Baoqiang Xiao was 13 when he was awarded a scholarship by William Louey, and 14 when he left Beijing to study abroad. Like most young people in that position, he was nervous. A new country, a new language and a long distance from home can feel like a great deal to take on at that age.

With encouragement from his family and from William, he adjusted quickly. He went on to study at Cambridge, graduated in 2004, worked in Hong Kong for 14 years and moved to London in 2018. Today he is an investment banker and a partner at a boutique advisory firm.

The first months are the hardest

Studying abroad at any age involves a period of adjustment. For younger students, homesickness, unfamiliar routines and the pressure to keep up academically can arrive all at once. That is normal, and it usually passes.

What made a difference for the Foundation’s scholars was knowing that someone was paying attention. William visited the scholars often, spoke with them personally and created a sense of community among them. Baoqiang has described that personal involvement as something that set the scholarship apart.

What helps students settle

A few things tend to help young people adapt well. A steady routine gives shape to the week. A trusted adult nearby, whether a teacher, house parent or mentor, provides someone to talk to when things feel difficult. Friendships with students from other countries help a new place start to feel like home.

It also helps to give students permission to struggle. Finding something hard in the first term does not mean the decision was wrong. It usually means growth is happening.

What families can do

For parents, the instinct is often to stay in constant contact. Regular calls are valuable, but so is space to become independent. Listening more than advising, celebrating small achievements and reminding a child why they chose this path can all make the distance easier to bear.

Seeds that grow

Baoqiang often uses a simple image to describe the Foundation’s approach. Plant only a handful of seeds, and when they become trees, those trees produce more seeds of their own. True to that idea, he co-founded the Sea Star Children’s Foundation with fellow scholars to help others in the same spirit.

He remains a believer in the open-mindedness and compassion he learned from William, and in the impact that even modest acts of kindness can have. Read more in Baoqiang’s Scholar Story, or explore our earlier piece on how education builds communities.