Principal Weekly Update 13 | Choices Shape Us

Hello everyone,

This week, I’d like to talk about something that affects all of us, every day—the power of choice.

There’s a famous poem by Robert Frost called The Road Not Taken. In it, the speaker finds himself at a fork in the road, trying to decide which path to follow. It’s a simple image, but a powerful metaphor for life—we are constantly faced with decisions, and each one can lead us in a different direction.

At school, our students make choices every day:

· Will I be kind when someone needs help?

· Will I stay focused or get distracted?

· Will I try something new, even if it feels hard?

These small, everyday choices don’t just affect one moment—they shape the kind of person each child is becoming.

As parents, you know this better than anyone. The choices you make—to listen, to encourage, to stay patient—help your children feel safe, supported, and confident. They also learn from the example you set.

At Concordia International School Ningbo, we want children to understand that they have agency. In the IB, this means giving them the chance to make decisions, reflect on them, and grow from them. That’s how they become principled, reflective, and courageous learners.

We should all be inspired by the message in Nezha’s words:
“I am the master of my own fate.”（我命由我不由天）
It’s a powerful reminder that when we take responsibility for our choices, we gain the power to shape our own path. We are not just passengers in life—we are in the driver’s seat.

See you next week!