Twelve year old Frances Chui from Yew Chung International School of Shanghai is truly a star student. Her enthusiasm and dedication to school has resulted in an impressive range of A grades in almost every subject, but science is where she really excels. She recently scored a mark of 98 on her science test, but modestly brushes off any praise, insisting “I just love to do research and experiments in class.”

The young achiever is originally from Hong Kong and arrived in Shanghai six years ago with her parents and younger brother. Though secondary school greeted her with a pile of homework and studying hours, Chui thrives in the change. Her thirst for knowledge and inquisitive nature are what make her stand head and shoulders above her peers. “If I become really interested in a subject, I start to look things up in books and read a lot about it,” she says. “It makes studying fun.”

Not only does Chui succeed academically, her outgoing attitude and caring personality led teachers to unanimously nominate her for YCIS Shanghai’s Citizenship Award. She was awarded the well-earned prize in March for showing compassion and generosity in the way she treats classmates and teachers, as well as in her proactive involvement with charity projects.

Though Chui shies away from listing her accomplishments, she knows how she measures success. “I want to be a caring and loving person – that’s what’s important to me.” 

During her World Classroom trip to Orlando, Florida this year, Chui and her classmates participated in serving the homeless hot meals. She’s also taken to the stage to raise money, finishing first out of 13 participants with her enthusiastic performance of the popular hit “Pyramid” during a fundraising project to help out Pakistani flood victims last September.

While she has talent to spare, Chui doesn’t think performing is on the cards for her. “I can’t handle the pressure of being a singer,” she says. What lies ahead after graduation is undetermined, but she believes she’s destined to continue helping people and is currently leaning toward becoming a veterinarian because “vets save animals, and animals bring so much joy to people’s lives.”