Lily Lu: Always Tackle the Challenges

Lily Lu, from Dulwich International High School Suzhou Class of 2016, is now a PhD candidate in Management at Stockholm School of Economics, she has a Master of Management from IE University, and a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) from King’s College London.

Life at Dulwich

Lily studied the three-year programme at Dulwich International High School Suzhou. She recalled that although the pace of learning was relatively fast, the rich extracurricular activities provided her with the opportunity to balance study and life. “My classmates were also hard-working, motivated, proactive, and friendly, and I have made many close friends. Overall, my high school life was fulfilling and happy,” said Lily.

Lily said that some of the extracurricular activities that were most important to her included the Model United Nations (MUN), the World Scholars Cup (WSC), and the Summer School. These activities allowed her to meet new friends from all over the world, learn about different cultures, and improve her communication and social skills. “These competencies are essential in college and career development. During my undergraduate studies, I also participated in the MUN events at King's College London, which allowed me to meet more outstanding peers and improve my abilities on a higher platform.”

At high school, Lily liked the English class the most. The English teacher's teaching methods were inspiring, and the teaching materials were interesting to her. The study of English courses also helped her hone her English language skills, which played a vital role in overcoming the academic challenges at university. Also, Lily enjoyed her Maths classes, even though she didn’t particularly like the subject.

Challenges at University

Lily told us that her university life was relatively smooth; she encountered some academic challenges only when she was a freshman. “Because I majored in PPE, I must do a lot of reading every week. When I first entered the university, I could not keep up with the intensive reading tasks, especially the academic materials in philosophy, which were difficult to understand. My reading speed was slow. My method was simple: to read more and keep reading every day, and soon I overcame the challenge,” said Lily.

Career Paths

Lily chose to study PPE (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics) because of her experiences with the MUN. She participated in the MUN club activities in school and conferences outside for three years in high school, which opened her mind and enriched her knowledge base. While preparing for those conferences, she needed to study popular social issues, read about economics and politics, and discuss her views with others. “These experiences gave me a strong interest in politics, economics, and philosophy and laid the academic foundation for my university application.”

As a graduate student, Lily went to Spain to study management, during which she went to Sciences Po in exchange for half a year. She is currently studying for a Ph.D. at the Stockholm School of Economics, researching marketing, management strategies, and consumer behaviour. She chose this research direction because she has always been interested in psychology, but she has not studied it systematically. Combining her undergraduate and graduate professional orientations and interests, Lily believes that this topic fits her perfectly. During her postgraduate studies, she applied for several doctoral programmes. Considering factors such as the programme content, course structure, the academic reputation of the university, and career development opportunities, she chose to come to Sweden for further study. “As English is one of the main languages spoken in Sweden, not knowing the local language is no obstacle to living and learning for me.”

Self Portrait

Lily likes making plans. “Although I didn't work very hard at each study stage, I still did well. The secret lies in my preparation in advance. Whether in high school or at university, I always carefully checked the information, explored and developed my interests early, accumulated professional knowledge step by step, and gradually improved my comprehensive ability. In the process of university applications, I did all the work myself.” Under the premise of proper planning and sufficient information, Lily could always tackle the challenges and get a pass to the next level. She chose her career and calmly dealt with difficulties and challenges. In addition, she is also very independent and has strong adaptability. She can adapt to it quickly when moving to a new environment and living alone is never a bother.

“To cultivate my abilities, I would like to thank my parents, who have given me freedom, support, and tolerance. They bravely let me go to try and experience it, which helped me grow into a better person.”

Future Plans

Lily will complete her PhD studies by 2025 and plans to work in Sweden as a research fellow.

Lily's Advice

“There are many factors in choosing a school, so do not just consider rankings. After all, many ranking systems refer to elements that do not impact an individual student’s development. What you will study and how you will live your three or four years are more critical. I strongly recommend that you choose a major that interests you and suits your abilities because it will motivate you to engage and enjoy, which will also help improve you holistically.”