Congratulations, Class of 2026: The World is Waiting
The gym had been transformed for the occasion. For the last time as students of Dulwich International High School Programme Suzhou, the Class of 2026 came together to mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. There was applause and laughter, flowers and farewells, and beneath it all a quiet sense of anticipation for everything that lies ahead.
Before taking their seats, the graduates participated in one of DHSZ's most meaningful traditions: the Dragon Walk.
Teachers, staff and younger students lined the corridors, applauding as the graduating class made their way through the school one last time. These were the hallways they had walked a thousand times before: to class, to lunch, to the places where friendships quietly formed. Today they led somewhere else entirely.
The Class of 2026 entered the gym to cheers and applause, not merely as students reaching the end of their final year, but as young adults standing at the beginning of everything that follows.
Honouring Excellence, Leadership and Contribution
The ceremony began with opening remarks by Mr Nadir El-Edroos, Deputy Head (Pastoral & Boarding).
The faces were familiar, but something had shifted. These were no longer simply students navigating a curriculum. Over the years they had taken on leadership roles, contributed to school life in ways that extended well beyond the classroom and grown into a cohort with its own distinct character. Academic progress and personal development had not run in parallel; they had shaped each other, quietly and continuously, until the two became difficult to separate.The school also recognised students across several areas of achievement:
🏆 Head of Year Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Class of 2026: Dongmin B
🏆 Principal's Award for Outstanding Contribution to DHSZ: Roey H
🏆 Head's Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement: Jessie R
The awards given that day measured something harder to quantify than grades. They recognised the students who had made the community around them better: those who led quietly, took responsibility without being asked, and left the school a little different from how they found it.
Lessons beyond the Classroom
Speaking of behalf of the teaching staff, Mr Steve Hodgkin reflected on the values that have shaped the Class of 2026 throughout their time at DHSZ. Rather than focusing solely on academic achievement, he encouraged graduates to approach life with optimism, integrity and a willingness to embrace uncertainty.
"As teachers, when we join DHSZ we are reminded that 'students come first' and I truly believe it is this that has made your experience so meaningful. The effort from our entire school community which goes into the DHSZ experience will enable all of you to embody the vision of our school as you enter the wider world. I hope that there is a little bit of Dulwich in your heart!
You are about to begin an exciting journey into the world and it is only natural at this point to start asking some big questions about life.
I don't know the answers. You have to find them for yourself – which is the whole point in living your own life – but I do have 3 simple pieces of advice.
1. There is no such thing as the wrong type of weather – only the wrong type of hat!
2. There are always opportunities, even in the hardest times, but usually for those who are positive-minded optimists. (In this life positive thinkers always win, not because they are right, but because that is way of self-improvement and self-empowerment)
3. As CS Lewis once wrote, education without morality simply makes clever devils – so try to do the right thing. (And when you fail, it's never too late to feel sorry.)"
Steve Hodgkin
Assistant Head – Upper School
Their Words, Their Story
Head Students Charlotte G, Betty J and Kevin S spoke not about results, but about what the years had actually felt like. The friendships that had sustained them. The moments of difficulty that had, in retrospect, shaped them most. The confidence that had arrived gradually, almost without their noticing, until one day it was simply there.
"On Growth: Today is not just an end, but also an exciting beginning of a new chapter in our lives.
On learning: We weren't just striving for university offers. We were learning skills that truly bring life to its fullest bloom.
On Leadership: Dulwich showed us that true leadership isn't about power — it's about service. It isn't about commanding — it's about caring.
On Holistic Education: These weren't simply CCAs — they were the spaces where we found what we're good at, grew our self-belief and truly understood what it means to work as a team.
On resilience: We've faced storms side by side — laughing, lifting each other up and finding joy in every fight. Today, we know who we are: we are people who break our own limits and find happiness in hard work.
On Friendship and Belonging: The friendships we have formed and the lessons we have learned here will stay with us long after we leave this campus.
On the future: The courage, the belief and the friendship we gained at Dulwich will stay with us in every step of the unknown road ahead.
So this isn't goodbye. This is a promise to meet again, somewhere made more beautiful because we're there. And until we meet again — stay kind, stay bold and keep shining."
Charlotte G、Betty J and Kevin S
Head Students
A Compass for the Road Ahead
Parent representative Dr. Dian Zhu offered a thoughtful perspective that combined parental reflection with insights from economics, sharing four pieces of advice that extended far beyond university and career success.
Joining a Global Community: WAN
Graduation marks the end of one chapter, but not the end of belonging. As part of the ceremony, graduates received their Graduation Certificates and International Old Alleynian Pins, formally joining the Worldwise Alumni Network (WAN), connecting them to a global community of alumni across the EiM family of schools.
The message from alumni was simple and consistent: leaving school does not mean leaving the community. The connections formed here do not end at graduation. In many cases, they are only just beginning.
From this point, graduates become part of a global network linked by shared experiences across countries and fields.
"1. Stop Optimising. Start Feeling.
The people who truly change the world are often those with a touch of irrationality. It is precisely this capacity for altruism and empathy that holds society together. Hold on to that 'irrational' kindness and courage. It may not maximise efficiency, but it is the clearest proof of your humanity.
2. Learn how to calculate your own "happiness index."
In the years ahead, you will encounter many labels: elite universities, high salaries, impressive titles. Beyond that threshold, the variables that matter most are often the free ones: Sleeping in on a Sunday morning. Having friends who make you laugh uncontrollably. Feeling sunlight on your face after a difficult week. Pay attention to the emotional climate within your own heart.
3. Be aware of the "sunk cost" fallacy.
Remember this: Never let the past hold your future hostage. Don't keep sailing in the wrong direction simply because you've already traveled far. And don't be afraid to change courses simply because you've invested so much. Knowing when to walk away is not weakness. It is wisdom.
4. Keep a personal balance sheet of your "intangible assets."
On that sheet: Integrity is an asset. The ability to make others feel comfortable is an asset. The trust of your friends is an asset. The books you've read and the thoughts you've wrestled with are assets too. And on the liabilities side: Broken promises are liabilities. Arrogance and careless judgment are liabilities. No one else needs to see this balance sheet. But over time, it will quietly determine the true net worth of your life.
So go fly. Go explore. Go love. And above all, go become yourselves."
Mr Dian Zhu
Parent Representative
Setting Out Towards the Future
As the ceremony drew to a close, applause filled the gym one final time. The Class of 2026 now leaves DHSZ for destinations across the world, carrying with them far more than university offers and examination results.
They leave with friendships that will span continents, lessons that extend beyond textbooks and a deeper understanding of who they are becoming.
Wherever their journeys lead next, they remain connected by a shared experience, a shared community and a shared belief in the possibilities that lie ahead.
Grow in Dulwich, Thrive in Life
Congratulations, Class of 2026. You are more ready than you know.