Bringing Impact: Willard Mou
Willard Mou arrived at AISG five years ago as a freshman. He leaves as a senior who helped change how a school sees childhood cancer. Between MUN debates, basketball games, and hospital visits with Connect 4 Cancer, Willard built something bigger than a résumé, he built a culture of empathy. Now he's heading to New York University for the Liberal Studies Core Program, and he's bringing impact with him.
What part of your AISG experience most prepared you for university?
I believe the opportunities and support AISG provided throughout Upper Secondary prepared me the most. The wide variety of clubs, athletics, and service initiatives allowed me to explore my interests and grow as a leader. Through activities like MUN, basketball, and Connect 4 Cancer, I was able to develop skills in communication, teamwork, and advocacy while also supporting local children affected by cancer. Those experiences helped shape both my application and who I am as a person.
One skill AISG helped you develop that you feel confident bringing with you to university is…
One skill AISG helped me develop is the ability to create impact. It may sound cliché, but I genuinely believe it is one of the most important qualities a person can have. Through MUN and my cancer initiatives, I learned how important it is to use my voice to raise awareness about challenges that affect others and to turn ideas into meaningful action. AISG gave me the opportunities and confidence to lead initiatives that mattered to me, and that is something I’ll continue to carry into university and beyond.
If there is one impact you hope to leave behind at AISG, what would it be?
The impact I know I have left behind is the growth of the Connect 4 Cancer volunteer group. What means the most to me is seeing students go from being indifferent to cancer initiatives to becoming deeply engaged and passionate about supporting children with cancer. I wanted students not only to understand the challenges these children face, but also to recognize how even the smallest acts of kindness—such as a visit or a casual conversation—could have a real impact. I hope the lasting impact I leave behind is not just the club itself, but the culture of empathy and compassion that it helped create within the school.
Looking back, what are you most proud of?
I’m incredibly proud of the service impact I helped build at AISG. I’ll miss planning and leading Connect 4 Cancer initiatives such as bringing peers to visit hospitals and sharing the stories of the children and families we met along the way. I’ll also miss using my voice to raise awareness about childhood cancer within our school community through events like ImpactGZ. Those experiences taught me how powerful service, storytelling, and community can be when they come together for a meaningful cause.
What would "Senior me" say to "Freshman me"?
Probably something like "Willard, please do stop doom scrolling and start locking in." But beyond that, I'd also tell my freshman self to trust the process, take more chances, and not be afraid to put himself out there. A lot of the best experiences and opportunities came from simply being willing to try something new.
Willard’s extracurriculars, activities, awards, etc. at AISG:
Connect 4 Cancer (2022-2026)
Varsity Basketball (2024-2026)
Debate Club (2023-2026)
Model United Nations (2023-2026)
Band (2022-2026)
Entrepreneurship Club (2024-2026)
Student Council (2024-2025)
Musical (2024-2025)
Tang Dynasty Captain (2025-2026)
The Beacon (2023-2025)
Varsity Tennis (2023-2024)
Willard Mou could have just been another senior heading off to a prestigious university. But he chose to be more. He chose to visit hospital rooms, share stories of children fighting cancer, and convince his peers that small acts of kindness matter. He leaves behind not just a club, but a quieter, deeper legacy: students who now care. As he heads to the California coast with impact in his suitcase, one thing is clear. Willard didn't just prepare for college. He prepared to change the world, one conversation at a time. And that's something no acceptance email could ever capture.
