Joseph was born in South Korea, and is half-Chinese, half-Korean. He spent his youth growing up in Tianjin, China, and joined TIS, hoping to explore a global environment beyond what he was used to — with his sister, Zhang ZhengEn (Jessica), right by his side.

“Going to the same school not only strengthens the bond between siblings but also serves as an opportunity for personal growth for both of us as we serve as each other’s motivation to push ourselves to the best of our ability,” he says.

Joseph was first drawn to TIS for its vibrant, welcoming, and supportive community. He wanted to immerse himself in an environment where he could grow and thrive with a community, and he got to do just that as the tenor section leader in the school choir.

“While our group was small, consisting of only six people, our bond was so close to the point I started to view them like family,” he says. “Watching each one of them grow the courage to sing in front of a crowd, despite it being out of their comfort zone, truly was the most meaningful and fulfilling experience for me.”

While many teachers, mentors, and peers had a big impact on his journey, Joseph remembers Mr. Barta’s — the school’s science teacher and volleyball and soccer team coach — influence the most. “Through him, I learned many things about working as a team and being able to push yourself even when you think you are at your limit,” he says. “Applying the things I have learned from watching him has given me many opportunities for personal growth.”

Joseph is now attending the Handong Global University in Pohang, South Korea, and attributes his ability to get along with people from diverse cultures to TIS.

“The university I currently attend has a very large population of international students. However, I was able to quickly make a ton of friends thanks to my exposure to many diverse cultures at TIS,” he says.