Charting a path from Perak’s serene landscapes to Harvard’s hallowed halls, Shu Xin’s tale is one of ambition, resilience, and inspiration. Unravel her transformative journey at KYUEM to the Harvard corridors.
Harvard University is a home to an array of illustrious alumni, from Nobel prize winners to world leaders. Generally, only three out of every 100 applicants are accepted into Harvard, cementing its reputation as one of the hardest universities to get into in the world.
Among them was Ho Shu Xin. This is her compelling journey from Perak to the gates of Harvard.
Raised in Ipoh, Perak, Shu Xin’s educational journey began at SMJK Ave Maria Convent. It was tales of fellow Malaysians, securing spots in Ivy League institutions and top universities in the United Kingdom, that fuelled her ambitions.
She reflected, “I really started wanting to apply overseas when I saw the news of Malaysian students getting into schools like Harvard, Yale, or even those in the UK like Cambridge and Oxford” and that was the goal that kickstarted her journey.
Finding your passion
When asked about her advice to attain such success, she credits having a balance of good academic results as well as having a passion that goes beyond classes.
“I think the biggest challenge is definitely soul searching and trying to find out who I really am and what I wanted to showcase to this university,” she remarks.
It was through community service experiences at SMJK Ave Maria Convent where she started to realise her true passion and calling. While volunteering, she saw the disparities in society and the monumental impact of education. Other than that, she also shared how her SPM experience led her to her passion for volunteering and equal education.
“I was from the SPM 2020 batch where our SPM was delayed two or three times, and that was when I realised how education has a significant impact on people. For example, it was taking a toll on people’s mental health, and some students couldn’t continue their studies.”
Being involved with community groups added to her understanding and further fuelled her passion for community work. While acting as President of the Leo Club that conduct various project designed to help the community. “With the Leo Club, we did lots of community work, like visiting elderly people and children in care,” she recalled.
Under her leadership, she was able to lead the club completing 40 school and community service projects & four fundraising projects. In turn this led them to win Regional Outstanding Club Award for community service.
Her passion did not stop there, soon she began getting more involved in volunteering by joining Teach for Malaysia as an intern. There she started learning more about the world of social impact and how to rally support from various stakeholders such as sponsors, government and the education community.
With her outstanding SPM results and active involvement in volunteering and community service, Shu Xin received a scholarship from Yayasan Khazanah, which paved the way for her ambitions. She then embarked on a new journey at Kolej Yayasan UEM (KYUEM) in Malaysia.
KYUEM: a launchpad to Harvard.
Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of Malaysia, KYUEM serves as a cradle of brilliance, shaping young minds into future leaders. For Shu Xin, it wasn’t just an institution; it was a transformative experience that laid the foundation for her journey to Harvard.
At KYUEM, Shu Xin was surrounded by peers from all over Malaysia, each bringing their unique backgrounds and stories. The atmosphere was buzzing with multiple ideas, different passions, and interests. Students do not just study together; they learn from one another, sparking ideas, and supporting each other.
Students would often gather in common areas, engaging in debates, sharing their dreams, or simply bonding over their varied interests. For Shu Xin, these interactions were invaluable. They expanded her horizons, introducing her to many perspectives and inspiring her to dream bigger.
“I think it’s this diversity (at KYUEM) that inspires me by different people every day.”
The teachers were not just there to teach; they were mentors, guiding and pushing her to do her best. She recalls one of the most fundamental things that helped was in the way the teachers at KYUEM supported her, “they also supported me mentally and helped me throughout the application journey.”
Other than the supportive teachers, one of the biggest things at KYUEM was preparing for university. The school is known for getting students into top global universities, so the application process was intense.
When asked about her application she commented, “I wrote five different drafts for my personal statement. And all of them were about different stories and different phases in my life. And I think it’s really when I talk to the university department here (at KYUEM) and let them read my essays and some of their questions they asked me, ‘why did you take this action? ‘I think it’s really those questions that made me reflect on myself and to think,” which guided her to write a successful application essay that highlighted not just her grades but who she was as a person.
Xin receiving her graduation certificate from Richard Sm
Having your heart in the community
While studying in KYUEM, Shu Xin did not sit idle, staying true to her brand and passion for the community she took part in the Dewan Muda Malaysia, a two-year programme by the Ministry of Education, representing the district of Pasir Salak.
Here, she contributed to research on post-pandemic school re-openings and sex education policies. She also offered recommendations for the country’s education under Parlimen Digital.
Within the programme she was also tasked to create an outreach of her own, and this was where she truly found her voice. Using her experience and knowledge she founded a small organisation with 15 volunteers and created Project 30,000 Hours. This initiative aimed to tackle post-pandemic learning challenges by enhancing students’ self-leadership.
They provided online workshops on various topics, including SPM pathways and time management. They also managed to raise funds to support underprivileged students with electronic devices. Under her leadership they had also arranged a physical outreach to her high school SMJK Ave Maria Convent to teach student communication and leadership skills. To Shu Xin, creating this programme was her way to give back to her community.
Shu Xin involvements did not just stop there, she was one out of the 45 selected young leaders to partake in the Young Leader Program created by UNICEF. She delivered a speech at the National Conference on Mental Health & Wellbeing organised by the National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing as well as being able to present a budget recommendation for National Budget 2023 to Ministry of Finance, focusing on improving education in Malaysia.
Reflecting upon her time at KYUEM and her involvement in the UNICEF programme and many others, Shu Xin often emphasises its pivotal role in shaping her worldview. The challenges she faced, the friendships she forged, and the lessons she imbibed during those formative years were instrumental in moulding her into the confident, compassionate, and driven individual she became. She also notes that KYUEM was more than a stepping stone to Harvard; it was where the seeds of her dreams were nurtured and allowed to flourish.
Embracing the unexpected
In 2023, Shu Xin became one of just three Malaysians to secure a spot at Harvard. She recalls that it was not something she expected. Earlier, she had been rejected by her dream school, Yale, so she had little hope of ever making it into Harvard.
So, when she opened her email that day, she was already bracing for a rejection. Instead, she received an incredible acceptance. Now she is amongst the students pursuing psychology and economics at Harvard.
When asked about her advice to those aspiring to be like her, she shared, “Have a target that you really want to achieve because that’s what motivates you intrinsically every day. Every day when you wake up, you think about your target or your dream. That’s what drives you to pursue it.”
Shu Xin’s story and love for the community around her exemplify the attitude of true volunteerism; she embodies the true essence of what it means to be humane. It is likely this strong passion for the world around her that led to her selection into the Harvard community, where they recognise her as the remarkable person she truly is. As Gandhi put it, ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’
