The renowned British mountaineer Chris Bonington once said: “I look at climbing not so much as standing on the top as seeing the other side. There are always other horizons in front of you, other horizons to go beyond and that's what I like about climbing.”
After years of climbing their personal summits, Wellington College Hangzhou's Class of 2025 has triumphantly completed their Sixth Form journey and celebrated their graduation last week. Now, they stand ready to embark on their long-awaited university adventures.
At this moment, they have reached the peak of this chapter of life. Before them lies an expansive horizon, bathed in the golden glow of dawn, a new beginning that leads them toward the wider world.
Graduation Parade
Clad in their academic gowns, the graduates walked proudly along the familiar Wellington Avenue, stepping into a moment of honour and achievement. The entire school community lined the path, cheering them onward with heartfelt enthusiasm, marking this beautiful milestone in their journey toward bright and boundless futures.
The ceremony embodied Wellington's values of kindness, responsibility, respect, courage and integrity, while carrying forward timeless blessings of love and happiness.
Graduation Ceremony
As they prepare for the journey ahead, Ms Joy Qiao, Founder and Chairman of Wellington College China, expressed unwavering confidence in them:
When looking at your achievements, the news headlines and external attention will be mostly focused on your university destinations. These are indeed very impressive. An amazing 77% of you received offers from world's top 20 universities. This is the highest percentage for Wellington College China, anywhere in the group. However, I know all of us in Wellington Hangzhou community who know the pupils as individuals, we see past the rankings and scores because we're even more proud of your growth as a person. All that remains to be said now is congratulations again, go out to the world and make history.
—— Ms Joy Qiao
Founder and Chairman of Wellington College China
Destiny has woven our paths together, guiding us through mountains and rivers on this shared journey. As the graduation ceremony unfolded, Wellington College Hangzhou celebrated another milestone—its inaugural Old Wellingtonian Day. Seven members of the Class of 2024 returned to their alma mater, standing alongside the teachers, pupils and parents to honour this significant moment. Among them, Hanni Huang, representing the alumni, delivered heartfelt blessings to the Class of 2025.
It's a true honour to be standing here today, just one year after I sat where you are now—full of mixed feelings, caught between the joy of finishing high school and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
I still remember this time last year: my friends and I were taking our graduate photos, writing messages in each other’s yearbooks, and nervously checking emails for university decisions every hour like it was a full-time job. Like many of you, I was excited, but also uncertain. What would college really be like? Would I find my place in a new environment? Would I make new friends? And now, looking back, it's completely normal to feel unsure. What matters is that those feelings often lead you to the biggest growth.
My time at Wellington shaped who I am today in more ways than I realised back then. It was here that I first learned how to think critically—not just accept what’s given, but ask "why?" It was here that I learned how different subjects connect, and how to explore new knowledge on my own. Wellington gave me more than just lessons in the classroom. It gave me the confidence to stand on stage and speak, the opportunity to serve as Music Ambassador and Head of College, and the chance to grow through team projects and leadership roles.
I'm especially grateful for the diverse and international community we had at Wellington. Through study tours and conversations with friends and teachers from diverse backgrounds, I developed not just a sense of global awareness, but also a deeper sense of responsibility. In a world with so many challenges, we, Wellington graduates, have the mindset and the heart to contribute meaningfully.
Congratulations, Class of 2025. The world is waiting for you. Go make it better.
—— Hanni Huang
Old Wellingtonian, Class of 2024
Then, Wellington College Hangzhou's Master Ms Kathryn Richardson and Principal Ms Ivey Wang presented the graduation certificates to the Class of 2025.
Mr Darren Mumford, Head of Senior Schools, took to the stage to deliver a speech, extending his sincere congratulations to the graduates.
The graduates have completed their transformative journey to adulthood at Wellington College Hangzhou. These rewarding years of growth were made possible through the nurturing guidance of the Hiba and Wellington communities. As they embark on life's next chapter with great confidence, they carry with them not only enduring friendships but also the values instilled by this community.
Three years ago, I walked into this school just hoping to survive exams. Today, as I stand here as your Head of College, I realise this place didn't just teach me how to solve equations—it taught me how to belong.
I used to think leadership meant being heard. But here, I learned it's about listening—especially to the quietest voices. One question changed everything for me. During a head of college meeting, a teacher asked me, “What will your legacy be in this school?” Not my grades, not my title—my legacy. That question pushed me to organise charity drives, TEDx events, and realise school isn't just about learning—it's about creating something meaningful. And this community? You always said "yes" when we dared to try. For that, I'm so grateful.
