“All the best experiences I’ve had at school so far have been in my involvement outside of class. From competing in inner tube water polo to joining a club for impact investing, I’ve realized how important it is to take initiative and put yourself out there.
During my first week at Queen’s, all the freshmen in my program (or frosh as they say up here) were interviewing for positions on the Queen’s Commerce Society. I had never done a real interview before, however, decided I had nothing to lose, suited up, and took my shot. I ended up being offered a position on Queen’s Social Investment Initiative which has undoubtedly been one of the highlights of my year. Being part of the club has exposed me to an industry I had no idea existed and aligns very closely with my personal values.
My transition to University was much smoother than I expected due to the vast differentiation of environments compared to Green Meadow. Tons of people go to Queen’s knowing people beforehand and I was skeptical I would find a good group of friends. After being here for about an hour, however, all those worries vanished. Everyone is just here to get a good education and have ‘the best 4 years of their life,’ and I now find myself living on a floor with 30 people I can’t imagine living without.
One thing Green Meadow helped me with greatly, which has benefitted me countless times already, is the school’s emphasis on public speaking. Doing a 15-minute presentation in Rose Hall gave me confidence in my speaking abilities, which I have utilized competing in case competitions and presenting in front of my current class.
After leaving Green Meadow I felt more than ready to see what the world had in store for me and on what path my independence would lead me. Green Meadow prepared me incredibly well for the mental side of the transition, and I gained the skills necessary at Green Meadow to push through and teach myself in the areas where my background is lacking. All things considered, no high school has the ability to fully prepare students for the next chapter in their life, however, Green Meadow did exceptionally well preparing me for the mental transition.”
