
Growing up today can be frustrating. Not because there aren’t choices — but due to the fact that there are too many. On social networks, your child may see pals celebrating turning points, travelling, or announcing huge accomplishments, all of which can make it appear like everybody else has life found out. That consistent contrast creates a quiet pressure. Even capable, determined students can begin to feel as though they’re falling back before they’ve truly started.
What they need most in these minutes is point of view; this is where mentorship matters. When someone who’s already browsed the unpredictability takes the time to listen, guide, and share what they’ve learned, it makes mistakes feel less frightening. With time, that support develops confidence, which is why some schools are going beyond academics, linking students with real-world specialists who can inspire. Here are 3 schools blazing a trail.

The Institute Entrepreneurship Programme, run in partnership with Reactor School, mentors Tanglin trainees to establish and pitch service ideas. Innovative programs like these prepare trainees for the future of work and education. Source
: Tanglin Trust School
Tanglin Trust School The Institute @ Tanglin, an award-winning online forum aimed at preparing the next generation of leaders, constructs on what Tanglin Trust School currently does well: curious, engaged knowing. Led by Director of Scholarship, Questions and Collaborations, Sohini Brandon-King, it brings together faculty, trainees, and a prominent international network of practitioners, scientists, and leaders to create the perfect environment for academic stretch. “It forms part of the school’s future-ready strategy for its students, demonstrating a dedication to producing discovering experiences that extend far beyond standard scholastic boundaries, emphasising flexibility, sustainability and global citizenship,” discusses Tanglin CEO, Craig Considine.
Its programming is grounded in scholarship, query and thought management– and it does not do this alone. Working with experts from business, government, higher education and other diverse sectors, trainees have access to authentic, immersive experiences to explore their interests, and establish more comprehensive perspectives throughout a series of disciplines that will benefit them well beyond school.
The Institute encourages query through hands-on, innovation-driven, and extensive learning experiences like the yearly Entrepreneurship Programme and Nxplorers, where students build real-world proficiency as they think throughout disciplines and reinforce their problem-solving abilities. Through the Institute, trainees also get long-lasting, transferable abilities while taking part in research study, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, fashion, and STEM tasks with leading academics and specialists. Next academic year, The Institute plans to take this work even more when Institute Research Study Fellow, Dr Sophie Hidden leads chosen Year 12 students as they deal with scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on a year-long job and produce an academic paper for publication by the school.
It likewise supports idea leadership by inviting motivating thinkers and practitioners to share their viewpoints and challenge the way we see the world. Recent highlights period geopolitics and diplomacy with Singapore Ambassador at Large, Bilahari Kausikan. “It was an amazing session that left students, teachers, parents, and our wider community believing well beyond the headlines, challenging and honing our concepts about the role of diplomacy in today’s world,” states Institute Director Ms. Brandon-King.
Other prominent speakers consist of Professor Tan Tai Yong on Singapore’s history; Professor Sameer Hasija (INSEAD) on GenAI and the future of work; Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov on the future of materials; and Dr Darian McBain on ocean sustainability, along with conversations with leading voices from NUS, INSEAD, Vogue Singapore, Microsoft and Dyson. Year 12 Student, Tyler Y commented after one of these sessions, “What amazed me the most was the depth of Teacher Novoselov’s understanding in his field, and how he was able to describe complex phenomena such as Klein tunnelling in graphene in an easy way that even a high-school trainee like me might comprehend.”

Home to over 1,000 students of 24 nationalities, KTJ is a co-educational school that commemorates variety and international knowing. Source: Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar
Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar Kolej Tuanku Jaafar is a British-style boarding school in Malaysia that puts students at the heart of whatever it does. In the Early Years, children are encouraged to explore their interests and develop curiosity through interactive activities and play. As they move into Main School, teachers utilize an integrated International Main Curriculum technique to support personal development. This comprehensive assistance continues into Secondary School. Along with IGCSE preparation, students have access to instructors, Houseparents, coaches, counsellors, and a dedicated Student Support Group. Together, they help trainees establish the KTJ Learner Attributes and feel confident both in and out of the class.
Then comes the defining moment in your kid’s school journey: Sixth Type. To help them prepare their next actions, the school regularly hosts check outs from leading universities, consisting of, and a lot more. These gos to provide the chance to chat directly with admissions tutors and get the latest, most beneficial advice. Students also get a lot of opportunities to gain from people outdoors school. For example, KTJ hosted the FOBISIA Trainee Management Conference 2026, where trainees heard from motivating figures like NatGeo television adventurer Rob Lilwall and Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia CEO Mak Joon Nien. “The conference has actually widened my point of view,” says KTJ trainee and conference delegate Amir bin Wahid. “I have actually fulfilled people from a series of backgrounds and cultures and developed memories that I’ll treasure permanently.”

With extremely qualified instructors and contemporary facilities, ISHCMC students acquire the skills they need for life in today’s world. Source: International School Ho Chi Minh City
International School Ho Chi Minh City
There are lots of reasons why households select the International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC). But one of their most compelling reasons is how finding out happens here. As the very first IB World School in Ho Chi Minh City to provide the complete IB program, ISHCMC gives trainees a smooth learning journey from Early Years through to graduation.
Teachers are fully trained in IB pedagogy and provide personalised support and enrichment to assist students reach their potential. The Class of 2025 attained a 98% pass rate in the IB Diploma Programme, with graduates heading to top universities all over the world, consisting of Harvard University and New York University.
What trainees experience outside of ISHCMC’s school is simply as crucial. The school is dedicated to shaping well-rounded graduates and thoughtful international citizens. Community engagement plays a huge function in this journey. The ISHCMC community much better comprehends immediate climate concerns through useful sustainability jobs. Meanwhile, partnering with companies and community groups produces spaces for open dialogue and celebration. These experiences empower students to take an active function in resolving the Sustainable Development Objectives. As moms and dad Irene Moni shares, “Even years after finishing, our kids still carry the lessons, relationships, and self-confidence they acquired at ISHCMC. We’re so grateful for the long lasting impact of such a developmental experience.”
* Some of the organizations included in this article are commercial partners of Study International