Cypress Magazine 2014

cypress volume 1 | december 2014

02

Welcome to Cypress, Mulgrave School’s first-ever Alumni magazine.

The following pages will provide an annual review of 2014 alumni initiatives, as well as look forward to the Winter 2015 events and opportunities. Distributed to the current and alumni Mulgrave community, the intent of this publication is to share our stories and invite you to share yours. If you have any comments or suggestions concerning this work, please contact Alumni Relations Coordinator, Chloe Scott, at cscott@mulgrave.com.

03 Table of Contents

features

22

Head Student Reflections

42

2014 Alumni Spotlight Series

Former head students share their favourite Mulgrave School memories and update us on their whereabouts.

Meet fifteen of our outstanding alumni and find out what it is like to work in business, be a journalist, pursue a career in athletics and more!

more

08 Alumni Basketball Game 2013 12 Pathways: Sharing our stories 16 Alumni Rugby Game 2014 20 An invitation to Gala 2015 32 Welcoming the Class of 2014

04 | hello there, old friend The new Senior School is not the only part of Mulgrave that is currently being built; this past year, our Alumni community has experienced its own renovation. Guided by a desire to foster lifelong connections between past, present and future Mulgrave students, families, staff and faculty, Mulgrave School launched its Alumni Relations programme and Alumni Association in January 2014.

Buidling on the success of the annual Alumni Basketball Game, the Alumni Association works not only to reconnect with former Mulgrave families and students, but also to create relationships between current and past Mulgravians.

Highlights include: - Formation of an Alumni Steering Committee - 2nd Annual Alumni Basketball Game - 2nd Annual Rugby Game - Inaugural Pathways event, which featured a meetand-greet for current students, their families and over 20 alumni who spoke about their wide array of postsecondary experiences and pursuits - Alumni volunteers at ‘Spring for Mulgrave’ Gala - Open-door policy for alumni visitors - Fall 2014 Alumni Spotlight Series, which profiles a successful Mulgrave graduate each week.

We are grateful for your support in the Mulgrave School Alumni initiative, and hope you may find an opportunity to connect with us and help us grow our depth and reach.

With warmest regards,

Chloe Scott Alumni Relations Coordinator, Mulgrave School

Stairs leading from the future lower foyer to the pre-existing main foyer.

06 | why alumni relations?

Why Alumni Relations at Mulgrave?

The Mulgrave School community is active and vibrant. Each day, our campus is comprised of over 900 individuals including students, faculty, staff, parents, grandparents and friends.

As we move through our day-to-day tasks, it is important to reflect upon our unique responsibilities to our community. One such responsibility is to understand and appreciate our roots. Maya Angelou wrote, “The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are,” and it is with this philosophy that we continue to develop our alumni relations programme at Mulgrave.

Alumni relations is not limited to our alumni office reconnecting with former Mulgrave families and students, nor limited to helping them reconnect with one another, but is also focused on creating relationships of understanding between current and alumni Mulgravians.

With this in mind, our alumni events will always embrace our current community, and our campus is always open to alumni visitors, whether they are graduates, former students, former parents or old friends. As per tradition, the 2014/2015 school year saw the return of the annual Alumni Basketball Game and the Alumni Rugby Game along with some exciting new events including Pathways.

This year, Connexions, the Mulgrave community newsletter, included two alumni pieces each week. #FlashbackFriday was not merely a photo pulled from our archives, but is also meant to reveal the long-standing traditions we keep at Mulgrave. The Alumni Spotlight Series was launched, featuring interviews with former Mulgravians. We encourage you to read about the incredibly diverse initiatives that our alumni are pursuing in the last section of this magazine. Current Mulgrave students and parents alike are encouraged to email alumni@mulgrave.com if they wish to connect with featured alum; we champion mentorship and are happy to connect current students with alumni.

As our alumni relations programme and Alumni Steering Committee work tirelessly to ensure that our history is not neglected and that we continue to build upon our success as a community, we encourage you to get involved with alumni relations at Mulgrave.

Mulgrave’s alumni steering committee | 07

The Mulgrave Alumni Steering Committee in the interest of building a sustainable mulgrave alumni community, the mulgrave alumni steering committee was established to provide support and guidance as the alumni association continues to grow.

We are pleased to introduce you to the committee:

Chair: Elizabeth Calderon Head of School: John Wray Faculty Liaisons: Lee Hardy & Lian Anson Board of Directors Liaison: Helaine Shepard Secretary, Alumni Events Coordinator: Michelle Noble Student Liaisons: Nabila Pirani (2004), Rebecca Cynader (2006), Kian Abghari (2008), Amanda Woida (2011) & Samiya Hassan (2014)

08| basketball game 2013

ALUMNI Basketball Game 2013

The 2nd annual Alumni Basketball Game was held on December 19, 2013, at Mulgrave School. With over 100 people in attendance, the energy was high and laughter rung out all evening long.

Highlights of this event included a Mulgrave ‘Swag and Cactus Club’ gift card raffle (won by Shannon C, class of 2011), locallybrewed beer from Mulgrave alumnus, Shae de Jaray’s, brewery, and countless memories recounted with current and former teachers who remember their past students fondly.

The event kicked off with the 2013/2014 Senior Girls’ Basketball team challenging the Alumni Girls on the court. Following a victorious game for the Senior Girls, the 2013/2014 Senior Boys’ Basketball team and Alumni Boys went head-to-head in a fight for victory!

For some alumni, it was their first time back playing since their graduation from Mulgrave. Others had continued to hone their skills at the university level. Regardless of the years spent away from the court, every alumnus/a who participated in the games contributed to the success of the event, supported by an enthusiastic crowd consisting of former and current Mulgrave students, teachers, parents and friends.

ONE

TWO

ONE Lauren Koenig, class of 2008 and Mulgrave Female Athlete of the Year 2008, cheer game from the sidelines. TWO Teacher Michael Moore poses with Tron, the Mulgrave Ti THREE Ian Knowles (2010), Brian Oh, Sam Griffiths and Luke Allard (2012) take a break during the game. FOUR Nathan Stedman, class of 2011, enjoys a drink while cheering o teams. FIVE The Alumni boys team strategises. SIX Nisia Minicucci, class of 2012, drib ball. SEVEN Ricky Kim (2012), with Connor James (2011) in the background, tries to lead boys team to victory. EIGHT Honor Rozee, class 0f 2013, plays for the Alumni Girls team first time. NINE The annual event is a favourite of past and present Mulgrave families.

Melissa Moore coaches Honor (2013), Nisia (2012), Evie Zorzos and Kaitlyn Cyr (2009).

TEN

NINE

THREE

FOUR

rs on the Boys Titans mascot. on the bench on the alumni bbles the d the Alumni m for the TEN Teacher

FIVE

EIGHT

SEVEN

SIX

PATHWAYS a Senior School families and alumni meet-and-greet

14| pathways 2014

From scientists to entrepreneurs, visual artists to humanitarians, our Mulgrave Alumni Association is comprised of many outstanding individuals. On May 22, 2014, twenty-three alumni returned to the Linda Hamer Theatre to share their experiences with the current Upper School community.

understanding of the university application and decision process, having only graduated from Mulgrave a year or two ago. Barbara Mainoli (2013) joined us from UBC where she has been studying within the faculty of science, while Topy Roper (2013) spoke with students about his Harvard experience.

The inaugural event was a new twist on the Senior School students’ University Admissions Information Evening. After learning about the general application and admissions process, students and their families were invited to a meet and greet with Mulgrave alumni.

