Enjoy the Ride: Raaghav Anand
Ten years at AISG. A gold medal at APAC Badminton. A teaching method involving Dove chocolate bars that no one can forget. Raaghav Anand has learned that the journey isn't as hard as he once thought. Between balancing the IBDP with varsity sports, building connections that feel like family, and figuring out where life will take him next, Raaghav has one piece of advice for underclassmen: enjoy the ride.
Who supported you most during the your university application process?
I received immense support from my parents, who were checking in on me to see if I was meeting deadlines and also reading my personal statements to give me selective feedback. My counselor, Mr. Liu, was also of great help in keeping tabs with my applications and giving unlimited feedback on my personal statements.
Looking back, what are you going to miss most?
Varsity sports. The table tennis and badminton teams I was a part of felt like a second home to me because of the connections I made with my peers and coaches outside an academic setting. Securing a gold at APAC Badminton felt like a very fitting end to a 4 year journey that started from junior varsity. I will miss the four or more weekly sessions with peers, as well as the extra practice done outside seasons.
What is one lasting impact AISG has had on you?
The people and the memories made. I have been here for 10 years, and most of the memories I have are associated with the people I have been with. Whether it be with friends, teachers or inter-school competitions, I will always remember those who I have cherished fond memories with.
One skill AISG helped you develop that you feel confident bringing with you to university is…
Achieving a good work-life balance. This stems from undertaking the strenuous and demanding IBDP alongside various extracurriculars. This skill should be extremely applicable in university, and I hope it has somewhat prepared me for the first steps into university. I am already used to starting work at around 7-8PM after returning home from sports, so I hope to maximize my upcoming free utility time during university life.
Raaghav’s extracurriculars, activities, awards, etc. at AISG:
Varsity Table Tennis (2023-2026)
Varsity Badminton (2024-2026)
Varsity Tennis (2024)
Indifferent to Difference (2024-2026)
The Beacon (2024-2025)
Model United Nations (2025-2026)
Entrepreneurship Club (2025)
Student Council (2026)
VEX Robotics (2025)
Card Games (2023)
Awards:
Badminton Tri-Cities Gold (2025)
Badminton APAC Gold (2026)
Table Tennis Team MVP (2026)
Raaghav Anand spent ten years at AISG building more than a résumé. He built a second home on the badminton court, secured a gold at APAC, and learned that the ride is worth enjoying. But ask him what sticks with him most. A Dove chocolate bar. Because every time he sees one, he thinks of Mr. Gomes's math class, where answering questions came with a sweet reward and a lesson that went far beyond the syllabus. As Raaghav decides between Hong Kong and Milan, between Economics and Engineering, he takes with him the people, the memories, and a simple truth. Enjoy the ride.
