Meet with Jed

The University of Leipzig (German: Universität Leipzig), located in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany, was founded in 1409 and is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the second oldest university in Germany today with an unbroken operational history, after the University of Heidelberg (1386).

After nearly 600 years of teaching and research since its foundation, the University of Leipzig has grown to include 14 colleges, 152 programs and more than 30,000 students.

The famous poet, the great German writer Goethe, and the famous philosopher and poet Nietzsche are both alumni of the University of Leipzig.

Jed, a big boy with a passion for basketball, chose here. He said the reason for choosing this school was simple: he used to go to Germany a lot as a child and was familiar with the culture and the environment. Let’s see why Jed ends up at one of Europe's oldest universities.

Jed entered our school in Grade 9 with a strong goal to go to Germany, but he was so into basketball that he doesn’t really care about his study. He spent most of his time playing basketball, interacting with his friends, socializing and playing games. He said he thought it's only 9th grade and there are still 4 years ahead. Take my time, no need to hurry. Study can always be put back. Homework, exams, teachers' words are all just a blur. However, time seems to pass much faster than he thought. In Grade 10 and 11, he started to feel the tension and pressure, and felt as if he was getting farther and farther away from his initial goal. He seems to have developed a scattered study habit and not easy to change.

"In 11th grade, I changed a lot and started to take my classes seriously and do my homework. I took my tests on time, and focused on my studies. Mr. Burton gave me a rule: if I don't finish my homework or have a "D", I’m not allowed to play basketball, haha..." Mr. Burton, the Secondary Principal, knows each of his students very well. It was his customized rules for Jed to stand out." I found out that study is not that hard. I just need to listen to the teacher, finish the homework and take the test."

Jed has been a boarder since Grade 9, and it is his passion for basketball, helpfulness, and positive attitude that has left a lasting impression on the younger students at boarding. Mr. Rivera, Director of Boarding, said that once while chatting with one of the elementary boarders, the boy said, "I want to become Jed when I grow up." As we can see, how strong the power of role models is!

Jed gave the current students a lot of valuable advice. He said: " Think twice before you make every decision. All the bad decisions you make will bring consequences, and when the bad consequences occur, it is useless to regret.”

Make real friends, who will support and help you in a positive way. If a friend asks you to do anything that violates school rules, make sure you discourage and stop him. Trust me, that’s what a real friend should do.

To love your life, to enrich your life by joining different ASA clubs and making friends. Always have faith in yourself.”

To those young athletes: "Cherish every practice and treat every game as if it were your last. Every game is improving you, and every practice is vital! Make sure to train well! Don't be afraid of hard work! The moment you win, you will know how worthy this moment is. Otherwise, you will regret it when you graduate. Trust the coach. Every winning game is made up of hard training."

Wish all the best to Jed in The University of Leipzig!