- Alumni
Alum Haru Sukegawa joined Hangzhou International School (HIS) in 2016 for 9th grade, remaining until she graduated with the Class of 2020. While at HIS, Haru participated greatly in the arts, focusing on creativity and improving her skills. Her time herealso taught her how to be more open as a person, and how meaningful the connections you forge with teachers and classmates can be.
Tell us about your experiences and journey at HIS
My journey at HIS was a mix of being a relaxed yet shy teenager. I would describe myself as a quiet and calm student who simply enjoyed art. By ‘quiet,’ I mean that I appreciated peaceful moments. I was not heavily involved in sports or known as one of the top academic students, so I did not particularly stand out. However, my classmates were kind and knew me as ‘that artsy girl,’ which made me feel accepted in my own way.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time here?
I have two favorite memories. One was spending time in the art room. Painting during study hours or after school gave me a strong sense of calmness and stress relief. At the time, the art teacher did not mind me staying in the classroom, so I was able to use the tools and materials freely to draw and create.
Another special memory was when I started making a sketch journal of my classmates. It began as a way to preserve memories and cherish our time together. Soon, my classmates knew I was drawing them, and sometimes they would ask me to show them my sketches or draw them. That became a very meaningful and heartwarming memory for me.
What kind of CCAs (Co-curricular Activities) did you join at HIS?
One experience that helped me in university was contributing to designing event fliers for HIS. On several occasions, teachers asked me to design school posters or promotional materials. These experiences taught me how to approach clients and respond to requests professionally. As an artist, communication and collaboration skills usually develop over time, but having these early experiences at HIS gave me a stronger foundation.
After graduating, what university and program did you attend?
After graduating from HIS, I pursued my artistic career in the Fine Art department at Minerva Art Academy, part of Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. The program had many unexpected challenges, and I struggled during my first year. However, over time, the experience helped me grow into a more independent thinker. Today, I am moderately active as a professional visual artist based in the Netherlands.
Sounds intriguing, what are you currently up to?
Currently, I am working in art curation at an experimental art gallery in The Hague. As a curator, I assist emerging artists with their solo or duo exhibitions and communicate closely with them to organize events that align with their vision and expectations.
What are your plans for the future?
After graduating from the Fine Art department, I gained experience as a visual artist by actively showcasing my work and hosting exhibitions. Recently, however, I discovered how much I enjoy the curatorial and museum environment. Assisting artists and understanding different perspectives in the art world is something I truly value.
Therefore, I plan to pursue a Master’s degree in Art Curation and Cultural Studies next year.
Until then, I will continue working in the industry to gain more experience. In the future, I would love to work in a larger-scale museum.
Looking back on your time at HIS, what values or lessons do you still carry with you today?
At HIS, I learned the importance of being open-minded and building confidence. As I mentioned, I was a quiet student, and at times consciously avoided classmates because I felt anxious and assumed that people would not understand me.
However, during my last two years at HIS, I began thinking more positively and reconnected with my classmates by drawing them. Through this action, I realized I needed to be more open and less afraid of approaching others.
I learned that the people around me were not as intimidating as I had imagined. In the past, I was afraid to show myself. Now, working in the industry, I confidently express my ideas and build connections without fear.
What advice would you give to current HIS students?
The biggest advice I can give is, please value your connections and appreciate what you have.
In the art industry, connections are extremely important. I am fortunate to have a strong network of people I can reach out to for projects or events. At the same time, I deeply value my old classmates, who helped me build confidence. These lessons and relationships are priceless.
I think as we get older it can be increasingly difficult to reconnect with your former community, though I recommend you reach out once in a while, you will realize the value in future.
Have you kept in touch with any of your old classmates?
Yes, I keep in touch with many of them. Although we rarely meet, some of them have visited the Netherlands, and I always enjoy seeing them.
HIS has now grown into a well-known and larger international school. When I attended, it was smaller – my graduating class was less than 20 students, but we were strongly connected and understanding of one another.
I feel truly blessed to have graduated as part of the HIS Class of 2020.
If you want to learn more about Haru's work, check out her instagram and support!
Instagram: @haruberry2020