Everyone’s Big Sister

Through the multitude of activities in which senior Natasha Lim participates and the impact she has had on others’ lives, there seems to be one defining characteristic on which all her peers agree: Lim’s incredible kindness. She presents it through her everyday presence, in both international relations clubs and ethnic clubs, and even in ESSO involvement and singing groups.

Lim studied at the British International School in Shanghai during the first two years of her high school career. However, she soon found herself bored with her classes and sought out a change. She researched America boarding schools and the Academy caught her eye. Lim arrived as a new upper the following fall.

For Lim, the hardest part of the transition was fitting in socially. “There was definitely a difference between American culture and others,” Lim said. “I went to an international school so it was more homogenous—different, but still pretty similar.”

“It took me a while to find my place, or where I felt like I belonged within the community in Exeter. Socially, it was more of a struggle, academically it was definitely difficult but I felt like if I put enough effort in I would be able to perform at the level I wanted to,” she added.

At her old school, Lim did a lot of work involving migrant schools and migrant communities. Her school held many fundraisers, constructed schools in rural areas of China and led biannual volunteer trips. Lim felt the need to continue her interest in community service at the Academy.

Almost immediately after arriving on campus, Lim joined two ESSO clubs: Big Sibs/Little Sibs and Chinese Culture Club (CCC). She is currently co-head of both and was the ESSO off-campus coordinator before the board turned over.

“Natasha is incredibly driven in a way that serves to emphasize, rather than detract from, her fundamental kindness, compassion and caring.”

Lim uses community service to escape the stress of Exeter and benefit the community in a way she finds meaningful. “A lot of the time students get wrapped up in just academics and clubs and doing well and excelling, and they don’t stop to do something that they enjoy for themselves or that can help others,” Lim said.

Senior Brian Byun, another co-head of Big Sibs/Little Sibs, got to know Lim through the club. “Natasha is just great,” Byun said. “She’s spirited, bright and energetic, as well as organized and diplomatic. She obviously loves the Big Sibs program and what it brings to both our students and the adopted children from the Exeter area who participate in it.”

ESSO Community Service Coordinator Elizabeth Reyes worked with Lim while Lim was off-campus coordinator and commended Lim for her tenacity and spirit. “Natasha has a strong work ethic, so being around her encouraged the ESSO board and myself to do the best work we could. Natasha didn’t settle for second best, and if something didn’t work, she would try harder to figure out how it could work better. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Natasha and found her energy and enthusiasm something for which to strive,” Reyes said.

Besides community service, Lim had also participated in choir before she came to the Academy. She dove into Exeter’s choral groups immediately. “I really enjoy music,” she said. “I sing in Concert Choir, Exeter Choral Union and PEADS, which is the only co-ed and, I would say, the best a cappella group on campus. You may not agree, but I think so.”

Music instructor Kristofer Johnson, Lim’s adviser, described meeting Natasha through choir. “I first knew Natasha as a singer in the Concert Choir and Choral Union. Later I was pleased to serve as her adviser,” Johnson said. “We just spent 17 days together on the Concert Choir and Chamber Orchestra tour of Vietnam and Hong Kong. I have taken to calling her ‘Stash’.

“Natasha is amongst the kindest and most caring students I’ve ever known,” Johnson continued. “She has tremendous empathy and a sense of other’s deepest dignity. She also has a tremendous spark and spirit. Her speech often tumbles out in staccato bursts of cheer. A gifted student, she is also mature in how she considers happiness and fulfillment for herself and others. I will really miss her when she graduates this spring.”

In addition to community service and a love for music, culture and roots have influenced Lim’s club involvement on campus. Lim, originally from Singapore, wanted to find the closest culture she could to her home culture and explore a little more into others’. She joined CCC and the Chinese Student Organization (CSO) where she serves as a co-head, as well as taking a current events elective in the fall. She is currently taking a 999 course in urbanization and is serving on the International Student Advisory Board.

Upper Darius Shi met Lim through CSO and Asian Advisory Board, another organization in which she has served. “She is very bright and quite creative when it comes to brainstorming ideas for various events and projects,” Shi said. “She is especially keen at comparing and contrasting. She can always look at things from different angles and seek a comprehensive perspective.”

Another co-head of CSO, lower Kaitlyn Kang, pitched in. “I didn’t really expect our friendship to happen, but the first week she invited both Darius and me to eat together. Since day one (even before this year) she was super warm, and I was always super comfortable around her. She's just the type of person that you want to be around.”

International Student Coordinator Jennifer Smith had similar comments. “She has an incredible work ethic—I don’t know how she does it! She is involved in so many activities at the Academy but also manages to be a stellar student. Natasha is consistently upbeat and positive—she is a true treasure,” Smith said.

To explore international relations even further, Lim joined the Academy’s Model United Nations during her upper year. Now, she serves as the Director of Finance for the club. “I enjoy international affairs and diplomacy,” she said. “I wish to live and work around the world when I'm older.”

Senior Sachin Holdheim, who also arrived as a new upper, is close friends with Natasha. He shares many activities with her, ranging from Subcontinent Society to Model UN. “Natasha is incredibly driven in a way that serves to emphasize, rather than detract from, her fundamental kindness, compassion and caring,” Holdheim said. “She devotes all of her time to others, whether it is aiding the Asian and international communities through Asian Advisory Board or International Student Advisory Board or our larger community as a part of the ESSO board.

“She is a beautiful singer, a thoughtful friend and an uplifter: she always brings out the best in others,” he said.