Yiming Xi

Despite only being 16, Yiming Xi has confidently chosen to aspire to a career as a lawyer. The first step for her has been to improve her English language. So she left her home in Shanghai for secondary studies in New Zealand, a choice based on her belief that New Zealand would provide a good study environment. Enrolling at Chilton International School for Girls in Lower Hutt, part of the Wellington region, Yiming is now completing her first New Zealand qualification, the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 1.

Yiming – known affectionately in New Zealand by her teachers and friends as Ming Ming – has enjoyed the welcome she received from both her homestay family and the other students at Chilton. “I’ve most enjoyed the friendships I’ve made here – I’ve made lots of friends; some are Kiwis and some are international students. The Kiwi girls are all very nice. They help me study and never laughed when I couldn’t speak good English.

However the highlight of my stay so far has been my birthday! My classmates made a cake for me and gave me lots of flowers and birthday cards. My homestay family gave me a very cute Kiwi toy as well.

New Zealand is a very natural country so I enjoy going to the beach with friends and traveling around.”

Succeeding at school with her studies and very much liked by both her teachers and peers, Ming Ming is well on the way to meeting her goals, and hopes to continue with her New Zealand studies into university level. “The New Zealand education system has taught me to do everything by myself. I’m getting good English skills for my future. After Chilton, I want to stay in Wellington and complete my Law degree at Victoria University.”