"Spending long stretches with adults can feel draining; I simply prefer my own company," Gloria says, entirely at ease with who she is. Then, having just described herself as a loner, she adds that she is "good at communicating." Conventional wisdom tends to equate good communication with outgoing eloquence, but Gloria's time at school proved otherwise. In her own way, she mastered a different kind of connection, one rooted in deep, empathetic listening.

Encouraged by the school's emphasis on pupil-led exploration, Gloria and her peers set up a co-curricular programme for younger children. From designing the curriculum to refining each lesson, this first taste of teaching opened a window onto a smaller, gentler world.

"Talking with younger children doesn't drain my battery at all. To them, a playground falling-out or a creative block can feel like the end of the world, but from where I stand, these things are easily managed," she reflects. Rather than lecturing, Gloria listens and guides with a calm, reassuring presence. Watching a younger pupil shift their thinking after talking with her brought a pride that ran deeper than any prize.

"It might look as though I'm the one giving all the energy, but that trust and warmth actually recharge me." Through these sessions, Gloria not only discovered a gift for connection; she found a genuine calling. She came to see that listening can matter far more than a flood of words—a realisation that, in the end, led her to pursue a degree in Education at Monash.

Spreading her wings called for an environment that offered both a safety net and a springboard. For Gloria, this was Hiba Academy Nantong's greatest gift: a place that embraced her quietness while offering a gentle nudge when she needed one. At its heart were the close, genuine bonds she shared with her teachers.

This showed first in the school's natural, immersive approach to language. Its bilingual setting turned English from an academic hurdle into a tool she needed—to share ideas and discuss colour in the art classes she loved. Used often and without pressure, English lost its power to intimidate. Safe in the studio, Gloria took her first confident steps in speaking it, a confidence that not only eased her shyness but also laid the foundation for her future studies in literature at Melbourne.

A deeper strength came from being trusted completely. As a pupil who thrived on working things out for herself, she was given room by the school and her teachers to find her identity at her own pace. Whether polishing her personal statement or weighing up university options, her counsellors and teachers stood steadily behind her.

Her bond with her art teacher, Ms Françoise, was one of kindred spirits. Ms Françoise understood her silences, saw the sharp perception beneath her paintings and essays and offered quiet encouragement at every turning point. That steady relationship, in such a secure setting, became a guiding light, gently drawing Gloria out from behind her own walls and from the shelter of the art studio onto a wider stage.

Where many teenagers agonise over making the ‘right’ choice, Gloria has a composure beyond her years.

This quiet self-awareness is what she has drawn from literature and art.

Looking towards the crossroads that will take her to the Southern Hemisphere, she offers a vivid summary of growth and choice: "When you face a decision, different paths simply offer different views; there is no right or wrong. Once you set out, there's no need to keep looking back. Just be present and enjoy the scenery along the way."

Gloria's chapter with us may be drawing to a close, but the story of Hiba Academy Nantong's founding class is only beginning. This midsummer, many more young people like her are taking flight on wings that have grown strong here.

We look forward to seeing where they soar.