The highlight for parents and students in attendance was getting to hear about how former fellow Mulgravians have navigated both education and career. Alumni Steve Hur (2008), Shae de Jaray (2006) and Tyler Herrington (2005) were able to answer questions about pursuing Master’s degrees, while Rebecca Cynader and Alanna Vittery both addressed the decision to pursue

Some alumni were able to speak with great

Sharing our stories | 15

a professional degree (Law school and Nursing school, respectively), after earning their undergraduate degrees. The Fine and Performing Arts were well-represented, with Kate Neil (2008) speaking about her experiences at Emily Carr University, Alexandra Bleim (2010) sharing her Ryerson University dance programme experience, and Meghan Robinson (2010) discussing the completion of her degree in Drama at Queen’s University.

As generations of Mulgrave community members mixed and mingled, Mark Steffens was on hand to capture the special evening.

An impromptu photoshoot ensued, and soon alumni of all graduating classes were posing

and smiling for the camera. Surrounded by friends and laughter, the group was not ready to call it a night by the time the last few current students headed home (it was a school night, after all!) and some alum headed down to Milestones where good food, drinks and company were enjoyed.

The next pathways event will take place in the spring of 2015. If you would like to get involved in this event, please contact alumni@mulgrave.com.

Please visit www.facebook.com/mulgravealum for more photos

ALUMNI

Rugby Game

In 2013, the inaugural Alumni Rugby Game was held at Mulgrave School. Building upon its success, the Athletics Council organised a second annual Alumni Rugby Game in May 2014. They had an additional challenge not experienced the previous year; Mulgrave lacked a proper field due to its construction of the New Senior School. As true IB thinkers, the council opted to move the game to Brockton Pavilion, and planned a subsequent reception at the Vancouver Rowing Club Trophy Room in Stanley Park. Despite moving the event off-campus, many alumni as well as current students, faculty and parents joined us for an afternoon of great weather, delicious food and spirited rivalry as the 2013/2014 Senior Boys’ Rugby team played against the Alumni Boys.

18| alumni out and about

alumni visitors | 19

20| alumni at spring for Mulgrave gala 2014

ONE Member of the Board and Mulgrave Alumni parent Helaine Shepard smiles next to daughter Kate Shepard and friend Angie Travlos, both class of 2012 during the Spring for Mulgrave Gala.

TWO Chloe Scott and Brandon Pao, class of 2009, spent the evening volunteering at the silent auction.

you’re invited: Mulgrave goes bollywood | 21

The ‘Mulgrave goes Bollywood’ Gala organising committee has invited members of the Mulgrave School Alumni Association to attend as a guest or volunteer at Mulgrave goes Bollywood Gala on May 2, 2015.

Please contact alumni@mulgrave.com for more information.

ALUMNI HEAD STUDENT

REFLECTIONS Every May brings with it great anticipation for the appointment of the following school year’s Head Boy and Head Girl. A tradition established in 2004 with the first Mulgrave graduating class, the appointment of a Head Boy and/or Head Girl follows the model set out by British schooling system where a student or pair of students is selected to represent their school at events, thoughtfully participate in school governance issues, and be leaders and role models for the student body. In celebration of the appointment of Omar S and Angie J as Head Boy and Head Girl for the 2014/2015 school year, former Mulgrave Head Students were invited to share their wisdom and favourite memories with the Mulgrave community.

head student reflections | 23

A decade of head students reflect on their time serving the mulgrave community...

‘04

NABILA PIRANI

Field of Study Masters of Arts in Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies (Columbia University, 2011); Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Political Science and Asian Language & Culture (UBC, 2009) Current Position J.D. expected 2016 (University of Toronto, Faculty of Law); Indian politics and foreign policy specialist.

Current Location Toronto, Ontario Most cherished memory as Head Girl 2004 Does being the first Head Girl count? There’s something special in being the first of anything!

‘05

24 | head student reflections

NADIM ROBERTS

Field of Study BA in Political Science and Middle East Studies (McGill University) Current Position Journalist Current Location New York City, USA

Most cherished memory as Head Boy 2005 My greatest memory of being Head Boy was not a single event, but getting up everyday and trying to represent my school and community as best as I could. No doubt I failed a number of times, but I am grateful to the teachers who never ceased supporting and encouraging me.

ALICIA CHERNESKI Field of Study Major in Business Administration & minor in Kinesiology (SFU) Current Position Financial Advisor at Sun Life Current Location Vancouver, BC Most cherished memory as Head Girl 2005 I enjoyed the opportunity to organise interesting events and help shape the role of the Head Girl.

‘06

head student reflections | 25

SHAE DE JARAY

Field of Study Master’s of Science in Brewing & Distilling Technologies (Heriot-Watt University); Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Queen’s University) Current Position Founder & President, Deep Cove Brewers & Distillers Inc. Current Location Vancouver, BC

Most cherished memory as Head Boy 2006 My most cherished times always involved a good laugh! From my friends, to my teachers – I always made time to enjoy the present. It never hurt to do a little flirting with the girls, too!

REBECCA CYNADER Field of Study Law (J.D. University of Victoria); BA (Honours) History (Queen’s University) Current Position Lawyer Current Location Vancouver, BC Most cherished memory as Head Girl 2006 Spirit Week - organising events that brought the whole Mulgrave community together for a good cause (and a bit of fun!)

‘08

26 | head student reflections

STEVE HUR

Field of Study Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Graduate Student (UBC); BSc. in Biochemistry (UBC) Current Position Graduate Student Current Location Vancouver, BC

Most cherish memory as Head Boy 2008 I think it was the meeting that I had with other Head Boys and Girls from different private schools. Gathering together to promote unity and collaboration in events was an interesting and memorable moment.

FAZILA LAKHANI Field of Study Political Science & Psychology (McGill) Current Position Recruitment/Training Manager for a Fundraising Company (Donorworx Inc.) Current Location Vancouver, BC Most cherish memory as Head Boy 2008 Planning, organizing and implementing a charity fundraising event with all of the Heads of Schools from across the Lower Mainland. It was a great way to meet other students in leadership positions and brainstorm ideas together to make effective change in our community! Building bridges with other schools are very important as it gives us the ability to connect with like minded individuals and establish helpful partnerships for students and the community at large. This collaboration was the first step in creating a strong student leadership network who would be able to work together to foster change in their communities.

‘09

head student reflections | 27

ASHKAN AZIZI

Field of Study BAH in Political Studies (Queen’s University) Masters in Public Administration (Queen’s University) Current Position Graduate Student Current Location Kingston, Ontario Most cherished memory as Head Boy 2009

Reflecting on my time as Head Boy at Mulgrave, I have realized that there are too many amazing moments and memories to pick one as my favourite. Instead, I wanted to share a few words about the sense of community and mutual support at the school that made my experience there so meaningful. Having the opportunity to work with faculty as well as students, I was struck by the underlying sense of service at Mulgrave. Students, faculty and parents were all actively working towards the betterment of the school, and in the process, built a strong sense of community. I believe that dedication to service allows us to develop capacities and qualities that will build strong communities and it is my hope that this dedication to service will be sustained by future generations at Mulgrave.

MEI-LING LEE Field of Study Master’s of Engineering in Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Nanotechnology Current Position Process Engineer at the Intel Corporation Current Location Ireland, UK Most cherished memory as Head Girl 2009 As Head Girl, I realized that if you have a goal, dream or desire, remain focused on it and be conscious of how all your actions, whether they be in daily life or big decisions, can built you up towards meeting your goal. At the same time, it is important to be open to other opportunities around you and not be so quick to dismiss them. Many of my most valuable experiences have been a produce of keeping an open mind while having an ultimate goal in sight.

