Grace Yim is a Carmel Christian junior and has attended this school since her freshman year. She began attending Carmel immediately after moving to America. Previously, she lived in Hong Kong for 15 years. Throughout all the changes in her life, Yim has been a steady, kind person and has impacted many along the way.

 While Yim was living in Hong Kong, she had numerous experiences and memories that will stay with her throughout her life. She explains that Hong Kong was extremely noisy, packed and busy. It was difficult for her to grow up in that

environment, and the differences between Hong Kong and America were astounding. Yim states, “I like living in America better because of the school system here. It is so much less stressful than my school in Hong Kong. I also like the bigger houses because, growing up, my family lived in a tiny apartment and all shared a bathroom. It’s so populated in Hong Kong that all of the houses are smaller than the ones in America.

 Yim does not have any siblings, but that does not stop her home from being lively and exciting! She has a very large extended family on her dad’s side. She has 6 aunts, 4 uncles and 10 cousins. She explains, “It feels like such a gigantic family when we have dinners together. There is so much family drama. When I was a kid, I would see them every Christmas and Chinese New Year.” Most of her family now lives in Los Angeles, but they all keep in touch with each other.

 Before moving to America, Yim attended the Chinese Foundation Secondary School. She has positive memories of this environment, however, she felt it wasn’t the best fit for her. It was a non-religious school, and she didn’t like that aspect of it. She states, “My old school had a good science program, and that’s what I want to pursue in the future, but it was hard to learn it without the religious aspect. They taught things I didn’t necessarily agree with.” However, a positive aspect of Yim’s old school is the lifelong friends she made that she still keeps in touch with! She has known 2 of her friends in Hong Kong for over 13 years. They lived in the same

neighborhood and were practically inseparable. Despite Yim’s move to America, she keeps these relationships close and talks to her friends whenever possible.

 As Yim transitioned into the Carmel environment, she immediately fell in love with the education system. She feels as if it is less rigorous than her previous school, and she believes that Carmel’s pace is perfect for her. Along with this, she also enjoys the friendly atmosphere that CCS has. She explains, “I like how nice everyone is. People seem like they want to help. Teachers are willing to help me with problems, and they have a genuine passion for their job, unlike teachers in Hong Kong. If I asked 10 questions in class, the teachers would get so annoyed at me.”

 Outside of school, Yim has numerous hobbies and interests that fill her time. She loves to cook, read mystery books, and play the piano. She has been playing piano since she was 4, and she can play whatever songs she wants. Yim loves playing an instrument because she explains that it’s incredibly relaxing and takes her mind off the busyness of the

world around her. Along with these hobbies, Yim also spends time thinking and preparing for her future. As a junior, she is beginning to prepare for her next step: college. She currently wants to major in nursing, but she admits that that might change. Her top choices for schools are Chapel Hill, Wilmington, Liberty, Samford and Anderson. Before leaving for college, however, she desires to learn more about God and build different relationships with people in her senior year of high school.

Yim has been an incredible addition to the Carmel community. She brings positivity, kindness and love into CCS every single day, and she is so valued in the Carmel family. As she heads into her last year of high school and the beginning of her college process, Yim is incredibly excited and will do brilliant things wherever she lands! 

One of Yim’s close friends, Aleesa Legvold, junior at Carmel, states that “[Yim] has always been such an amazing friend. Her bright smile and friendly personality always light up every room she walks into. She shines the love of God to everyone she meets through her kindness and joy. She is such a wonderful, smart, and talented person!”