When Passion Inspires Learning

What if learning wasn't about ticking boxes, but about curiosity, creativity, and personal discovery? What if the classroom extended beyond its walls, and students were free to pursue their interests wherever they led?

At BBSG, this is exactly what happens. Guided by our philosophy, "To Follow Your Own Bent", we encourage every student to explore their interests, follow their passions, and uncover their unique potential.

Our Passion Project brings this philosophy to life. 

A year-long initiative for ISP Y7-9, it transforms curiosity into action. Under personalised mentorship, students navigate the full cycle of learning — research, planning, creation, and sharing — in real-world contexts, developing skills that will serve them for life.

Sometimes, the spark that can change the world begins with empathy.

After watching a video about children in orphanages, Joanna felt compelled to act. Inspired, she founded a student club dedicated to creating handmade crafts for charity, transforming compassion into meaningful action.

Recruited new members for the Student Club

Joanna guided her team through every step — from brainstorming ideas and assigning roles to planning sales and overseeing the creative process. Each week, members met during CCA time to design logos, weave bracelets, and decorate mugs, turning inspiration into tangible results. Along the way, Joanna discovered the power of teamwork, communication, and perseverance.

Sold handmade products to raise funds

The BBSG community rallied behind her. The school hosted a charity stall during Open Day, and Joanna stepped outside her comfort zone to share her journey on the TEDxBBSG Youth stage, inspiring peers to translate empathy into action.

Shared story with the wider community 

on the TEDxBBSG Youth stage

Funds raised were used to purchase urgently needed supplies for the Social Welfare Institute of Panyu District. Visiting the institute in person, Joanna witnessed firsthand the impact of her club's work — an experience she describes as both humbling and motivating.

Donated essential supplies to 

support social welfare initiatives

What happens when a twelve-year-old dares to tackle big ideas — from Elon Musk to questions about humanity and animals? Carrie channels her curiosity through her social media channel, Call Me Carrie, where she explores complex topics with clarity, creativity, and insight. Her Passion Project is an exploration of  "voice and influence", a journey to make her ideas heard.

Expressed views through social media channels

Over six months, Carrie produced eleven videos, collectively watched over 50,000 times. She faced the challenges of scripting, editing, and choosing topics, yet persisted — discovering not only her own voice but also the confidence to express it boldly.

"Creating videos taught me to speak up and believe in my ideas," she reflects.  "When you take risks and commit fully, your work can truly matter."

For Kate and Dora, curiosity knows no bounds. Their shared passion for insects inspired them to create a miniature "insect hotel", transforming fascination into action.

Their project was a true exercise in cross-disciplinary learning: biology helped them understand insect behaviour, geography guided placement and environmental conditions, mathematics ensured structural stability, and design principles made the hotel both functional and visually appealing.

With mentorship and guidance, they researched, experimented, and refined their creation. Their three-tier insect hotel was finally installed in Baiyun Mountain, complete with cameras to observe insect activity scientifically.

Insect hotel designed by Kate and Dora

Through this hands-on project, Kate and Dora turned curiosity into tangible results, developing critical skills in observation, problem-solving, and teamwork along the way.

Can cats respond to music? Kelly decided to find out.

Combining her love of music with her affection for cats, she designed an experiment to see how sound could comfort and calm animals. Using the "5Ws" method she learned in class — What, When, Where, Who, Why — Kelly carefully planned and tested her idea.

After researching feline hearing and behaviour, she curated playlists of classical and soft music, observing how cats responded.

She noted subtle but clear changes: tense cats relaxed, stretched, and purred. Kelly refined her playlists and shared them with several local cat shelters, applying her learning in a real-world context.

The Passion Project is more than an assignment. 

It gives students the freedom to explore their interests, take ownership of their learning, and bring ideas to life — all while developing transferable skills that will benefit them for years to come.

As project lead Ms. Ally Xuan shares:

We want students to dream big while they have the chance, before university pressures take over in Senior Secondary. What really matters isn't getting everything right — it's curiosity, experimenting, and perseverance.

—— Ms. Ally Xuan

BBSG University Counsellor Lead

By encouraging students to Follow Their Own Bent, BBSG nurtures individuality and guides each learner on a journey of discovery, growth, and meaningful impact.