28 | head student reflections

‘10

ZAIN ALIMOHAMMED Field of Study Economics, Finance & Philosophy (McGill University) Current Profession Analyst - TSS at Citi Current Location Montreal, Quebec

Most cherish memory as Head Boy 2010 The highlight of my time as Head Boy was the opportunity to attend several conferences for high school student leaders (including one where the keynote speaker was the Governor General). These events are great ways to interact with and learn from other students and were always a fun experience.

MELANIE MOLLER Field of Study Journalism with a minor in French (linguistics) (Carleton University) Current Position Travel blogger, freelance arts reporter, gelato artist Current Location Ottawa, Ontario Most cherish memory as Head Girl 2010 Zain and I had the opportunity to give a motivational speech at an assembly near the beginning of our grad year. We chose photos of us from when were five years old to project on a screen, and then asked kindergarteners what they wanted to be when they were older before delving into the meat of the speech. I’ll never forget the laughter at our rather unfortunate photos, and also the lovely responses we received from the kids. It was a great way to start talking about dreams and goals, and an even better way to start the year.

‘11

head student reflections | 29

NICHOLAS DEMPSEY

Field of Study Currently pursuing HBA-JD Law Dual Degree (Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario) Current Position Undergraduate Student Current Location London, Ontario

Most cherish memory as Head Boy 2011 Presenting the ties to next Head Students was a special moment. It was bittersweet knowing you were finally graduating, but gratifying seeing how excited the incoming Head Students were for their year ahead.

SORAIYA SALEMOHAMED Field of Study International Development, Economics & Environmental Studies (McGill University) Current Position Summer Intern at Neuvoo in Montreal Current Location Montreal, Quebec Most cherish memory as Head Girl 2011 My most cherished memory as Head Girl was working on the Junior School liaison programme, where the Grade 12 students took the initiative to spend time with students in Kindergarten. Mulgrave is such a unique institution in that our campus encompasses students ranging from 3 to 18 years old.

30 | head student reflections

‘12

ARMAAN ALI

Field of Study Economics/Symbolic Systems

Current Position Undergraduate student at Stanford University; Founder of Gossamer Global Solutions, Inc. (Financial Services) Current Location California, USA Most cherish memory as Head Boy 2012 Enjoying the last year being at the same school with some of my most treasured friends.

CLAUDIA LINAKSITA Field of Study Biology Current Position Undergraduate Student at UBC Current Location Vancouver, BC Most cherish memory as Head Girl 2012 I think just having fellow students come up to me in the halls and entrusting me with their concerns made my time as Head Girl the most memorable. The connections and bonds that I formed during my year as a Head Student has positively impacted my development over the past few years.

‘13

head student reflections | 31

TOBY ROPER

Field of Study Currently undeclared, but interested in studying within the field of International Relations Current Position Undergraduate Student at Harvard University Current Location Cambridge, MA, USA

Most cherish memory as Head Boy 2013 My most cherished memory of being Head Boy would probably be the first day of term in Grade 12, where I spoke at and MC’ed a full school assembly with Flo. I was ridiculously nervous and relied exclusively on adrenaline to get me through the ordeal. It was quite surreal to have the opportunity to address the entire Mulgrave community, from the parents to the Kindergarteners, all in one place at one time. At the beginning of the end of my time at Mulgrave, this was a pretty special experience.

FLO BELANGER-JONES Field of Study Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (York University) Current Position Undergraduate Student at York University Current Location Toronto, Canada Most cherish memory as Head Girl 2013 The end-of-year assembly, where the Grade 12s get to say their formal goodbyes to the entire school. The assembly was held in the gym, and all the students and quite a few parents attended. We were not informed until the night before that we would be speaking, so we crammed a speech and learned it 10 minutes prior. Toby and I had gotten used to speaking in front of a lot of people at that point, so it was not as stressful as it could have been. We thanked everyone for all their help, said goodbye to Mulgrave, and introduced the incoming Head Boy and Girl. It was a special occasion, being our last assembly ever, and it summed up the year quite nicely.

32 | we are pleased to introduce you to...

Mulgrave’s newest Alumni

The Class of 2014

the class of 2014 | 33 Staying C14ssy with style A special feature written by Anisha Navaratnam & Samiya Hassan “Who are we?” you ask .

We may be identified with being the largest graduating class in Mulgrave’s history. Others may recognize us by our record breaking diploma scores at the school, while we may also be associated with being the single grade both past and present to move through the old building.

However, as a grad class, we choose to look above and beyond the mere statistics and facts, and believe you should too. Allow us to introduce to you to new incoming Mulgrave alumni; the graduating class of 2014: Starting off as 72 unique individuals, our stories all diverged to become our close-knit family. As we move forward into the different stages of our lives and become alumni, we we’ll look back and remember all the incredible memories we made, people we met and things we accomplished.

Through the many years of shenanigans, our spirit only grew in our senior year. To a year ridden by construction, and the same old parking wars, we brought to the school, a new life. Tuesday mornings became something to look forward to when Waffle Tuesdays came around, and with the front of the school posing as our new self made beach, we found time to relax. We were the class to almost prank Mr. Wray at convocation, and

the ones who sported the unique letterman grad jackets around the school. Together, the holidays were celebrated with a night spent at the school with cocoa and The Polar Express, only to wake up and run one of the most successful Grad Christmas Tree sales.

We are the ones who, despite losing our home field, brought back 7th place for rugby, 12th for soccer and 10th for volleyball at provincials. Within our class, stress relief was given to students and teachers in forms of pies, as the upper school gathered together during GRAD WEEK to watch their favorite grads get pied. We strived to be unique, to be different... to make our year legendary, and we were not disappointed.

Today, the grads of 2014 are spread across 3 continents, achieving our goals, and moving onto a new stage in our lives. Although our story has split into 72 different chapters, there is no doubt that our paths will continue to forever cross, or that we will remain the family we became.

So we are more than the top scores, the building survivors, or the 72. We are the ones who knew how to work hard, but party harder, and could not have asked for it to be any other way.

Each new addition to our family, brought with them their own story and attributes... but one cannot speak for all, so here they to introduce themselves:

34 | we are pleased to introduce you to...

E S CA D E S O CL Abigail Korbin Proven guilty of: Hugging in the hallway

Aleem Muljiani Proven guilty of: Being “The Legend”

Amy Xing Proven guilty of: Being late to Juteau’s class

Anisha Navaratnam On bail for: Planning Grad Skip Day, but going to school anyways

Alex Stedman Proven guilty of: Attending more History classes than Geo classes

Annika Lee Proven guilty of: Leaving a tea mug out for a month, resulting in a fruit fly infestation (Sorry Mr. Cusbert!)

Ammar Karmali Proven guilty of: Asking out every girl in the grade....in one year

Ashleigh Kearns Proven guilty of: Making herself sick to avoid multiplication tests in grade 3

the class of 2014 | 35

Brett Coutts Proven guilty of: Cheating on the grade 5 Terry Fox Run to beat Marcus by one lap

Bronwyn Carere Convicted for: Running in the hallway

Buzz Smyth Proven guilty of: Hitting 210

Carol Wu Proven guilty of: Doodling on someone else’s test paper on a grade 2 math test

Cayla Kaufman Proven guilty of: Staying inside during a Junior School recess

Celine Chen Proven guilty of: Climbing into a toilet when she was a year old

Cole Coupland Proven guilty of: Eating road salt

Connor Hughes Proven guilty of: Hitting a home run into Anisha’s forehead paying rock baseball in grade 8

Connor Stanton Proven guilty of: Copying Marcus’s math investigation in grade 8 word for word....and still scoring a better mark

Crystal Cheng Proven guilty of: Wearing nail polish in grade 6

Daniel Moffatt Proven guilty of: Chasing a girl around with a saliva coated carrot in grade 2, and then eating the carrot

David Cross Proven guilty of: Breaking Ms. Morgan’s evil

36 | we are pleased to introduce you to...

