“I got inspired by my coach when I was younger when he told me, ‘I coach you to swim and believe in yourself so you can do it!’ That inspired me to push myself and try my best all the time. I would also say the same to anyone wanting to do their best at swimming. Believe in yourself, do your best, and trust that you can do it!”
Lewis M. is a fourth grader from Beijing, China, who recently participated in the 58th MILO/MAS Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships. Apart from being a Kuala Lumpur state team swimmer, he plays basketball and participated in the Elementary School (ES) Seussical Musical in January 2023.
Here is Lewis’s story:
Do tell us about yourself
I’m a fourth grader here and I am from Beijing, China, but I have been at ISKL for about six years already.
Do tell us more about the 58th MILO/MAS Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships you participated in April?
The 58th Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships was a qualifying event for the FINA World Championships in Japan. There were athletes from 9 countries and 21 teams in the event.
I felt great about the competition because I got a lot of personal best times, and scored three golds and three bronzes. It was cool because there were a lot of good swimmers there and I liked them because they were nice to me. I made a lot of friends and even swapped shirts with someone!
When and what sparked your interest in swimming? Do you have any advice for someone wishing to swim competitively?
I got inspired by my coach when I was younger. He told me, “I coach you to swim and believe in yourself so you can do it!” That inspired me to push myself and try my best all the time. I would also say the same to anyone wanting to do their best at swimming. Believe in yourself, do your best, and trust that you can do it!
How fast did you learn The Melawati Way, and how do you practice it at home?
I learned it when I was in Prep Junior class. I can’t remember much from that time, but I remember The Melawati Way was easy to understand and remember because it was a big part of our learning, and we talked about it a lot.
At home, I help others by helping my parents with stuff and taking care of the environment by keeping everything clean.
What is your favorite subject and place to hang out on campus?
My favorite subject at school is math because it’s super interesting to learn new things and solve problems. My favorite place is the cafe in MS and HS because the food is really good, and it’s a cool space.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Some hobbies I have are Pokemon card collecting, reading, and swimming and I am interested in basketball and the NBA. I can spend a LOT of time looking at my favorite teams, basketball stars, and cool Pokemon cards.
Do you take part in any ASA?
Yes, of course. I like Fun with Geography because I like learning about different countries, and I get to play blanket when I finish. I also like choir because I enjoy playing drums there and talking to my friends.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I don’t know right now because I’m still a kid, but for now, I would like to go to the Olympics to swim or collect ALOT of Pokemon cards. I would love to be able to do both and then go to a great university like Harvard.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I would like to have telekinesis and mind control because then I can move stuff around with my mind, which would be super cool, or get other people to do good things.
What does “Know yourself, care for all and create a better world,” mean to you?
For me, it means knowing what you want and following your gut but also thinking about how you can care for your friends and the other people around you. Create a better world means by working together where everybody can do what they want.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff who always has an anecdote to tell, loves to share some insights into their passions and interests, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.
