Prior to joining SOTA, I took art lessons and enjoyed drawing, making my personal comics and artworks as well as a hobby. Hearing about how SOTA was an arts school, I was excited knowing that there was an environment that offered young individuals an education that involved the arts. It seemed like a valuable opportunity for me to further this passion and practise more of my hobby.

My parents also appreciated that SOTA did not provide an arts-only education, rather one that is holistic, allowing students to further both academics and their art forms. I was thus ensured that by joining the school, I was not going to neglect my academics, and this made me more secure and comfortable with my decision to apply.

I've always enjoyed the processes of drawing, rendering and using my own effort and time to create something that I can call my own. From pencil drawing to digital animation, I find the process of exercising my creativity and making a visual piece that viewers get to see very rewarding. In addition, I love the ability to tell stories and narratives through the visual medium and the kind of effect that it can have on viewers - bringing them joy, sadness or even prompting discussion.


Zhu Yi in the SOTA Ceramics Studio (2022)

I decided to specialise in Visual Arts as I wanted to join a community of peers with similar interests. I have been able to interact with many classmates who are just as passionate about the arts as me, and this was one of the best aspects about joining SOTA. The programme also prompts students to reflect on our process through many projects which help us grow and learn as artists. With facilities such as the ceramics studios, drawing and painting studios, sculpture workshops, and printmaking studio, Visual Arts students are given an array of opportunities to explore different mediums, which really appealed to me too.

Lessons in SOTA encourage us to make connections between different fields and areas of study, often incorporating the arts into academic lessons. They are interesting and engaging too, as the teachers continuously look for ways to liven up the classroom through group or creative activities. For example, in Language and Literature, we are encouraged to work in groups on presentations and analyses of different texts. We get the chance to exercise our creativity by creating our own infographic, whilst still staying focused on the academic subject at hand. This livens up school life and makes lessons more enjoyable!


Zhu Yi (back, third from right) at the SOAR Trip to Xi'an, China (2019)

A memorable experience I had was the SOTA Overseas Academic Rediscovery (SOAR) Trip to Xi'an, China in 2019. We visited many different meaningful cultural landmarks such as the Terracotta Army at Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum. We also had an exchange program with Xi'an Liangjiatan International School, where we interacted with many of their students and created mural pieces about current environmental and social issues. Through this trip, I got to experience China's iconic city, Xi'an, and learnt so much about their history and culture, broadening my perspective and deepening my understanding of other regions. I was also able to know my peers and teachers better, strengthening our friendships in the process.

The SOTA journey has been a challenging but rewarding one. I was more reserved and withdrawn during my lower years, finding it difficult to communicate my ideas or take on leadership positions. During class discussions or group settings, I would usually rather take a backseat and follow instructions. While continuing to prioritise communication and compromise, I can say that I have grown a lot as an individual and found confidence in my own peer leadership skills. I have since taken on more active roles including the Green Representative for my classes' Class Management Committee (CMC) in 2019 and 2021 and the co-leader of several Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) projects such as Badminton CAS.


Zhu Yi (front, second from right) with the Badminton CAS EXCO Committee (2021)

I plan to pursue a career in the arts in the future, perhaps in the animation industry. I hope that one day, I will be able to produce works that affect or inspire people the same way other animations have done so for me.

To those considering SOTA:
If you are considering applying, don't be afraid to do so! As a primary school student, I had no idea what kind of meaningful experiences I would encounter during my SOTA journey, however they have all allowed me to grow as an individual and artist. If you are passionate about Visual Arts, joining SOTA would be a great opportunity for you to enter a vibrant school community and further your own artistry and passion within the art form.

While SOTA can offer a fun and exciting curriculum, its holistic and multidisciplinary education can be very rigorous and you would need dedication and perseverance to do well. Thus, be prepared for a tough but fruitful journey ahead!

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Students specialising in Visual Arts will acquire knowledge, understanding, and technical abilities in a range of mediums, forms, and expressions. They will be able to create artworks ranging from drawing and painting, to ceramics and sculptures. Through experimentation and imagination, they will learn to harness their artistic impulses for creative outcomes.

Students will gain knowledge and understanding in the formal, theoretical, and historical aspects of visual arts, and expand their analytical and critical abilities in art practice, art theory, and art history. Students will also learn to investigate and document their reflections, interests, ideas, and art-making processes.

Find out more about SOTA at our e-Open House, held online from 9 April to 17 May 2022 HERE.

READ OTHER STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES.❖ Photos provided by Tee Zhu Yi