Dax Inman Proven guilty of: Making inappropriate clothing choices on Halloween.

Emma Tallos Convicted for: Attending approximately three ESS classes in the past two years

Fraser Christian Proven guilty of: Once wearing the same clothes for two weeks straight

Fuzhan Majzoubi Proven guilty of: Making fun of her grade 5 teacher

Gina Stylianides Proven guilty of: Never wearing her tie

Hayley McIntyre Proven guilty of: ‘wanna go to Pinkberry?’

Heather Corbett Proven guilty of: Getting yelled at for running down the hallways as ‘Isabelle’

Helia Movasaghi Proven guilty of: Passing notes during class and never taking the blame for it

Holly Thomson Proven guilty of: Having more piercings than the Mulgrave Handbook allows

Isabelle Kirkwood Proven guilty of: Wearing outdoor shoes in the gym

Jacky Tung Convicted for: Being Jacky Tung

Jananeh Nasr Proven guilty of: Skipping one too many PE classes

the class of 2014 | 37

Jasmine Meikle Proven guilty of: Staying in the nurse’s office for 4 hours after getting a bandaid

Katrina Ross-Ghali Convicted for: Hiding from Mulgrave photos

Kelvin Au Proven guilty of: Making a classmate cry in grade 1 by stealing his pencil

Lotte Van Rhijn Proven guilty of: stealing excessive cafeteria spoons

Lucy Bogle Proven guilty of: Thinking Mr. Mullen was a student

Marcus Hann On bail for: Giving Buzz a nosebleed in grade 9 DT because he was bothering him

Meg Coleman Proven guilty of: Stealing someone’s heart and refusing to give it back

Megan Moffatt Proven guilty of: Hoarding all the Junior School’s sticky tack

Megan Steffens Proven guilty of: Carving her name into a tree on Mulgrave property

Michael Arnould Proven guilty of: Wearing grey socks in gym class

Michael Ji Proven guilty of: Fighting a kid in grade 1

MJ Mayo Proven guilty of: Cheating on his entrance exam in grade 3

38 | we are pleased to introduce you to...

Morgan McIntyre Proven guilty of: Having the same kilt since Junior School

Nicholas Allen Convicted for: Throwing a shoe at Ms. Mac

Nika Maghsoud Proven guilty of: Faking the chicken pox in grade 3 so that she could stay home for 3 days

Noah Guld Proven guilty of: Being too handsome

Rachel Johnston Proven guilty of: Making Ashleigh cry in grade 5

Rose Gallo Proven guilty of: Engraving instructions for the use of a toilet seat on a toilet seat

Sabrina Lalani Proven guilty of: Stealing markers and blaming her best friend in grade 2

Sam Xu Proven guilty of: Forgetting to submit a crime

the class of 2014 | 39

Samiya Hassan Proven guilty of: Stealing Ms. Anson’s chair

Sukhman Hare Proven guilty of: Running in the hallway

Sean Kim Inprisoned for: Falling asleep in almost every class

Tasha Fischer Proven guilty of: “Borrowing” art supplies

Sophia Gupta Accused of: Excluding a friend in grade 1 and making her cry

Yahya Sahiholnasab Proven guilty of: Being just too cocky

Sophie Chappell Proven guilty of: Copying off of Celine during a grade 3 french test

Want to see your graduating year featured? Email alumni@mulgrave. com and you could see your class in the next Cypress magazine publication!

Find us on Social Media We have a growing social media presence that is regularly monitored and updated with fun facts and memorabilia relevant to all alumni and Mulgrave community members. If you haven’t already, we invite you to: • Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mulgravealum.

• Tweet us at @mulgravealum.

• Join the Mulgrave School Alumni Association group page on LinkedIn. If you are already a committed fan of ours on social media, why not spread the love? Invite your friends to ‘like’ us or ‘follow’ us – it’s the easiest way to get upto-date information about events, including gala, alumni sports games, reunions and improptu get-togethers.

Mulgrave alumni on the worldwide web | 41

The Mulgrave Alumni Portal has Launched!

The Alumni Portal has launched!

Please read on to find out how to access the portal. In the new year, the portal will be fine-tuned to suit the needs of our alumni community.

If you have any questions, concerns or ideas for this new service, please contact alumni@mulgrave.com.

The Alumni Portal features a Career Networking page, classspecific pages, a discussion forum, photo galleries and the Alumni Directory. Alumni are encouraged to log in, edit their profile information, and utilise the portal as a tool for continued participation in our Alumni community.

To access the Alumni Portal, please visit www.mulgrave.com

alumni spotlight series | 43 The Alumni Spotlight Series was established as a means of sharing our stories with both the current and alumni Mulgrave community. It was Robert McKee who wrote, “Stories are the currency of human relationships,” and with this notion in mind, we have spent the past year seeking out fantastic stories to share. An opportunity to showcase the wide array of passions that our alumni pursue around the world. Whether their success exists in the realm of business, academics, sport, philanthropy, creative and performing arts, or a combination of disciplines, a common thread that unites the individuals profiled is their ability to reflect on their experiences with thoughtfulness and perspective.

Featured in this section are fourteen Alumni Spotlights, including a preview of the 2015 Spotlight Series, featuring Madison Inman, class of 2011. From scientists to sociologists, from athletes to artists, the Mulgrave Alumni community continues in their pursuit of excellence in education and life. Learn what students are up to in life “post-Mulgrave”.

The 2014 FIFTEEN Alumni UNIQUE Spotlight Q&As Series

44 | spring 2014 alumni spotlight series

Q&A

TYLER Herrington Mulgrave School Class of 2006 Interviewed by Chloe Scott | April 2014

When Tyler Herrington graduated from Mulgrave School in June 2005, he had his sights set on a career in the sciences. He began his studies in Earth Science at the University of Victoria, but he quickly realized that Geology wasn’t for him. After some soul-searching, he decided upon Geography, having always had an interest in weather and climate. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography with a minor in Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University, followed closely by a Masters of Science in Geography, where he focused on Climate Science.

Now a Sessional Instructor at SFU, Tyler has kindly shared his experience working in the field of Geography. He notes that the majority of his field work came through co-operative education work terms. “I’d highly recommend co-op education to anyone beginning their university studies,” advises Tyler, “It is a great way to get work experience in your field of study and build your resume while going to school. Most of the positions are relatively well paying, too!”

“Their purpose was to monitor the skies and provide advance warning of long-range missiles (should Russia try to attack the West), as the Arctic is the shortest route between Russia and North America.”

FIGURE 1

“The fact that we ha guard’ (a local Inuit arm us at all times really dro

Tyler Herrington | 43 WE ASKED You have lived and worked in rural Northern Canada; what was the biggest ‘culture shock’ for you upon moving to Northern Canada?

TYLER REFLECTS ON LIFE “UP NORTH” A little bit of history: My work term with the Environmental Sciences Group took me to former Distance Early Warning (DEW) Line locations across the Canadian Arctic in 2009. For those unfamiliar with the DEW Line stations, they were a series of radar stations built during the Cold-War era, jointly operated by the Canadian and US military. Their purpose was to monitor the skies and provide advance warning of long-range missile attacks. Many radar stations were abandoned after the Cold War and left as is (though some continue to operate in a reduced capacity as part of the Northern Warning System). In the 1990s, the Department of National Defense began a massive environmental assessment effort in order to identify contaminated areas and develop plans for their remediation. In all, 21 DEW-Line stations underwent remediation, with the last site being completed in 2013.

