[Sponsored article] Amanda (Mandy) H. Newland (née Weldon) has enjoyed the kind of career and personal history that most people would no doubt envy, but it all stemmed from her time at ESF, where she attended the Peak Primary School and later, Island School. After finishing her schooling at Island School (O’ levels), Mandy’s career took off first as a flight attendant for Pan American World Airways in the USA. Her journeys to far flung destinations continued when she worked as an Executive Personal Assistant and Artist Representative for Trans Continental Records, who helped found the popular boybands Backstreet Boys and N’SYNC and many others. Mandy currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she shared some of her fondest memories during her time in school. She has been living in the USA since leaving Hong Kong. Mandy says her class of 1970 was the first cohort of graduates at Island School, so she and her classmates did their best to set a standard of excellence. She says of her experience: "I learned to keep my head down, work hard, not skive off and have a great work ethic. To this day, I most certainly maintain that philosophy." Despite her wonderful time at ESF, Mandy harbours some regrets. "If I could do it again, I would have studied much harder, not played around as much and taken advantage of all the great teachers and activities," she says. Additionally, she wishes she had spent more time studying music in depth considering the 15 years plus she spent in the music industry. Mandy advises current ESF students to take full advantage of the immense opportunities that schools provide, and to keep an open mind. "Reach for the stars and do everything conceivable that you can at school,” she says. “Take advantage of everything that is offered to you. Study hard, because doing well in an ESF School in Hong Kong looks great on your curriculum vitae. It was and still is on mine." Mandy’s happiest memories from ESF involve her wonderful classmates, many of which she is still friends with today and who live all over the world. "I had the advantage of going to a great school, a fun school and be amongst some unbelievable people.” For that, I am forever grateful.