The word impact refers to an effect or influence, focusing not only on what a person does but also on the changes those actions bring about.
At Tsinghua International School (THIS), Impact carries a clear educational purpose: students should not only grow as individuals, but also turn their abilities, character and sense of responsibility into positive action that benefits others, their communities and the wider world.
At the opening ceremony for the new school year 2026-2027 on Aug. 18. 2026, THIS Executive Principal Renee Zhu announced Impact as the new keyword. Its Chinese expression is (进善 Jìnshàn) or Goodness, accompanied by the motto "Strive for Virtue, Impact Untamed."
01 Why Impact?
As AI advances and knowledge becomes more accessible, character, responsibility and a willingness to make a difference matter more than ever. Principal Zhu believes that the more powerful technology becomes, the more essential a clear sense of values.
THIS hopes students will look beyond personal development, consider how to use what they learn to care for others, and actively contribute to their communities. She said:
Over the past two years, our keywords were Action and Growth. They emphasized becoming better versions of ourselves. This year, we are taking the next step: we hope every student's personal growth will translate into positive energy and bring about positive change for others and the world.
This reflects THIS' longstanding mission to foster creative critical thinkers who have roots in China and are prepared to lead in the global community. The school hopes students will become not only successful individuals, but also people who make the world a better place.
02 Why Goodness?
The word impact derives from the Latin verb impingere. Principal Zhu explained that common translations do not fully captures the positive meaning the school intends. Considering the kind of positive impact students should have on their communities, the school arrived at the concept of goodness.
In Chinese Jinshan (进善 goodness) is not a literal translation of Impact, but an expression shaped by the school's educational philosophy.
In Jinshan, jin conveys moving forward and continually improving, while shan, meaning goodness, refers both to a higher moral ideal and to everyday kindness, care and goodwill.
The concept also resonates with traditional Chinese philosophy. The Great Learning, a classic Confucian text, describes the path of great learning as illuminating one's virtue, renewing the people and reaching the highest good. Principal Zhu sees the highest good as an ideal to pursue, while goodness emphasizes the ongoing journey toward it.
The Great Learning connects personal cultivation with broader social responsibility, progressing from self-improvement to caring for one's family, contributing to society and bringing peace to the world. Principal Zhu believes students can put these principles into practice in their daily lives, beginning with themselves, then caring for family members, helping classmates and contributing to their school community before extending their sense of responsibility to society.
Thus, THIS deems that Goodness is both a value to pursue and a practical path for growth. Students need not begin with grand ambitions. They can start with the people around them, turn goodwill into action and bring positive change through sustained effort.
03 From Ideas to Action: Impact in Daily Life
In her opening ceremony speech, Principal Zhu encouraged students to record their acts of kindness and reflect on them. She also challenged them to complete an "Impact Project" during this school year, exploring and addressing an issue they genuinely care about, whether at school, in their community or in the wider world. What matters is not the project's scale, but students' ability to identify a problem and take action.
The idea has already entered the classroom. Deborah Kapraun, a Secondary Humanities teacher, introduced an Impact Journal in her Grade 7 Ancient World History class, encouraging students to record everyday acts of kindness and reflect on them.
Students found that even small gestures could make a difference, from helping classmates and caring for stray cats in their neighborhoods to assisting elderly neighbors. They began to understand that impact need not come from grand gestures. Ms. Kapraun plans to develop these reflections into concrete Impact Projects next semester.
This journey, from focusing on oneself to caring for others and from identifying problems to taking action, is the growth THIS hopes to foster this year.
One parent shared that, inspired by the annual keyword, their child had volunteered to join a community service club and a rural education volunteer club. The parent welcomed the child's willingness to contribute and praised the school's commitment to balancing academic achievement with service to society.
04 How Is the Annual Keyword Chosen?
It has been a long tradition that each year August, THIS announces a keyword to guide its educational priorities, student development and campus culture for the school year ahead. Rather than choosing an appealing word, the school's administration team reaches a consensus through discussions grounded in the school's educational philosophy and development plans.
According to Principal Zhu, the administration team's kickoff meeting on July 30 began with a discussion of the annual keyword. The team unanimously chose Impact, seeing it as a continuation of the previous two years' themes and a reflection of the school's future direction. She revealed that the school already had preliminary ideas for the following two years' keywords but declined to reveal more details.
After the meeting, the Chinese members of the admin team further discussed the Chinese expression and developed Goodness (Jinshan). Then the full administration team then worked together to refine the idea and establish the motto, "Strive for Virtue, Impact Untamed"
The process reflects a shared understanding of the school's educational goals. Impact establishes the annual theme, while Goodness draws on traditional Chinese culture and the school's educational philosophy to deepen its meaning. Principal Zhu shared that
The two are not word-for-word equivalents, but different expressions of the same educational aspiration.
05 Strive for Virtue, Impact Untamed
THIS hopes students will understand the responsibility and commitment to action embodied in Impact and put the idea of goodness into practice.
They can begin with the people and situations around them, whether by offering help, participating in service activities or addressing a community issue. Ms. Kapraun said some students had told her that helping others also made them happy, a realization of the positive impact of their own actions.
The motto calls on students to turn their values into action and pursue greater goals through perseverance.
The size of an impact matters less than the willingness to make one. Over time, every act of kindness can become a starting point for change. THIS hopes students will begin close to home, becoming better versions of themselves while helping make life better for others and the world around them.