Location: During my summer field work in 2009, I completed two four-week rotations between June and August at two different DEW-Line stations – one in Cape Dyer, Nunavut, (see figure 1) - the easternmost point of land on Baffin Island, and another by Mackar Inlet on the Melville Peninsula in western Nunavut (see figure 2).

ad to have an armed ‘bear med with a shot-gun) with ove home the dangers that polar bears represented”.

FIGURE 2

Dangerous Work: I was part of a small field crew conducting soil, water, and waste sampling at the DEW-Line sites, focusing on areas contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), which were once used as a fire retardant in paint (before their toxic effects were confirmed), hydrocarbon spills, as well as heavy metal contamination. The scariest task I remember was entering an abandoned and gutted building about the length of a football field and void of light (for all the lights and electrical sources had long been continued on next page...

44 | spring 2014 alumni spotlight series removed) to collect samples of PCBcontaminated paint.

Shedding some light on a new experience: During the summer months, locations inside the Arctic Circle (66.6oN/S and higher) experience 24-hour daylight! Given the timing of my rotations (midJune through mid-August), I experienced 24 hours of daylight for pretty much all of my first rotation in Cape Dyer, and nearly 24 hours of daylight during my second rotation in Mackar Inlet.It was extremely hard to adjust to in the beginning, as 3:00am looks the same as 3:00pm, and the garbage bags over the windows would often fall down while you slept, letting the bright light in!

For the first week or two during my rotation in Cape Dyer, I’d wake up multiple times during the night in a panic, thinking that I had overslept, only to realize that my shift didn’t start for another few hours. I think adjusting to the 24 hours of daylight was was the biggest ‘culture shock’ I experienced, followed closely by the vast, open tundra environment, void of trees, or anything taller than a few centimetres. Grass and flowers were the tallest plants I saw!

The fact that we had to have an armed ‘bear guard’ (a local Inuit armed with a shot-gun) with us at all times really drove home the dangers that polar bears represented.

WE ASKED The company that you worked for in the Yukon was doing mineral exploration work. What does this type of work entail?

TYLER EXPLAINS GEOTECHING My work term with Selwyn Resources was my first work term, which I did at the end of my second year at UVic. The job brought me to the Selwyn Mountains in the southeastern Yukon, along the border with the Northwest Territories, where Selwyn Resources was investigating a sedimentary-exhalative hosted Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) deposit. Basically, these are believed to be ancient sediments that once formed in the deep oceans near hydrothermal vents (aka ‘blacksmokers’), and over geologic time, would have been uplifted to their present day location in the SE Yukon.

Here, most of my duties consisted of ‘geoteching’ – a term that refers to analysis of drill core (samples of rock taken out by a specialized drilling instrument that represent a stratigraphic sequence of rock and sediment) in order to assess its structural stability. I often worked closely with geologists who would periodically come in to the ‘core shack’ to assess at what depth along the stratigraphic sequence the ‘active member’ (or rock/sediments housing the Pb and Day shifts began at 7:00am and finished at 7:00pm, Zn) was located. with a 1-hour break for lunch, and we worked 7 As a break from geoteching, I’d sometimes be days a week for 4 weeks (though I did get two required to cut samples of the active member weeks off after my first rotation). Due to the constant daylight, there was also a night shift that core using a rock saw, with diamond coated began at 7:00pm and ended at 7:00am. If you were blades. The samples would then be shipped south on the night shift, your breakfast would have been for chemical analysis to estimate the abundance the dinner that was being served for the day crew, of Pb and Zn hosted in the rock. It was pretty while your dinner was whatever was being served nerve-wracking operating the saw, since you often had to hold your fingers just inches away from for breakfast to the day crew. the blade! Working with the saw was very messy,

Tyler Herrington | 45 as it would spray sediments all over the place, and given that the ‘active member’ was hosted in a blackish sediment, you’d often come out looking like a coal miner afterwards (Figure 4)!

Occasionally, I would assist the geologists and the surveyor with locating new target drill locations, which meant I would get to ride in a helicopter.

WE ASKED What advice would you give to students interested in the field of Geography?

disciplines of cartography (of course!), as well as a field that is quite hot right now – Geographic Information Science (GIS), which uses specialized software to study the spatial distribution of phenomenon. Essentially it is a type of digital mapping. There are quite a wide number of jobs available in the field of GIS mapping at the moment.

Given its highly interdisciplinary nature and varied subject matter, Geography could lead to a wide number of different fields of employment, so I TYLER DRAWS ON HIS EXPERIENCE would definitely recommend anyone considering Geography is a highly interdisciplinary and varied the field of Geography to get involved in co-op field, covering both the social sciences (human education. It is a great way to try out a variety of geography) as well as the sciences (physical different types of jobs and in many cases, co-op geography). Human geography focuses on topics jobs can lead to full-time permanent employment related to populations, the economy, and social after you graduate. At a minimum, a co-op interactions, amongst other factors, while physical placement will help you figure out a possible geography includes the study of how landscapes career area,or as in my case, figure out what I did change over time (geomorphology), the not want to do. distribution of plants and animals (biogeography), and the field I specialized in – climatology (climate Tyler Herrington, April 2014 and climate change). Geography also includes the

FIGURE 4

46 | spring 2014 alumni spotlight series After graduating from Mulgrave School in 2006, Alanna Vittery studied psychology at the University of British Columbia. While at UBC, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Honours Psychology. In 2010, Alanna travelled to Spain to work for six-months as an au pair. Her passion for working with children was confirmed by her au pair experience, so she applied to the competitive nursing programme at BCIT. We caught up with Alanna as she nears the completion of her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a specialisation in paediatric nursing.

Q&A Vittery ALANNA

Mulgrave School Class of 2006| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | May 2014

Did you know that you wanted to work with children when you graduated from Mulgrave?

idea, especially when I didn’t know for sure that nursing was for me. I worked as a nanny during the summers and volunteered with children in many areas of the community.

I definitely knew I wanted to work closely with children in some area; however, I wasn’t sure what career that would lead me to. I had considered I explored the field of research after graduating nursing when applying to universities, but thought from UBC by working on a project at B.C. specialising right out of high school wasn’t a good Children’s Hospital as well as working for the

Alanna Vittery | 47 UBC School of Nursing on two different projects about infant sleep and another one that aimed to increase accessibility of primary health care to children in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

learned a lot about children.

These experiences led me to realize that I love the close interactions and hands-on work that nurses have with their patients/clients. This led me to where I am now – just entering my final term in nursing school with a specialisation in paediatrics!

Simply getting through nursing school has been the biggest challenge so far. It has challenged me mentally, physically and emotionally more than I ever could have imagined! Even the early morning basketball practices that I used to wake up for in my Mulgrave years couldn’t prepare me for waking up at 4:45 am for clinical two mornings a week!

What advice would you give to students interested in taking a gap year and working abroad?

Go for it! The half year that I spent living with a Spanish family after graduating from UBC and before starting nursing school at BCIT was an amazing experience.You are only young once, and my travels gifted me with an immense respect and greater understanding for people from different cultures, and I believe this is an asset to my work today.

The travel bug hit me after graduating from university with my Honours Psychology degree, and I wanted to experience something really different than my life back home, so I became an au pair. Living with the same family for the entire six months in Spain proved to be a great way to become immersed in the culture and language. Working as an au pair was more of a cultural exchange than working abroad, but I

What is the biggest challenge of working in paediatic nursing?

Soon, I’ll be entering my final preceptorship, which means that I’ll be working both 12-hour day shifts and night shifts in the hospital, and I expect this to be an adjustment.

