Unveiling the journey behind memorable moments

Behind every well-crafted academic project and every impressive performance lies a journey of dedication and perseverance. From brainstorming ideas and practicing to refining every detail, each step requires students to demonstrate initiative and continuous effort. So, how are #HomeOfTheEagles preparing for the upcoming major events? Let’s take a closer look with PennSchool.

These days, #HomeOfTheEagles are diligently putting the finishing touches on their academic projects and rehearsing for artistic performances, getting ready to shine at key end-of-year events such as the School Year Exhibition, Graduation Ceremony, and Closing Ceremony. This is not only an opportunity for them to showcase the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout the year, but also a chance to tell their own stories of growth through each project and performance. Sharing about the project “Atmospheric Layers Model,” student Ly Kim Thao said: “Instead of just looking at dry drawings in textbooks, we wanted to build Earth’s protective shell ourselves to see what was really interesting about it. Our group’s working process was very lively, kind of like learning while having fun.

First, we sat down together to divide the tasks. Our group leader found a large old cardboard box to use as the base, while the others gathered cotton, watercolor paints, and colored paper from home to bring to school. I felt really lucky that our teacher supported us with the more complex parts, which made us even more confident in our project. For the troposphere, since it’s where clouds and rain form, we covered it with fluffy white cotton to represent clouds. Moving up to the stratosphere, we made a tiny paper airplane and attached it so it looks like it’s flying through a layer of mist made from tissue paper. In the mesosphere, we used glitter paint to draw streaks of light to represent shooting stars crossing the sky. The thermosphere was the most challenging part because we had to mix colors to create the pinkish-blue shades of the aurora. It turned out a bit messy, but also very unique. Finally, for the exosphere, we painted it a deep black to show the sky fading into space, and added small artificial satellites hanging around it.”

Alongside academic projects, rehearsals for artistic performances are taking place with great enthusiasm. As a member of the Golden Voice Talent Club, Le Gia Huy shared: “What I usually do when preparing for big performances is take deep breaths and stay confident… and that works. I really enjoy working in groups with my friends to prepare the performances for the School Year Exhibition and Closing Ceremony in the best way possible. I really like that about PennSchool, and I think it makes the school more special than any other school. For the end-of-year events, we needed to have a complicated dance in front of our teachers and parents. I felt both excited and nervous. However, it was all worth it when I saw my parents smiling happily from the stage. My team just put a lot of effort into this performance. We trained almost every day to make it perfect. Ms. Nga was our teacher, the one who helped us with all the performances at PennSchool. Together, we just created many great memories on stage.”

Beyond the final results, it is the journey itself that leaves lasting impressions on #HomeOfTheEagles. Gia Huy shared that over the years, he has seen clear improvement in his talents, especially since joining the Golden Voice Talent Club. The support from teachers and friends has helped him grow more confident and stay committed to his path. For Kim Thao, memorable moments also come from the “funny mishaps” during the project process, like cotton falling off before the glue dried or colors being mixed incorrectly, requiring the team to start over. Yet, these trial-and-error experiences helped members understand each other better, learn to listen, share ideas, and collaborate effectively.

“From a small model, we not only gained a deeper understanding of science but also developed a stronger sense of responsibility for the environment and the world around us. Protecting the atmosphere means protecting our own lives, and we promise to keep our environment clean and healthy,” Thao added.

In the coming days, #HomeOfTheEagles will continue refining their academic projects and rehearsing for standout performances, ready to shine in the year-end event series. The PennSchool community is invited to look forward to and accompany them in celebrating these achievements. Marking the milestone of 5 years of growth, each achievement today is not only the result of a single academic year but also a testament to PennSchool’s continuous journey of innovation and development.