James C., a Year 12 student
at Harrow Shenzhen,
has been named one of the
2025 AISL Harrow Scholars
selected from a highly cempetitive pool
of 616 applicants worldwide.
In conversation with James,
it became clear that his journey as an
aspiring aerospace engineer extends
far beyond this prestigious recognition.
01
From Paper Plane Champion
to Aerospace Dreamer
Every great journey begins with a simple start. During five-minute breaks between lessons, a standard A4 sheet of paper—folded, creased, and winged in his hands—defined James’s primary school years. What began as a simple hobby nurtured an extraordinary dream.
Paper planes made by James
A glider he designed once soared over his five-storey school building, sparking his passion for aerospace engineering.
James
“There’s something magical about watching something you designed fly so high it disappears from sight.”
Today, the former “paper plane champion” is steadily advancing toward that dream in Harrow Shenzhen’s laboratories.
02
To Build an Iron Man Suit,
First Master Economics
A big dream requires business acumen to sustain it. Unlike many aspiring engineers, James made an intentional subject choice: alongside Mathematics and Physics, he studied Economics at A-Level.
James
“Understanding how money works is key to understanding how the world works.”
He looks up to Tony Stark from the Marvel Universe—not only as the inventor of the Iron Man suit but also as the leader of a global enterprise. James believes that only by understanding business dynamics can one fund ongoing R&D and accelerate technological progress.
This pragmatic visionary has a clear plan: he aims to develop real-world innovations such as an operational Iron Man suit or hydrogen energy technology.
Harrow Shenzhen’s super curriculum supports such individual ambition. It enables students to build strong academic foundations while exploring interdisciplinary knowledge.
03
The Scholarship Winner
Who Thinks Outside the Box
“My academic results were probably just average among global applicants,” he admits. What made the difference were the unique creations he brought to his interview—a meticulously crafted cardboard Darksaber from Star Wars, an FN Scar assault rifle, and Captain America’s Wakanda shield.
James
“I think it was my hands-on ability and creativity that set me apart.”
James’s handmade work
That “X-factor” James mentions aligns perfectly with Harrow Shenzhen’s emphasis on holistic education, where true excellence lies in transforming ideas into reality. Here, creativity, practical skills, independent thinking, values, music, and sports are valued just as highly as academic achievement.
James
“At Harrow Shenzhen, everyone has the opportunity to become a better version of themselves.”
As the Sustainability Representative for Curie House and a member of the Boarding Council, James is already honing his leadership through the school’s diverse platforms.
Harrow is where excellence
makes the difference.
From a paper plane champion
on the primary school playground
to a future engineer inspired by Iron Man
—James’s journey proves
that the most compelling dreams
are those that dream big
while staying grounded.
At Harrow Shenzhen, we believe
every child holds unique potential,
waiting to be awakened
and empowered.
Harrow Shenzhen extends the warmest of welcomes to all prospective parents and pupils at its Open Events. You will have the chance to meet key staff, visit our outstanding facilities, interact with current pupils and see for yourselves just what makes our School so different.
