Bolles alumna Susan St. Denis ’16 visited the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus October 14 to share her experience studying, living and working in China with students taught by upper school Chinese teacher Chengmei Rothschild.

St. Denis reflected on her time at Bolles and encouraged students to stay open to unexpected opportunities that may shape their personal growth and future careers – providing a powerful example of her own path, which shifted from filmmaking to Chinese studies during the pandemic.

St. Denis earned a degree in communication with a focus on journalism and a minor in Asian Studies from the University of North Florida and later continued her education with a master’s in Asian Studies at Florida International University. Her thesis explored U.S.–China cultural exchange through different interpretations of “Mulan.”

After working as an editor and writer for The China Project, St. Denis earned a full scholarship to Tsinghua University, one of China’s top schools, in Beijing. There, she completed her master’s in Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy, researching how film serves as a tool for nationalism and identity formation. She also competed with and coached the university’s rowing team.

Today, St. Denis is preparing to begin her career as a broadcast editor at CGTN, China’s leading English-language news channel. In addition, she runs the TikTok channel “Dear China,” which has grown to nearly 140,000 followers by providing accessible analysis on China. She said her goal is to build bridges of understanding between the U.S. and China through accurate, engaging reporting.

The students in attendance asked St. Denis insightful questions, which she answered with warmth and candor—sharing practical advice, cultural observations and reflections on how embracing change has shaped her journey.