Boston Bound
Story appeared in the 2020 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.
BY HAYLEY PICARD, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
ALUMNI SUSANNA CAI (‘20) & RAINIA ZHANG (‘20)
“You have to be positive all the time and you will find it hard. Just keep in mind how much you want to study in the US and you will get there.”
Two of the strongest skills that a boarding school can assist young people in building are independence and courage. For QMS graduates Susanna Cai (‘20) and Rainia Zhang (‘20), acquiring these strengths through their time at QMS certainly aided them in actualizing their own paths, both aimed directly at “Beantown,” aka Boston, MA, USA.
Susanna shares that, prior to her arrival at QMS, she had no idea that music would become her post-secondary subject focus. She was not even sure she wanted to attend university, yet through immersing herself in the School’s music program, she realized that singing was her passion. By participating in everything from concert choir to rock band and private piano lessons, Susanna was hooked.
When she learned about a music summer camp hosted by Berklee College of Music in Boston, Susanna enrolled. “During the summer camp, I discovered the different genres of music I most enjoyed and met wonderful friends while I was there,” she smiles. “So, I auditioned for entrance into the school’s Vocal Program for 2020 and I was accepted. I even earned a scholarship!”
For Susanna’s classmate and fellow QMS boarder, Rainia, Boston’s lure came through her desire to study communications and marketing. “I have always wanted to study in the USA,” she explains. “Originally I had considered film production, but found the program outlines to be too technical for what I wanted, but, I really like communications and writing. At the beginning of Grade 12, I discovered that Boston University’s communications program was listed as one of the top in North America. It is a big city and that excited me.”
Zhang’s path to Boston U would not be a smooth one though, as a strong SAT score was required for entry. Rainia studied hard and wrote the exam four times, earning her highest mark on her final attempt. “It almost made me want to give up,” she admits. Her advice for future QMS grads who want to head south to study in America? “You have to be positive all the time and you will find it hard. Just keep in mind how much you want to study in the US and you will get there.”
Even though a COVID-19 global pandemic is impacting the girls’ smooth transition to Boston, they both remain positive about experiencing a full in-person launch of their studies in the Cradle of Liberty. These classmates intend to stay close friends as their college campuses are in close proximity to each other and the energetic restaurant atmosphere will keep them entertained.
When asked what tip they would share with future grads, these Boston bound alumni agree with each other—that with a little courage and focus, “you can do whatever you want!”