Less than 365 days ago, Heidi Sui (Class of 2025) was sitting in Mr. Yuen’s office at the ASW, torn between two futures: UC Berkeley or Georgetown.Today, she isn’t just studying international relations; she is living them.

Now a freshman at Georgetown University’s prestigious School of Foreign Service, Heidi is majoring in International Political Economy and minoring in Journalism. Her journey from the classrooms of ASW to the heart of Washington, D.C., serves as a powerful reminder that for our graduates, senior year isn’t an ending — it’s a launchpad.

History in the Making

For Heidi, the "deciding factor" for choosing Georgetown was the proximity to the pulse of global politics.

"Location matters," Heidi explains. "Studying in D.C. means you can listen to the U.S. President speak in the morning and still make it back to campus in time for lunch and class. That’s an invaluable quality you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else."

That sense of history is literal for Heidi. She currently resides in Harbin Hall, the same residence hall where former President Bill Clinton lived as a freshman! While she clarifies with a smile that she is on the 2nd floor and he was on the 5th, the weight of the legacy is not lost on her.

"I remember flipping through the IB HL History “Conflict and Intervention” textbook in Mr. James’s class, seeing pictures of President Clinton. This year, I get to live in the same building where he started his journey."

Inside the West Wing

In just over 200 days since leaving Warsaw, Heidi has already navigated the inner sanctums of American power. She has been invited to the White House on several occasions., exploring the Press Briefing Room the Situation Room, and standing just five meters from the Oval Office.

Her transition has been a whirlwind of high-profile moments, from watching the President deliver a keynote at the Trump Account Summit to asking the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Secretary RFK Jr., a question live on national television.

The ASW Foundation: "Hard Skills" for a High-Stakes World

While the White House visits are headline-grabbing, Heidi credits her nine years at ASW (starting as a 4th grader in 2017) for giving her the tools to succeed in the competitive environment of the School of Foreign Service.

She points specifically to the rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program as her key advantage. "The process of writing IAs, EEs, and TOK essays really prepares you for college papers," Heidi says. "In Mr. James’s HL History class, we did so many exam writing exercises and in-class debates. Now, I find I can add ten times more value to group projects because I have those hard skills to offer."

Advice for the Class of 2026

Reflecting on her journey from the "ASW bubble" to the U.S. capital of the, Heidi has a message for the seniors currently agonizing over their own college decisions:

"I remember thinking that senior year was 'the end.' It was a very stressful thought, especially since I was unsure where I’d be after graduation. My advice is: senior year is not the end, it’s only the beginning. You will do so many exciting things after graduation — you finally get to step out of the bubble and explore your own path!"

As Heidi continues her studies in D.C., she remains a proud alumna, proving that the curiosity and drive fostered at ASW can take a student anywhere — even to the gates of the White House.

Are you an ASW alum with a story to share? Reach out to our Alumni Relations office: alumni@aswarsaw.org  to be featured in our next spotlight!