When you think back to who you were when you started here, what feels most different now?

I’m definitely a lot more confident in my academic abilities. The teachers and students support you and have all contributed to my confidence. If you raise your hand in class and say something that’s even kind of right, they work with you, like, “you got that right, but here’s something else to think about…” It helps you build confidence, feel safe to ask questions, and actually learn.

What’s something you believe now that you didn’t before attending this school?

That I could feel so comfortable at school. When I first started, I was really nervous. Now, I’m comfortable walking into school every day. In Junior Kindergarten, we came for a “meet your class” morning, and I found my first friend, who is still here and still my friend today. I feel very safe and comfortable here. All the teachers know your name—Mr. Smith remembers 200 kids’ names! 

Can you describe a moment that changed how you see yourself as a learner or person?

When I did my personal project, I translated a children’s book into ASL. It taught me about what I want to do with my life, which is to support people and make their lives easier. That’s why I want to go into nursing. Without the personal project, I don’t think I would have discovered what I want to do so quickly. As part of the project, I sent a copy of my book to an expert, and he shared that the book was going to make a real difference. That was really cool—it made me feel like what I did mattered and could help. 

What’s one class, project, or experience that really stayed with you—and why?

Definitely Mrs. Mohoruk’s chemistry class. I knew I wasn’t the strongest going in, but I would have gotten a much lower mark without her. She’s so engaging with us and with the content. She makes boring topics interesting—like when we were learning about breaking bonds, she kept referencing Chuck Norris.

When did you feel most challenged here? What did you take from that experience?

Definitely November in the Diploma Programme. There was just so much to do. Between Internal Assessments (IA) and the Extended Essay (EE), I had a lot to manage. But by focusing and making the most of work blocks, I was able to handle it all. It helps that the teachers are always available and supportive. You can email them anytime, and they’ll always answer. Through that, I learned how to manage my time, prioritize, and handle stress. 

What skills do you feel you’re leaving with that will actually matter in your next chapter?

Research and communication skills. Meadowridge supports a lot of collaborative projects. Looking back, it teaches you how to use scholarly sites, delegate, and manage. Balance, too—I’ve learned how to balance my friends, schoolwork, and extracurriculars. Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) definitely helped with that. Finally, I’ve come to understand the importance of community. Even though my friends are going to schools all over—Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver—we’ll always have this one place to come back to. 

As you move on to your next chapter, what are you most proud of?

I’m proud I made it, and that I've submitted all my assignments. I’m proud of my Biology EE, too: it took about six months to do background research and get the lab right. Because I chose the topic—investigating how soak time affects glucose in oats—I felt really invested.

What’s something you learned here that you didn’t expect to?

I didn’t expect to learn and do all the things I’ve done. I learned how to build a box in Design, dissect an eyeball in Biology, create potato batteries in Grade 4, write eulogies in English, and make papier-mâché monsters in Art. 

When did you feel most connected to the school community?

On Spirit Days, especially when I’m leading Fraser House cheers! It’s so great to see my friends and other students unite for this one thing. I remember one year, my little sister asked me if she could hold the flag. She loved it! Also, Week Without Walls is always a highlight. My birthday is in September, so I’m always away on trips, but my teachers always try to make it special. In Grade 6, Mrs. Reis got me a cake and decorations, and everyone sang happy birthday to me. It was really special.

How would you describe the community here to someone who’s never experienced it?

It’s very close-knit, but everyone is still different—you get a sense of community, with everyone in the same program and taking the same classes. Everyone has different perspectives and interests, which creates a wide range: we have students pursuing journalism, engineering, psychology, and medicine. It’s cool to see everyone with their different interests. 

What are you doing next, and what excites you about it?

I’m going to Western to pursue a BSc. in Nursing. I’m really excited for the program. For the first time, I get to study something I’m genuinely interested in. I’m just excited—new school, new people, new clubs. I want to get involved. 

Why did you choose this path?

The Personal Project helped me realize I wanted to help others. Meadowridge also inspired me to do extra volunteer work.

What does graduating from Meadowridge mean to you?

It means a lot to me. There’s been so much lead-up: five years away, four years away, now… It’s here! It took a lot from me, my family, and my friends to get to this point. All the sacrifice was worth it.