But before we talk about the future, I would like to talk about the past 18 years. Only when we enter new chapters of our lives on our own do we reflect on the efforts of our parents. Every parent in this auditorium today is the real hero behind these caps and gowns. To all of you: we know about your silent sacrifices. The dreams you put aside. The way you swallowed your own fears so we could chase our biggest ones. You were our first teachers and our biggest cheerleaders, so I know I speak for all of us on this stage when I say: Thank you.
But let's be real—this journey wasn't just about triumphs. I will never forget the day I received one of my exam results – the trembling hands, the sinking feeling that the future I had dreamed of was slipping away. But my teachers saw what I couldn't, they never gave up on me. Not with grand speeches, but in their quiet, persistent way. 'Let's look at where you went wrong,', 'I've seen your work all year - this one exam doesn't define you.' Simple words, but they carried weight because they came from people who truly knew my capabilities. What helped most wasn't empty reassurance, but their concrete actions: staying after class to walk through problems, pointing out where I'd improved, and most importantly, never letting me confuse a single setback with my true potential. Their steady belief became the scaffolding I needed to rebuild my confidence.
Now, to our fellow graduates. Since being at Wellington, one of the phrases that every one of my teachers has said to me is “Quality over Quantity”. Although this phrase can be applied to academics, I believe it can also be applied to our class. We may lack in numbers, but the depth of the bonds we have created are immeasurable. From opening exam results together to all kinds of celebrations in the Sixth Form Centre, the memories we have made as a group have far exceeded what anyone could expect from such a small class. We proved that real connection isn't about how many people you know, but how deeply you know them. At the end of the day, it's not about the number of people who remember you, but how they remember you, and I know our class will be remembered for the care, support, and spirit we showed one another.
As we leave today, I won't just miss the textbooks or the tests. I'll miss the chaos of orchestra rehearsals, the smell of burnt chemicals in lab experiments, and all the fun time we had during the lessons. Most of all, I'll miss the people who made this feel like home.
So, Class of 2025, let's remember this: Today is not an ending, but a new beginning, and no matter where life takes you, never forget the people, the lessons, and the spirit that has brought you here today.
—— Alina and Rebecca
Representatives of the Class of 2025
At the graduation ceremony, there were thought-provoking speeches as well as splendid performances. The KDWAT band electrified the audience with their rousing performance of Fight Song. A musical highlight followed as graduate Rebecca joined Mr Choonmon Lee, Head of Music, in a mesmerising interpretation of the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana with piano and violin, showcasing their remarkable artistic expression and adding brilliance to the ceremony. Then, the cohort of Class of 2025 joined in singing Long Live, etching the memory of their youth in song.
As the formal ceremony concluded, guests flowed onto the sun-drenched lawn to continue this grand celebration. Bathed in the gentle June breeze, graduates, parents and staff mingled freely, sharing treasured memories of their Wellington journey. Laughter echoed across the grounds as this glorious chapter, marked by both achievement and heartfelt connections, drew to its perfect close.
Turning back the pages of time, we've created a dialogue between past and present. To honour the Class of 2025 and immortalise their vibrant youth, we've crafted a special commemorative film for them.
Before the graduation ceremony, the graduates had already completed a special ritual: they wrote letters to their younger selves who had first stepped onto Wellington's campus, letters that travelled through time. In front of the camera, they read out the innocent uncertainties of their past and the determination and transformation of today.
This cinematic tribute stands as our gift to the Class of 2025, a timeless capsule preserving the essence of their youth. While years may fade, these moving images will endure. May this profound reflection on their transformation serve as a guiding light as they embark on their next adventure.
The Class of 2025 at Wellington College Hangzhou has taken root and grown here since their teenage years, some even from childhood. We take great pride in witnessing their transformation into independent individuals in the truest sense.
May they always carry this precious growth with them:
the higher wisdom of independent thinking, the broad-mindedness of an artist, the composure to remain free-spirited in a constrained world, the courage to break new ground despite challenges, reverence and humility toward all things, a poetic outlook on life, empathy for life's diverse experiences, the perseverance honed through sports, an open and globally-minded perspective and a deep sense of responsibility for our world.
May they forever maintain a childlike curiosity, fearlessly explore new frontiers, continually expand their horizons and embrace life's boundless possibilities with full hearts in the wider world that awaits.