The learning curve has been steep since my first day in the hospital, and I know it won’t stop once I graduate this December. Lifelong learning is a key part of nursing, and I’ve learned that patience, compassion, humour and creativity are essential qualities for paediatric nursing.

Do you have any favourite Mulgrave memories that you would like to share?

I recently heard that Mulgrave is building a new senior school and this news reminded me of my first day in the new school on Cypress Bowl Lane back in 2001. Everything looked and even smelled brand new, and I just remember thinking how lucky I was to be in such a state-of-the-art school, equipped with the latest technologies. I also will never forget singing the Mulgrave anthem and hearing every boy in our classes try to hit the incredibly high notes scattered throughout the song.

Alanna Vittery, April 2014

48 | spring 2014 alumni spotlight series Nima Jelveh graduated from Mulgrave School in 2009 as a member of the 2nd IBDP class. A Prefect who had been involved in many aspects of student life, from the Service Action Council to the Tennis team, Nima was the first Mulgravian to attend an Ivy League school for his undergraduate degree. He earned his Bachelor’s of Engineering followed by a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and now works as a Business Technology Analyst for Deloitte.

Nima joined us for an interview via Skype from Buffalo, New York and spoke about what it was like studying in the USA, Hong Kong and Europe, while also reminiscing on his time as a high school student.

Let us introduce you to Nima as he shares his experiences and reflects on the lessons he learned at Mulgrave as an IB student.

Q&A

NIMA Jelveh

Mulgrave School Class of 2009| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | May 2014

You began your studies at the University of Pennsylvania in Sepetember 2009. What inspired you to move to the USA to study engineering?

You have studied on three different continents in three years. What was your experience like studying in Hong Kong compared to studying in Germany?

After having completed my education at Mulgrave School and living in Vancouver for so many years, I was ready for a change of scenery. I had originally wanted to study at Stanford University in California, but after seeing the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)’s campus and the city of Philadelphia, I fell in love. Five years later, I am still here in the great city of ‘brotherly love’.

Studying abroad in Hong Kong was one of the best experiences of my life. Getting to experience a completely new culture accompanied by a group of peers from all over the world was an experience unmatched by anything else.

Nima Jelveh | 49 I learned to work with people from different social and academic standards. Believe it or not, work ethic and expectations are completely different in the US/Canada than in East Asia and Europe. I once worked with a group on a final paper in Hong Kong where half of the members plagiarized (one from Amazon.com!) their portions of the paper. It wasn’t that they were trying to be dishonest, it is just that in some European and Asian countries, the emphasis is not on the originality of work but rather the accuracy of the research.

Luckily for me, we fixed that problem before we actually handed in the paper for credit. This particular experience stands out to me because it solidifed my own ethics and proved to me how education standards vary from culture to culture.

I enjoyed my time in Hong Kong so much that upon my return to UPenn, I immediately applied for an all-expenses-paid summer study abroad programme in Germany. Although I was enrolled in academic courses in Germany, this trip was different in that it was more of a cultural exchange than a rigorous academic programme. My classmates from UPenn and I were immediately paired off with German host students. This allowed us to develop a close relationship with our paired counterparts. We spent a lot of time travelling with our hosts as our programme included a student train pass.

With this pass in hand, I was able to explore the German countryside.

By participating in academic and/or cultural exchange programmes, one begins to experience first-hand how small the world can be. For example, while in Hong Kong, I befriended a fellow exchange student from Germany.

Coincidentally, this student later became one of our German host students during my summer programme.

I can talk about study abroad forever! It is a huge reason why I chose a career in consulting. I hope I can get more international experience through work in the near future.

You recently earned your Master’s of Engineering, specializing in Systems Engineering. What do you enjoy most about systems engineering?

I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UPenn. Due in part to the diversity of the classes I took while studying abroad, I quickly learned that I would benefit by applying my background in engineering to a career focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. This revelation led me to start a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering. I opted to take classes that focused on engineering entrepreneurship.

UPenn’s programme in Engineering Entrepreneurship is top-of-the-line, and I never felt so energized doing work as I did as a graduate student in this programme. The programme is structured to parallel the learning one does in a start-up firm. As part of the final class in the programme, I was a member of a small team of students tasked with the job of creating, designing and testing a business plan for an engineering product. After the product’s conception, we had the opportunity to present it to venture capital firms from New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia for funding.

We thoroughly examined every aspect of this theoretical product: from quantitatively testing the engineering theory behind it, to calculating the market dynamics of our product (including evaluating competitors, substitutes, etc.), to creating a defendable funding schedule that our company would need to bring this product to fruition.

The skills in teamwork, presentation, scheduling,

50 | spring 2014 alumni spotlight series and due-diligence that I learned throughout this class made it clear to me that pursuing my Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering through Engineering Entrepreneurship was a great pathway for me as I embark on my career.

Can you describe your role as a Business Technology Analyst?

I have a hard time even explaining this to my parents, but essentially what I do is work as part of a team that is hired by clients to incorporate technology solutions to augment their business.

People hire firms like the one I am now employed by because we have worked on similar types of business problems before with other clients (in their industry) and often the client does not have that sort of expertise. For example, if Mulgrave wanted to implement a smartphone check-in device for students in the classroom, they might hire outside consultants with experience to help implement that sort of thing.

One aspect of my role is to travel to client sites.

This role allows me to travel both domestically and internationally. I travel every week to and from home to the client site. Right now I am working in western New York State. Before that, I was in Dallas and Atlanta.

What are some skills that you learned through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme that you have been able to apply to your postsecondary career?

Writing! The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and more specifically, Marlena Morgan, taught me how to write cohesive essays.

The essays that seemed outrageously long and tedious as IB students proved their worth once I got to UPenn. While my peers balked at 2000word essays due in one day, I was already used to a high standard of research and writing while

working on a tight timeline. I cannot emphasize this aspect of the IB programme enough.

While writing is an essential skill I gained as an IB student, I would also argue that it is the unique curriculum that balances academics with a service-based learning module (CAS) that I have benefited most from. As a student at Mulgrave, I was exposed to a wide range of cultures, languages and global service opportunities. As a participant in the Global Education Outreach (GEO) trips to Costa Rica (2007) and Kenya (2008), my passion for travelling and improving global conditions was fueled. At Mulgrave, I was raised to be a global citizen. My global perspective has driven my ambition to study abroad, as well as to accept a position with a company that shares these values. Mulgrave’s focus on being a global citizen has shaped who I am as a person. This is something I don’t think any school I have ever heard of comes close to in regards to this aspect of education. I think this should be Mulgrave’s selling point. It really makes Mulgrave students stand out.

At the end of the month, we will welcome the Class of 2014 into the Mulgrave Alumni Association.

What is one piece of advice you were given as you prepared for your own graduation from Mulgrave?

Don’t ever stop learning.

Learning does not stop when you leave the classroom, and it certainly is not constrained to any one building, profession, or group of friends.

Every interaction you have with anyone or anything has potential for a perspective-changing takeaway, and I think that taking advantage of these moments impacts your personality, how you treat yourself and how you treat other people, and how you can change the little things you do to make sure that you are happy with yourself and the direction you are going in life.

Nima Jelveh | 51 Where is your next plane ticket booked for?

I am literally writing this on an airplane to Los Angeles to get some sun and to see a fellow Mulgrave alum, Rachel Lee. I also just found out that I will begin work in Costa Rica this summer.

MULGRAVE FRIENDS ARE EVERYWHERE Throughout his university and career travels, Nima has been able to reconnect with many of his Mulgrave peers. Pictured to the left is Morgan Lunn (‘09) and Nima in Germany, Summer 2012. Pictured below, Christopher Pettigrew, Oliver Dempsey and Nima Jelveh smile in front of Niagra Falls during a visit to Toronto, Ontario, Fall 2013.

