Long before her glossy magazine covers declaring her fashion icon status or sold-out world tours rocking stadiums of adoring fans, Jennie Kim was just an ordinary schoolgirl. Though her education took place oceans away from her native South Korea, the years spent with her head buried fervently in books and notes would prove formative ones for the future face of record-shattering K-pop group, Blackpink.
This is the never-before-told story of how Jennie‘s early education abroad and balancing of studies with demanding idol training cultivated one of the most eloquent, cultured, and down-to-earth role models in Korean entertainment history.
Discovering Confidence and Worldliness at New Zealand‘s ACG Parnell College
After relocating from Seoul to Auckland as a child, Jennie found herself enrolled at ACG Parnell College for her middle school years from 2006 to 2009. Recognized as one of New Zealand‘s leading independent schools, ACG Parnell follows the globally-recognized Cambridge Curriculum blending rigorous academics with character enrichment across various extracurricular pursuits.
83% of Parnell‘s faculty hold post-graduate qualifications, presiding over small class sizes averaging under 20 students per teacher. From Year 7 through Year 10, Jennie received highly-personalized instruction focused on critical thinking and problem solving skills from educators lauded with teaching awards.
She also benefitted from an environment emphasizing multicultural awareness – one of the core values of the Cambridge Curriculum. Parnell‘s vibrant international population saw Jennie befriend students from over 30 countries during her first week alone. Outside the classroom, she demonstrated creative talents as a featured soloist in school choir performances.
When Jennie completed Year 10 at ACG Parnell in 2009, she graduated alongside 56 classmates with a 100% university matriculation rate thanks to the school‘s exceptional college preparatory record. Her three years in New Zealand had seen Jennie transform from a shy new student with basic conversational English into a confident, articulate honors student fully immersed in Kiwi culture.
Having been thrust outside her comfort zone, Jennie found her voice on the Parnell College stage while expanding her worldview. The lessons in work ethic and critical thinking would stick with her, as former Parnell choir director Mrs. Woodhouse recalls: "Jennie absorbed every bit of feedback to constantly better herself even then. Her discipline was unprecedented for one so young."
Rigorous Academics and Passion Projects in Seoul
In 2010, a 14-year-old Jennie returned to live full-time in Seoul and enrolled at the city‘s prestigious Korea Kent Foreign School. As she set about tackling a challenging International Baccalaureate curriculum, her passion for performance simultaneously took new shape through the school‘s renowned arts programs.
Founded in 2010, Korea Kent quickly ascended to prominence as Seoul‘s top international college preparatory high school. By Jennie‘s graduation in 2014, the school placed 3rd nationally in college entrance exam scores with a 92% acceptance rate for seniors at top Korean universities like Sungkyunkwan and Yonsei.
Much like ACG Parnell, Korea Kent fosters global citizenship with a highly diverse student demographic – over 40 nationalities made up Jennie‘s 2014 senior class of just 80 graduates. Under the guidance of instructors averaging 15 years teaching experience, Jennie not only achieved excellent grades but became universally liked by peers for her caring nature.
When not studying, Jennie could often be found rehearsing vocals as part of the school choir or leading the dance club in preparation for talent showcases. Having performed since childhood, her name became synonymous with excellence across creative pursuits at Korea Kent.
"I‘ll never forget Jennie spearheading our choir‘s first ever production of Les Miserables during her junior year," remarks former classmate Hye-Jin Park. "She spent countless weekends choreographing and translating lyrics to Korean for students less fluent in English. Her dedication was unreal."
The Making of An Idol: Grueling Training & Balancing School
What most classmates and teachers remained unaware of, however, was Jennie‘s extracurricular pursuit outside Korea Kent‘s walls – training to become a K-pop idol trainee.
In fact, the prestigious YG Entertainment label had recruited 15-year-old Jennie following an overseas audition in New Zealand. She soon found herself undertaking over 20 hours a week in voice, dance, rap, and media lessons atop her daily school responsibilities.
The average YG trainee tenure lasts 5-6 years prior to debut. But a focused Jennie persevered double training loads while watching many peers drop out, determined both to graduate high school and pursue her dreams. Sleepless nights balancing schoolwork and Korean history exams with rapid-fire dance drills became routine.
"I‘d see Jennie so fatigued she could barely keep her eyes open in morning classes after all-night practices," remarks sophomore year homeroom teacher Mr. Park. "But not once did she ever compromise her studies. Her dedication balancing both worlds impressed all faculty. We knew she was destined for greatness."
While the typical Korean student prioritizes academics alone, Jennie demonstrated an extraordinary drive excelling at school and her trainee craft alike. She continually elevated standards for herself, maturing into the type of role model she would soon inspire millions of youth worldwide to become.
Valuing Education as the Face of Next-Gen K-Pop
Upon Jennie‘s idol debut in August 2016 with labelmates Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa as YG‘s new girl group BLACKPINK, most industry prophets predicted immediate success given the four members‘ visual appeal and extensive training. Yet none could have foreseen the unprecedented records they would shatter almost immediately.
Debut single "Whistle" topped Korean charts for a month straight. Follow-up "Playing with Fire" made BLACKPINK the fastest girl group to win on a music show. When Square Two EP lead track "Stay" then claimed six trophies on weekly music shows, BLACKPINK officially became the new record holders for fastest wins by any K-pop act – male or female.
Yet even as she rapidly became one of South Korea‘s biggest celebrities with BLACKPINK headlining world tours and serving as global ambassadors for luxury brands like Chanel, education remained a priority for Jennie behind the scenes. She continued taking online courses and meeting with tutors, often helping bandmates complete assignments between appearances.
Education holds intrinsic value in Korean culture typically, but Jennie and BLACKPINK took initiative even further by launching philanthropic campaigns funding scholarships. As the iconic girl group beloved by younger generations, they recognize just how impressionable their youth fans are. Leading by example through continuing school is what sets them apart as positive changemakers.
The Fruits of Her Education Come Full Circle
In the years since her own high school graduation, Jennie‘s reputation as an idol truly embodying Korea Kent‘s global citizen ethos has only magnified her celebrity on the world stage. Beyond topping domestic music charts, BLACKPINK‘s music videos now routinely break YouTube records while Jimmy Kimmel and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert battle to book the quartet.
Between making TIME Magazine‘s 2022 Most Influential list and serving luxury brands like Chanel as endorsers, 26-year-old Jennie has become a cultural icon bringing South Korean entertainment into the global mainstream. Yet she remains the very same kind, humble role model beloved by classmates and teachers from her school days thanks to values instilled through education.
Jennie‘s ever-growing multilingual lexicon spanning Korean, English, Japanese and basic French enables her to connect with fans worldwide through eloquent speech or handwritten letters. And the New Zealand-honed fortitude which powered past self-doubt to discover her voice on stage makes Jennie one of K-pop‘s most charismatic yet genteel leaders even off stage.
While her childhood dreams of performing glory have long exceeded even her own imagination thanks to BLACKPINK‘s record-setting impact, Jennie Kim‘s educational background is equally as illustrious. The ACG Parnell College and Korea Kent Foreign School graduate remains a testament to how the trials and lessons from our early school days shape who we grow into. Through passion and diligence, an ordinary schoolgirl can gain the tools to touch millions across the globe.