This week in YD class, the G6 students experienced a rich career day experience. The teachers and parents jointly prepared lectures based on four professional themes: modern city planning, financial management, space exploration, and energy technology. These categories were chosen so that students could delve into the excitement of the contemporary careers and reflect upon their dreams, careers and the future opportunities.

Career Day at the Aerospace Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center

The first group of students went to the Shanghai Aerospace Venture Innovation Center to learn about the exciting career opportunities in the space and technology sectors.

First, they ventured to the lecture hall to listen to Ms. Fan Ping, Senior Engineer of the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group (CASTG) and Chief Designer of the Space Station Sub-assemblies of the Eighth Academy, who gave a career talk titled “Looking at the Chu Sky and Sharing the Stars together”. Ms. Fan started by explaining the magnitude of space, before delving into the history of China's manned spaceflight, the lives of astronauts in the space station, and finally to the contribution of Shanghai in China's cosmic space station. Mr. Fan's in-depth explanation not only gave the students a deeper understanding of the space industry, but also strongly stimulated their interest in exploring the mysteries of the universe.

The students then visited the exhibition hall of the Center under the guidance of the staff. The wide range of aerospace models and scientific and technological exhibits opened the eyes of the students and gave them a deeper understanding of aerospace science and technology. Afterwards, the students experienced the simulation process of VR rocket landing and felt the shocking power of space technology. This activity was not only entertaining and eye-opening, but also inspired them to dream of working in the aerospace field in the future, making it an unforgettable learning and experiencing journey.

Career Day at HSBC Headquarters

The second group of students arrived at the HSBC headquarters in China. As soon as the elevator reached the 31st floor, the children sat down quietly to listen to a lecture on economics. During the Q&A session, the guest of honor posed a variety of questions, such as: “what are the most valuable spirits of economists?” and “what do the four letters of HSBC stand for?” The students scrambled to answer the questions, and many of them also recieved a beautiful prize, the lion doll, the logo of HSBC. Though the presentation was brief, it greatly influenced the students' view of the future and left them fascinated by the unlimited opportunities in the banking industry.

During the student Q&A session, our students posed a myriad of excellent questions such as: Is the interest rate charged by the bank fixed or “floating”? What happens to a “mortgaged” house when the lender is unable to repay the loan? If the house is worth 20 million, auctioned at 15 million, is the bank making 5 million? and how does one use “leverage” to make money? The profound and realistic financial questions made Ms. Fang from the Human Resources Department excitedly declare that all the students present were born natural financiers!

At the end of the visit, the students felt that the trip was worthwhile and that they had found inspiration at the HSBC headquarters in China. In the future, there will no doubt be successful financiers and bankers among the G6 students.

Career Day at Accelera Energy Research Laboratory

The third group of students went to the famous Accelera Energy Research Laboratory in Shanghai. The students were led by engineers to study and discuss “Hydrogen Generation and Applications”, and their interesting questions about energy efficiency were answered by the patient scientists. This was followed by a visit to the Materials Research Laboratory, where they gained valuable insights into the intricacies of hydrogen batteries. The students also visited a hydrogen-powered bus to learn about the inner workings of this innovative mode of transportation. The highlight of the tour was the amazing giant electrolyzer in the lab's electrolysis station. The sheer scale of this cutting-edge technology amazed the children and gave them a real insight into the frontiers of energy research and development.

Many students commented that despite the limited time spent at the lab, the experience deepened our understanding of clean energy technology. Ricky from Class 6(6) was even more impressed, saying that the visit to the Accelera Energy Research Laboratory ignited his passion for clean energy development and contributing to the creation of a sustainable future for all.

Career Day at The Peninsula Hotel

The fourth group was lucky enough to visit The Peninsula Hotel, where they had the opportunity to learn about the history of the hotel and the workings of the hospitality industry. The children were guided by the interpreter through the various departments of the hotel; from the magnificent lobby to the 300-square-foot Palace Suite, from the large terrace on the top floor of the hotel to the view of Lujiazui in the distance, from the warm and cozy restaurant to the well-organized logistics, every corner of the hotel contained the mystery of hotel operation. The staff of each position enthusiastically introduced their work content and shared their work experience.

The students were deeply impressed by the exquisite business skills and excellent service consciousness of the professional managers. They also realized that the hotel industry requires not only professional knowledge and skills, but also good communication skills, teamwork and a high sense of service. The Peninsula Career Day not only gave the children a deeper understanding of the hotel industry, but allowed them to gain a lot of valuable experience.

The Career Day excursions were unforgettable journeys of exploration in the workplace. The rich and diverse interactive sessions, such as career experience, simulation operation and thematic lectures, allowed the students to experience the working atmosphere and requirements of different occupations, and further deepened their knowledge and understanding of various types of careers. We believe that this experience will be a guiding light for the children on their future life paths, motivating them to keep working hard, climb up to the peak, and ultimately realize their career dreams.

Written by Liu Dong

Picture by Grade 6 teachers

Edited by Cong Luo, Bianca Noguera