Belly Dancer. Boarder. High Achiever.
Meet Felicia Chew Yu Toong, a vibrant and passionate Year 8 student at Westlake International School, who is also a proud resident of our boarding house. Felicia’s journey is one of determination, adaptability, and artistic brilliance.
Originally from a Chinese-medium government school (SJK(C)), Felicia made a bold leap into an English-speaking international school environment. After attending the BEST Trial Programme in 2023, she and her family knew that Westlake was the right fit. Despite joining mid-academic year in 2024, Felicia committed herself to catching up with new subjects and adapting to an entirely new language environment.
“I revised and studied every day to catch up, especially in Science and Math. It wasn’t easy, but I had a supportive friend in my class and boarding house who helped me through it,” she shares.
Another significant challenge was being away from her close-knit family for the first time. Felicia maintains strong bonds with her parents, sisters, and grandparents through daily video calls. Their love and encouragement have been a key pillar in her growth.
But Felicia’s story doesn’t stop at academics. A talented belly dancer since the age of 7, she rediscovered her passion at Westlake. With the help of the boarding team, she turned a small study room into her personal dance studio—complete with mirrors—where she trains daily. She also takes weekly online and in-person classes with her instructor, Teacher Angie.
Felicia’s talent soon caught the attention of the school community. From her first solo performance on Teacher’s Day, she has gone on to perform at major school celebrations, including Hari Raya, Christmas, and Chinese New Year. Beyond school, she has also competed—and won—at numerous national and international belly dance and talent competitions.
“I love the feeling of stepping onto the stage and the lights shining on me. I truly love belly dance,” Felicia says.
Balancing academics, boarding life, dance, and family time, Felicia exemplifies what it means to be a Westlake student. Her time management skills and strong sense of purpose allow her to thrive in all areas.
“When I’m in school, I focus entirely on learning. When I’m free, I dance. On weekends, I cherish every moment with my family,” she explains.
Felicia is also thankful for the support of the boarding community—her loving housemates and caring boarding parents, who’ve created a second home for her at Westlake.
“The boarding house has been such a supportive place. It feels like home.”
Felicia continues to shine, not just on stage, but in the classroom and as a role model in the school community. She looks forward to future challenges and opportunities with confidence.
“I’m thankful to Westlake for giving me this platform to grow. More exciting stories and chapters are yet to come!”
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