The Next Big Thing: Tony Qiu

For Shanghai American School senior Tony Qiu, learning starts with a question, and often many more after that. Next year, Tony is heading to Duke University to study physics, a subject he first pursued with curiosity, persistence, and, as he puts it, a willingness to begin before he fully understood what he was stepping into. Tony credits SAS with helping him develop a growth mindset that has shaped everything from his AP courses to his independent projects. Oh, and his classmates also voted him “most likely to win a Nobel prize!”

Tell us a little about yourself. What are you known for at SAS?

At SAS, I think I’m best known for being a devoted physics student. But I’m not only a physics person. I’m also part of the varsity badminton team.

What has being part of the badminton team meant to you?

Being part of the badminton team has been a really nice experience for me. Through APAC, we get to travel to other schools, cities, and countries, and we get to meet people who share the same hobbies. While we are competing, we are also making new friends from different places.

You came to SAS in fifth grade. Looking back, how has SAS shaped you as a learner?

The thing I’m most grateful to SAS for is how it taught me to have a growth mindset when it comes to learning. To me, that means when you start learning something new, it is completely okay not to know anything about it yet. You can improve along the way.

Being able to show my vulnerability in a subject has actually helped me learn. When you show your teacher or the people helping you where you are struggling, it allows them to help you in a better way. Learning is not about being perfectly prepared before you begin. It is about being willing to start, ask questions, and grow.

You’re heading to Duke to study physics. What excites you about that next step?

I am not really a theoretical physics person. What excites me most about physics is applying it to real life and using it to contribute to my community. I’m excited not only to learn more physics knowledge, but also to apply it to engineering and other fields in ways that can contribute to society.

Congrats, Tony! We have no doubt you’ll be making a big impact in the future!