his time at Wellington has been like a function calling itself: reviewing what has been learned and then committing himself to more complex situations.
Like recursive computations, temporary chaos occasionally emerges, yet Rory recognises this as an essential stage of growth.
“The key is to persevere until you achieve your goal.”
For him, the pursuit of excellence is rooted in an insatiable drive. "Always iterate and reflect, and surpass your previous limits with each cycle." This mindset allows him to break free from limitations, gain a comprehensive view, and transform seemingly vague goals into tangible achievements.
Rory in the Changemakers' Trip in Thailand
For Rory, Wellington College Hangzhou is more than just a place to learn; it is a platform for self-redefinition and future exploration. Here, he has found the balance between technological advancement and humanistic values, learning to maintain clarity in innovation and to persist through iterative challenges.
When it comes to the future, Rory is eager to establish a pupil-led programming club, which will focus on teaching the most sought-after programming languages. For younger pupils, this initiative will serve as both an entry point into coding and a springboard for deeper computer science exploration.
Rory hopes to use this platform to unreservedly share his knowledge and experiences with younger pupils. He firmly believes that if even one pupil can genuinely exclaim upon graduation, "I never thought I could do this, but look what I've accomplished," then every effort will have been worthwhile.
The renowned British author Geoff Dyer once said that all our pursuits are ultimately pursuits of self. Rory is boldly pursuing himself - the self that he cherishes, steadfastly believes in, and knows can illuminate the world.
With graduation approaching, Rory faces the future with eager anticipation. Whether delving deeper into computer science or venturing into tech entrepreneurship, he will carry forward Wellington's distinctive way of thinking and cross-cultural perspective, ready to code his journey on a grander stage.
As he says, "This is not the end, but the next call of the recursive function, deeper, broader and full of possibilities."
To Rory from his ICT teacher
Firstly, I must say that it was an absolute delight teaching Rory. Rory is focused and committed to excellence in the area of Computer Science. He did every assigned piece of work with diligence and high quality.
Secondly, Rory demonstrated passion for programming. He programmed solutions to real-world problems simply because he loved it. For example, Rory designed and developed a game that someone offered to purchase from him for a minimal cost. The game was worth more than the offer, but Rory happily sold it because he found more satisfaction in the output of his programming efforts than the money he received for the finished product. I wish him well in his future endeavours.
Diane Anthony
Head of ICT
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