CDIS Alum, Dino He

Dino He, a graduate from the Class of 2023, returned to campus to visit us! After spending 7 years at CDIS, he is now a second-year student at the University of California, Davis. During his visit, Dino reflected on his high school experiences and shared valuable advice with our current CDIS students.

Favorite Memory at CDIS?
My favorite memory is the LifePlus tournament trips. We would travel around for basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams and go to different cities. We made friends from other schools, and I am still in touch with them today.

How did CDIS help you transition to university in America?
My transition was smooth because CDIS is similar to college in America, in that we choose our own schedule and our own AP classes. In high school, we prepared and chose everything for ourselves. Another thing is that CDIS is a diverse community, just like a university in America, where people come from different places, including many international students.

How did CDIS grow you academically?
AP classes have really helped me a lot in preparing for college and have also earned a few college credits. From my writing class, from Mrs. Lee's class, my old English teacher taught me a lot of writing skills that I still use today. One other thing is the SDS (Senior Departure Seminar), where our teachers and principal shared their personal stories and feelings when they went to college.

Advice for our current CDIS students?
For current seniors, listening carefully during SDS and taking note of what the teachers and principal say are very important and will help you a lot in college. You should listen carefully and not fool around with friends.

How would you describe CDIS?
The CDIS community is embracing, and it feels like a big family to me. Everyone in class is important to each other. One sentence I heard the most from teachers at CDIS, "Make sure nobody feels left out." And I think that's the point of the CDIS community.