To view more photos and content, please visit the Alumni Corner at www.mulgrave.com and check out the extended Alumni Profiles.

52 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series A graduate of the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, Darryl Koh, Mulgrave Class of 2007, landed himself a position as a management consultant with A.T. Kearney right out of university. While on a flight to meet with a client in New York, Darryl kindly took the time to share his career journey with the Mulgrave community.

Q&A

DARRYL Ko h

Mulgrave School Class of 2007| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | August 2014

What type of work does your role as Management Consultant entail?

Management consulting is probably one of the most difficult jobs to explain succinctly. The short version is that companies hire us when they have a problem they can’t (or won’t) solve themselves. This could be anything from figuring out how to enter a new market, to making their manufacturing network and supply chain more efficient.

As a result, our work is project-based. We spend anywhere from four weeks to a year working on a single project, meaning we get to see a lot

of different work across many companies and industries. We typically work hand-in-hand with our clients, which means we travel weekly to work with them in their offices. I’m writing this while on a plane to New York!

Was consulting a career you always planned to pursue?

No. I had honestly no idea what career I wanted to pursue when I graduated from Mulgrave. I choose a commerce degree because I didn’t want to deal with the lab and course hours of an engineering or science program, but felt that an arts or academic social science program would

Darryl Koh | 53 not be applicable enough to land me a job later.

Frankly, it just kind of worked out this way.

morning flight to wherever my client’s office is.

From there, my work will vary tremendously based on the particular project and client.

What led you to your current position with A.T. Sometimes, I will do things like build quantitative Kearney? models leveraging data from their internal systems to trace costs back to a unit level (so With the job market still feeling the aftereffects the client can know exactly how much each of the 2008 financial crisis, I applied very broadly of the things they make costs). Other times, for my third year summer internships, sending I’ll be scanning headlines and market reports out over fifty applications. In the end, that landed to come up with a point-of-view on consumer me only two offers, one of which was for the spending in China, or interviewing client staff to in-house consulting wing of the transportation get their points of view on a particular company company, DHL. That internship sparked my initiative. In almost all cases, I’ll probably end up interest in the field, and I applied only to working closely with someone from my client’s consulting first during full-time recruiting. company to complete this work, and will present recommendations and “Understand that when it comes A.T. Kearney is a midsized solutions to a variety of firm (large enough to client executives (often to undergraduate business have a good brand name, including the CEO). programmes, there are only two but small enough to know that I wouldn’t just things that matter: I fly back home to be part of a big machine).

Toronto on Thursday The firm also has a great .” evenings, and get to growth trajectory and is work from home on one of the few independent consultancies not in Fridays, which is a really nice break from all that danger of being bought by a professional services travel! Occasionally, I’ll take advantage of the giant like Deloitte. Based on criteria like this, I travel and spend a weekend in New York, Chicago applied to only six firms in my graduating year or wherever else I happen to be. and ended up getting the offer at A.T. Kearney.

What advice would you give students who are What types of industries do you provide interested in pursuing a business degree? consultation for?

Understand that when it comes to undergraduate The firm consults for a wide variety of industries business programmes, there are only two things – pretty much anything you can think of. that matter: network and brand. Unlike technical Personally, I’ve worked in consumer goods, retail, fields like engineering, the academic skills learned energy, transportation, and healthcare. As my through a business classroom are relatively broad. career progresses, I’ve begun focusing more and What’s most important to your future career more on healthcare. is that your employer instantly recognizes your degree and institution, and that you put yourself Can you describe a ‘day-in-the-life’ of a in a position to build connections with key management consultant? people in your target industry.

network and brand

My weeks typically start off with a Monday

Also understand that if you are serious about

54 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series doing business in Canada, Toronto is a fantastic place to get your foot in the door. Toronto is an epicentre of corporate Canada, and because of this, offers students unparralled opportunities to gain experience in the business world. Besides, think about how much more fun undergraduate life will be when you’re a five hour flight from mom and dad!

As a student at the University of Toronto, what types of organisations or clubs did you participate in?

I participated in many different clubs including the Taekwondo Club and intramural soccer, but most of my time was spent with the Rotman Commerce Students’ Association (RCSA). RCSA is the student government organization at UofT for Commerce students (similar to the CUS at UBC). I held a variety of positions there including President in my final year. I actually ended up spending more time working on the RCSA than I did studying during my final two years!

How did your involvement with RCSA help you to navigate your career?

It helped tremendously. The RCSA was full of ambitious students interested in a variety of careers. Through them, I was really able to get a sense of what kind of people were pursuing each potential career path. In a way, I gravitated towards consulting simply because I felt more closely connected to other students pursuing the field.

Perhaps the biggest impact my involvement had on my career was during the recruiting process itself. Being a student government president allowed me to demonstrate teamwork and leadership potential on my resume and in interviews. It also gave me the opportunity to make positive impressions on key professors and

administrators at UofT, who put in a good word for me and helped me foster strong connections at consulting firms before my resume was even submitted.

What do you miss most about being a University of Toronto student?

Wow, that’s a hard question. UofT was the best time of my life… I miss so many things! I think overall, I just miss the lifestyle the most.

Sure, I ate too much instant ramen and bought my furniture secondhand, but just the amazing environment of being surrounded by ambitious peers who really believe the sky’s the limit is probably what I miss most.

Darryl Koh, August 2014

Jake Larson | 55 After graduating from Mulgrave School in 2012, Jake Larson began his studies in engineering at UBC. In an effort to learn to dance and to meet new people, Jake joined the UBC Dance Club. A strong leader by nature, Jake quickly became immersed in the UBC and competitve ballroom dancing scene.

He now serves as a social coordinator on the executive committee of the club. Jake shares his love of dance with our Mulgrave community in the following Alumni Spotlight as a part of the Fall 2014 series.

Q&A

JAKE Larson

Mulgrave School Class of 2012| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | September 2014

How did you get your start in Ballroom Dancing?

I got into ballroom through my brother, Gordon (Mulgrave class of 2010). He had done a few of the dancing things within the House System at Mulgrave. He was also good friends with Zach Lim, also a Mulgrave grad, whose older brother served as President of UBC Dance Club while he was in university.

When I graduated from Mulgrave, I was interested in trying something new, especially after having been heavily involved in the service

with Mr. Wilson at Mulgrave. I thought that the dancing my brother looked fun. With that idea in my head, I went to the UBC Dance Club night at the Robson Square Summer Dance Series, which I now help run, and really enjoyed the lesson there. It just seemed like the best place to learn to dance and meet new people at UBC. What surprises you most about competitive ballroom dancing?

At this point? Not much. Initially? Hair and age were really surprising.You will look at dancers

56 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series who seem to be around the same age as you, anywhere from 19-24, only to find out that they’re more like 14 or 15, dressed in full makeup and fancy clothes. On the flip side, you’ll see people who look to be in their 30s, only to find out later that they’re deep into their 40s or early 50s. The hair is a topic I don’t want to reveal too much about; you will have to find out by going to a competition and taking a look at their hair.

What are some of your goals for dance?

“The

Can you share with us a favourite performance story?

I don’t have many performances to take stories from, and those that I do, aren’t particularly interesting without knowing the people involved.

With that said, though, my favorite performances are the more low-key ones on campus that don’t always involve dancing.

entire process has just been to improve up to this point.”

I’ve never really thought about my goals. The entire process has just been to improve up to this point. Currently and for the foreseeable, future it’s trying to work on how to move properly during samba and adding more rise and fall in waltz. Both goals require me to work on the flow of my dancing, so it looks more natural. In the far future, I will focus more on figures and other technique… but that’s for another day!

