International, Berpola- The stage has always had a way of calling Lam Jie Wen home. For the young woman born in Kuantan in 2003, applause is more than just the sound of an audience. It carries a feeling warm, grounding, and strangely familiar. A place where everything feels most real.
Her first time on stage is still vivid in her memory. Back then, she had not yet fully understood what dreams meant.
“I was very nervous,” she recalled with a gentle smile. “But the moment I heard the applause everything changed. I realized I enjoyed it.”
From that moment on, the stage was no longer something to fear. It became something to long for.
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As the youngest of three siblings, Jie Wen is known for her warm and approachable nature. Her presence feels light, her smile comes easily, and people are naturally drawn to her.
Yet beneath that gentle demeanor lies a quiet determination.
From primary school through high school, she actively immersed herself in performing arts. Her involvement went beyond performing she was also entrusted as the Drum Major of her school’s marching band. Each moment on stage slowly built her confidence and, over time, gave shape to her aspirations.
Until one day, she made a bold decision: to pursue acting studies in China.
The path ahead was far from easy.
Highly competitive entrance exams awaited, and Beijing’s freezing winter marked her first real step toward that dream.
“I remember it clearly,” she said softly. “My mother accompanied me to the exam. It was freezing, but her support meant everything.”
At first, her choice was not fully supported. Concerns about a future in the performing arts, along with the reality of studying far from home, made the decision even more difficult.
But giving up was never an option. She trained relentlessly, attended preparation classes, and spent countless hours refining her craft. Audition after audition followed along with rejections from several dream schools.
“Of course, it was painful,” she admitted. “But if I had stopped there, it would have meant giving up on my dream.”
Then, in August 2024, everything changed. An acceptance letter from Shanghai University opened the door to the Shanghai Film Academy, where she now majors in Performance.
The dream was no longer distant it was within reach.
Life in Shanghai marked the beginning of a new chapter, filled with both challenges and growth.
As a Chinese Malaysian, Mandarin was not a major obstacle in daily life. But inside the acting classroom, language became something far more intricate.
In dialogue classes, every tone, rhythm, and pronunciation must feel precise and natural.
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“In dialogue class, pronunciation requires full attention,” Jie Wen explained. “It’s not just about being correct it has to sound natural in context.”
A subtle accent, shaped by her upbringing, still lingers. And in the world of professional acting, even the smallest detail matters.
So she practices listening, imitating, repeating again and again, until each line feels authentic. She observes closely, learning how others speak, react, and express emotion.
Shanghai, with its fast pace and vibrant energy, has become more than just a city. It is a living classroom.
Beyond academics, the stage remains a constant in her life.
She continues to take part in theater productions, music performances, and choir competitions. What once began as a childhood passion has grown into a space for exploration and self-discovery.
Still, life as an international student carries its own emotional weight.
There are moments when homesickness quietly sets in—when the distance from her family in Malaysia feels especially real.
“Sometimes, I really miss home,” she said honestly. “But I always remind myself why I came here.”
And every time the stage lights turn on, the answer becomes clear again.
For Jie Wen, acting is not simply about performing. It is about understanding life feeling deeply, expressing truthfully, and telling stories that matter.
Her journey is still unfolding. There is more to learn, more to explore, and more to become. But one thing is certain under the stage lights, far from home, Jie Wen is not just chasing a dream.She is becoming who she was always meant to be.
Article by Nova Bagas Priambodo
Editor: Fernando Simatupang
