This blog series aims to offer a glimpse into the student life of our Student Ambassadors. The BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Student Ambassadors play an important role by representing BISV throughout the academic year in many ways. From cherished memories, to conquering challenges, from time management to immersing themselves in clubs and activities.

Meet Ruhi M., Grade 9, class of 2027. Prior to attending BISV, Ruhi attended a public school. Since joining our school in Grade 6, she has been a fantastic member of our school community. This year, she joined the BISV Rock Climbing Club. She says, “Nothing beats the feeling of successfully finishing a hard climb!”

Outside of school, Ruhi enjoys engaging in activities that bring her joy, such as playing competitive table tennis. She feels playing sports teaches her how to not give up even in the prospect of failure. She also loves singing and cats!

What have been some of your most memorable moments or experiences at BISV and why?

One of my most memorable school experiences was performing as a part of the BISV choir. I chose choir as my elective in Grade 8 as I have always enjoyed singing. I got to sing every day alongside the rest of the choir. During my time in choir, not only did I become a much better singer, I made some great friends as well. Over the school year, we worked incredibly hard in preparation for our choir performance. Prior to this event, I have performed onstage many times as I also play piano, but I found this performance to be rather different. There was still the anticipation, excitement, lights, and audience, but this time I was able to share this experience with my amazing friends. I am incredibly grateful to our music teacher, Ms. Jay!

This year we have over 90 clubs at BISV! What are the benefits of participating in our extracurriculars?

Joining a club at BISV has a lot of benefits. Clubs are an easy way to try something new. There are a lot of academic-related clubs such as Science Olympiad, Robotics Club, and DECA that compete in competitions. Last year, BISV hosted 40 teams for the Silicon Valley Robotics League Finals. There are also volunteering clubs such as Key Club, Paws, and the NJHS/NHS (National Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society). Personally, as a member of the NJHS, I believe joining clubs like these can give you a very rewarding experience. Joining allowed me to give back to the community in fun ways that I might not have tried if I didn’t join the club. There are also a lot of clubs related to art or sports such as NJAHS (National Junior Art Honor Society), Digital Art, Rock Climbing, Cross Country, and many more. I enjoy these clubs because, after a long day of school, these can be a great part of the day to look forward to. For me, I am a co-secretary of the BISV Table Tennis Club and a coach. I’ve found that being a coach has given me a lot of confidence in myself and my ability to help others. Having these roles in the club has allowed me to find a community of people at BISV who also share an interest in table tennis.

How do you manage your time and balance academic, extracurricular activities, and free-time?

As the school day goes by, I make additions to my To-Do List. I make sure the list is easily accessible, so I can look at it and edit it anytime. After school, I reorganize the list in order of how long how they will take to complete. For me, this helps because I prefer to get smaller tasks out of the way first to clear my mind for bigger tasks. I also utilize my time at school the best that I can. At BISV, there are office hours in which teachers hold sessions after classes where students can go and ask their questions. I have met multiple teachers who have spent hours throughout the year helping me as best as they can to understand concepts and I am very grateful to them.

What are some ideas you had about BISV that you found out to be true or false once you joined the school?

Before I joined BISV, I had heard it would be much more challenging than my current school. However, I wanted to join BISV because I wanted a challenge and that is what I got. Initially, I had the idea that the rigor would lessen my love for learning, but this was not true at all. It is the most amazing feeling to reflect on how much I have learned and grown since joining the school three years ago. One of the biggest differences I saw between my old public school and BISV is the quality of teachers. Teachers here are not only passionate and knowledgeable in their field but also teach very well. I truly believe that BISV can help reveal to you your true capabilities.

Finally, what advice would you give for incoming students to make the most of their year?

For any newcomers with an idea to start a club, it is worth it to pitch in your ideas as running your own club can become a valuable part of your time here at BISV! In addition, it’s important to not get stuck on what you can’t change. If you messed up on a test, don’t let that failure affect the future. If you are taking a break to relax, don’t stress by thinking of past mistakes or possible future outcomes. Don’t take on more extracurricular activities than you can handle or you might find yourself getting burnt out during the year. Do what makes you truly happy and can give a boost to your day. This is also an important message for parents deciding what classes to put their students in. Remember, your time is precious, so choose what you do wisely. Last, it is important to stay in the present and focus on what is in front of you. Keep going and always have faith in yourself!

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.