Graduate Profile
Preparing for the World immensely important that Keystone is vocal on
Two years ago, when her father sat her down again shows me that there are individuals, even small
to announce the family’s plan to move to Beijing, children who are rising up and taking action,
this issue. Getting to be a part of that, as a Kenyan,
“fear did not flood my veins,” she recounted. Sasha
saw the move as an opportunity to expand her
which is more than can be said for most adults or
people in power.”
horizon. “I had learned much from Singapore, but
my exploration did not end there. In China, more Joining the Girl’s LEAD (Leadership, Empow-
stories waited to be uncovered.” erment and Diversity) Club as part of her IB DP
A student with an appetite for learning, Sasha’s issues have also helped her find her voice. Stu-
interests are wide ranging from science, math and dent activism was not encouraged in her previous
humanities to theater arts, volleyball and service school, but coming here and meeting people who
learning. Since joining Keystone as a junior in 2016, are also passionate about creating meaningful dia-
she has enjoyed the rich opportunities for growth logue surrounding gender parity, for example,
CAS project and actively engaging with women’s
offered through Keystone’s signature curricu- has sparked her interest to speak up about cer-
lum spanning international, Chinese and American tain issues close to her heart. “Since Girl’s LEAD is
traditions. “I think that this excitement and about equal rights and leadership, I have gotten to
eagerness to participate in and work around units work alongside other wonderful women and girl
and with people both like-minded and of different leaders in planning for events celebrating Inter-
views is something that carries well into the wider national Women’s Day and the annual Women’s
world,” she reflected. March,” she explained.
Sasha credits her steep personal growth at
“An aspect of school life worth mentioning about
Keystone to her active involvement in curricu- Sasha is her commitment to clubs and service. As
lar, extra-curricular and residential activities the sponsor for our Girls LEAD Club on campus, I
both inside and beyond the school gates. “Grades have direct insight into Sasha’s leadership ability
11 and 12 have taught me a lot about myself and and commitment. She has been a co-leader of this
managing myself. These self-awareness and man- group for two years, helping organize flash mobs,
agement skills are especially important when rallies, fundraisers, and salons. Most recently,
living alone in a foreign country or away from she helped raise awareness around the interna-
home,” she offered. “Being here also has culti- tional event, 16 Days of Activism, which focuses on
vated a spirit of leadership in me.” ending gender-based violence around the world.
Additionally, she has helped me organize our very
Particularly the opportunities for leadership and own Woman’s March for the second year in a row,
student participation in addressing global issues the only one registered here in China,” added
stand out to her as key preparations for life come English Teacher Angie Bergeson.
graduation this May. “As an African that comes
from a country that actually has endangered ele- Sasha also highlights her unique theater expe-
phants and rhinos, it’s especially interesting to see rience as a hallmar k opportunity for leadership
Keystone’s efforts to tackle such an issue,” said development at Keystone, having held the com-
Sasha, referring to Keystone’s yearly Global March bined roles of director, performer, creator, and
for Rhinos and Elephants. “As China is the larg- designer in one play. “Co-directing Waiting For
est market for ivory and rhino horns, I think it’s Philip Glass by Wendy Wasserstein was an immense
The Keystone Magazine 30