School & Program
Brown University, Humanities or Sciences

Meadowridge Student Since
Grade 4

Born in
Vancouver, Canada

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I love to read. About what? That depends. I like historical fiction. I’ve played volleyball since Grade 4, but I’m not the best. That’s what I love about Meadowridge. I had the opportunity to join without being a great volleyball player! Our team ended up getting super close, and it was always fun to go to tournaments and cheer each other on. I love playing violin, too. My family always took us to orchestras and classical concerts, and the violin is such a romantic instrument. So I decided to learn it when I was 13. It’s a hard instrument to learn, especially since I didn’t start at a young age, and my shoulder hurts when I play, but I wanted to learn something other than piano – you can’t take your piano with you to university! I also love to journal and scrapbook… does this all make me sound like a 70-year-old?! [laughs]

How did you first find yourself at Meadowridge?

My parents visited the campus and they liked the atmosphere of the school. We lived in Burnaby when we first started attending so we had to take the bus for an hour each way every day. In Grade 6 we moved closer to the school. Our lives revolved around Meadowridge so we figured we should move closer.

Tell us about your year ahead.

I am going to Brown University in the fall. I’m currently deciding between humanities and sciences, and whether I want to focus my studies or take a double major. At Brown, they have a more open, liberal arts approach. It’s hard because I love both. I’m quite sure I’ll be living on campus for all four years, and I’m definitely going to go with a random placement. I’m going to leave it up to the lottery to see who I end up living with – so we’ll see!

Brown was my first choice. I knew that’s where I wanted to be for the next four years after I visited the campus. It’s not only their academic reputation, but also the vibe of the school. It reminded me of Meadowridge.

What was it like finding out you’d be headed to Brown University next year?

My acceptance was astonishing… I was expecting some other schools, but wasn’t expecting anything from Brown. It was March 26, “Ivy Day”, when I clicked on the decision letter with trembling fingers. I was greeted by this huge banner that read “Welcome to Brown” and confetti on my laptop screen. I remember letting out this huge breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. Everyone was screaming. My dad was shouting. I was crying.

What was it about Brown?

Brown was my first choice. I knew that’s where I wanted to be for the next four years after I visited the campus. It’s not only their academic reputation, but also the vibe of the school. It reminded me of Meadowridge. There are many universities that have high reputations and rigorous academic environments, but they’re not as welcoming or have a community feel. I wanted to find a home that would have my back, and I found that at Brown. It’s hard to explain what really drew me to Brown. It was a lot of things combined. You get this feeling, like you could see yourself living on campus.

What are you most looking forward to in the year ahead?

Living on my own… that’s kind of scary but also exciting! I’m excited and nervous. I’ve always loved the East Coast and now I get to live there! I’ll get to do what I want: decorate my own dorm, go out for dinner with friends, explore Providence and even Boston. I can create my own schedule, and it won’t need to work around my family’s. I’ll be planning the entire year for myself, blocking time out for myself. I like to be organized and to keep a schedule with what I want to do and what I want to accomplish.

I’m also really excited to meet new people. I’ll be able to call driven, talented, and accomplished students my peers and surround myself with people from all around the world.

What will you miss most as you move onto the next chapter?

I’ll miss the small things. I’ll miss waving to Ms. Young in the morning, or her scolding us for being late. I’ll miss walking to Starbucks with my friends. I’ll miss the teachers. Mrs. Mohoruk and Mrs. Just were more than just teachers; they were life coaches. I’ll miss chatting with Dr. Reinink for hours on end about anything and everything. I’ll miss Ms. O’Regan’s tough love (she’s really sweet), Ms. Higginson’s passion for teaching history, Senora Zivec’s bubbly personality, Mr. Marriott’s patience when explaining concepts for the umpteenth time, Ms. Mohoruk’s  life advice and challenging Chem labs, and Ms. Just’s ability to look over the same essay six times and to answer 2 A.M. emergency emails. I’ll miss all my teachers. 

At Meadowridge, I had a second home where I could trust the faculty and staff. It’s hard to say if I’ll get that same sense at Brown. At this school, after nine years, I feel like I know the entire community. I’ll miss everything.

Any parting words of wisdom?

Take time to rest and prioritize your sleep! Don’t focus solely on studying and spend time with friends and family. Enjoy your last few years of high school. You’ll never get this experience again!