- Alumni
Alum Daniel Branham joined Hangzhou International School in 9th grade and graduated in 2021. During his time here he was heavily involved in the HIS community, participating in multiple ACAMIS soccer tournaments as well as West LakeMUN. HIS was a strong influence on his life as it impacted his views on the world, and gave him skills that contribute to his work today.
Tell us about your experiences and journey at HIS
My journey at HIS was amazing and went by faster than I ever expected. From the moment I arrived, I felt the impact of the close and welcoming community.
Because HIS is a smaller school, teachers truly get to know you. My Physics HL class only had two students, which meant our teacher could tailor the lessons to exactly what we needed. I did not fully appreciate this until I went to UCLA, where classes often had hundreds of students and it was easy to become invisible.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time here?
My favorite memories are from ACAMIS tournaments. Traveling, competing, and spending time with teammates brought us together. The trips to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen were amazing. Hosting ACAMIS soccer was also an unforgettable highlight (despite losing in the finals).
I also loved the China Trips, especially visiting Inner Mongolia. Camping on the Gobi Desert sand dunes is an experience I would never have had without HIS.
What kind of CCAs did you join at HIS and how did they help you?
I was involved in many CCAs at HIS. I served as Treasurer for both MUN and Student Council, helping organize events like West Lake MUN and Prom. I also ran the Econ Club.
Sports were also a huge part of my life. I played varsity volleyball, basketball, and soccer all four years and served as captain for all three teams. These activities taught me leadership, teamwork, and time management. They also gave me some of my closest friendships.
The skills I learned from CCAs made adjusting to university life much easier. They also helped me become a holistic candidate, which played a big role in getting into UCLA.
Did you feel prepared for life at UCLA?
I attended UCLA in Los Angeles and completed my Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics in three years. The IB program prepared me extremely well. The workload in university felt much lighter than the IB, and I was able to handle multiple responsibilities while still having a lot more free time.
What are you currently up to?
I am currently working as a Senior Analyst at Goldman Sachs in Global Banking and Markets Operations at the Salt Lake City office in Utah, United States. I support institutional clients with their trading activities. This is my first job after university and I recently passed my six month mark.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue building my career in finance and hope to remain at Goldman Sachs. I am also studying for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam and plan to pursue an MBA in the coming years.
Looking back, what values from HIS do you still carry with you today?
HIS taught me how valuable an international mindset is.
Growing up in schools across Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and then at HIS helped me understand different cultures and interact with people from all backgrounds. HIS also taught me time management and balance.
I was involved in many activities and sports, and learning to juggle everything with academics has helped me throughout university and now in my career at a fast paced and demanding company.
What advice would you give to current HIS students?
The IB and university applications can feel very stressful, but try to manage your time well and use all the resources HIS offers. At the same time, enjoy your high school years.
Spend time with your friends, say yes to opportunities, and try new things. As life gets busier, free time becomes harder to find. You won’t see all your high school friends as often, so make the most of these moments.
Have you kept in touch with any classmates?
Yes! I have stayed in touch with many of my HIS friends and have traveled to visit them all around the world. I have also visited the new HIS campus twice with fellow alumni. I am very impressed by the new facilities and slightly jealous that we did not have them during my time.