Recently, I got my hands on a rubber horse head mask and just happened to have it while I was wearing my UBC Dance Club T-shirt.

Doing silly poses while people took ‘subtle’ pictures was really fun, as was photo bombing the other official UBC Dance Club executive head shots while still in mask. Other than that it’s really just shenanigans around UBC that I participate in: a shirtless-train, dancing to other people’s music in large groups, and any other crazy ideas that our Marketing Directors think of.

Jake Larson | 57 What has been your biggest challenge as a social coordinator for the UBC Dance Club?

I’d say my biggest challenge is currently ongoing.

The venue for our annual Holiday Ball held on the last Saturday in November has fallen through so we’re looking for alternatives. We’ve got a strict list of things we need including a kitchen, ballroom, no columns breaking up the dance floor, an area that can be separated off to serve and consume alcohol, as well as a few more minor details. We’re on our last few options for looking around before attempting to host the event at the UBC SUB Ballroom, which has a good number of issues for hosting the ball. In the past month alone I’ve been reminded countless times that your friends are the best people to rely on. Big shout-out to the rest of the Exec team for being there. I’ll have to comment later on how we solved the problem, but I imagine my fellow social coordinator will have a large part in the solution.

What type of advice would you offer Mulgrave students who want to become involved in a fine or performing art?

“I probably suck as much as anybody when it comes to dancing, yet I’m still here. Don’t be afraid to come out and show your moves.” – Jason Liu (UBC Dance Club Social Coordinator 2014, started dancing in 2013) This pretty accurately describes everyone’s feelings after about a year of dance, or any performing art skill; I’d hazard to say the feeling persists even after ten years for some people.

Just because the people around you have been doing it longer or better, doesn’t mean you don’t have something awesome or new to show them.

Having people to look up to is important as it gives you something to aspire to. So long as you’re having fun, it doesn’t matter how well you do it.

Jake Larson, September 2014

58 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series Throughout his years at Mulgrave School, Daniel Webbe, Class of 2007, was a stand-out athlete who was involved in many sports, including soccer and rugby.

It was his skill and enthusiasm for golf, however, that became a pillar of strength for the Mulgrave Golf Team; it was no surprise to his coaches when Daniel was selected to play golf at the colligiate level in the USA. Since returning to Canada, Daniel has continued his love of sport and fitness by opening CrossFit Capilano, where he not only helps others reach their fitness goals, but also trains and competes in the sport of CrossFit himself. With a contagious enthusiasm for his work, Daniel shares his story as a part of the Fall 2014 Alumni Spotlight Series.

Q&A

DANIEL Webbe

Mulgrave School Class of 2007| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | September 2014

What motivated you to pursue your post-secondary education at the University of South Carolina? ?

Did you have any mentors while in high school who helped you in choosing this path?

I was motivated to attend the University of South Carolina because it had always been a dream of mine to play golf at the collegiate level.

Ultimately, I chose South Carolina because I was able to attend the Hank Haney International Golf Academy at the same time.

My biggest mentor at Mulgrave was Todd Croft.

Coach Croft understood how tough it was to balance athletics and academics and would always provide so much valuable advice. I cannot say enough about how helpful he was, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without his guidance.

Daniel Webbe | 59 What did you study at university?

I began studying psychology because I was interested in pursuing a career in sports psychology. However, when I found CrossFit, I knew it was the path that I wanted to take.

How did your education help prepare you for starting your own business?

Starting a business is so unique that I think you have to draw on all of your life experiences. I learned in school how important organisation is, and I learned in life how far hard work can take you.

60 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series Having grown up playing a variety of sports, what surprised you most about CrossFit? Not much surprised me about CrossFit because I was able to draw on so many experiences from other sports. Playing an individual sport like golf was so valuable to me growing up because I knew my tournament results were a direct result of hard work. When competing by yourself, you feel a completely different type of pressure and accountability.

Do you compete in CrossFit? Yes, I compete and coach both at the national and international level. CrossFit has allowed me to open a business and continue competing in an athletic endeavour. You will not find anyone more competitive than me, and I find Crossfit to be a great outlet.

What advice would you give to students interested in starting their own business?

What is the biggest challenge you face working within the fitness industry?

Sacrifice or regret...You choose! Every morning my alarm sounds at 4:30am because I want to get a head start on other gyms and their owners. It is The biggest the little victories like this challenge is that that drive me throughout “I love my job because every the fitness industry the day and push me to morning when I go to work, I am is always changing be better. Every night I and evolving. I will make a checklist of able to have a always have to things I did that day to make sure my on my athletes’ lives. ” better my business.Yes, product is the best I always make sacrifices, and that every but I never go to bed with client achieves the goals they set from day one. If regrets. Those little victories keep me motivated, I don’t, my business will fail. passionate, and I feel, aid in my success.

impact

positive

What makes you love your job?

I love my job because every morning when I go to work, I am able to have a positive impact on my athletes’ lives. There are very few careers in which you are able to have such a close interaction with your clients daily, and I am truly grateful for that.

What is the biggest misconception people have about CrossFit? There is a big misconception that CrossFit is too tough. My clients range in age from 14-75 years old, and what drew me to CrossFit is how universally scalable it really is.

The advice I would give to to the school community is to strive for excellence, not perfection. I have yet to meet anyone who is perfect, and I don’t think such a person exists. However, if you are constantly striving for excellence, you will be successful in any endeavour.

Daniel Webbe, September 2014

Daniel Webbe | 61

Interested in learning more about the sport of CrossFit and Daniel’s CrossFit affiliate, CrossFit Capilano? Please visit www.crossfitcapilano.com.

62 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series Keegan Balcom graduated from Mulgrave School in June 2009. As a member of Mulgrave’s second IBDP class, Keegan went on to earn her undergraduate degree at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. After a summer of traveling South America, Keegan opted to pursue a Master of Resource and Environmental Management (MREM) at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In this week’s Alumni Spotlight, Keegan shares with us how she navigated post-secondary education and discovered her passion for shaping an environmentally sustainable society.

Q&A

KEEGAN Balcom Mulgrave School Class of 2009| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | September 2014

What motivated you to attend McGill University to pursue your degree in civil engineering?

Can you describe to us your experience as a female in a male-dominated field of study?

When I graduated from Mulgrave, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but I knew that an engineering degree would give me a good foundation for a whole range of options. I wanted to study in a large city, I wanted to explore somewhere new, and I wanted a top engineering programme. That pretty much narrowed it down to Toronto or Montreal. Then I fell in love with Montreal while touring eastern universities, so it was a pretty obvious choice in the end.

Civil engineering at McGill was actually pretty close to fifty percent women. Even in specific classes that were male-dominated, I often just forgot to notice. Unfortunately in the workplace, I’ve found it’s not quite the same. It can sometimes take a bit of backbone and patience to communicate your competence.

After graduating with Distinction from McGill, you decided to pursue a Master of Resource and

Keegan Balcom | 63 Environmental Management (MREM) at Dalhousie University. How has your engineering background helped to prepare you for the MREM programme?

The skills I’ve learned in each programme are really complementary rather than constructive.

In engineering I honed my analytic and problem solving skills, and at Dal, I’m building knowledge of sustainable development and management of resources. But thinking about the most helpful skill from my undergraduate programme for the master’s, I’d say it’s the ability to work hard, collaboratively, and effectively.

What type of research does your programme entail?

thought about the role or potential outcomes in advance. Due to a lack of funding, no one on the base had a primary duty to coordinate a focused effort around sustainability. This meant I not only needed to define my own role, but also to propose and pursue a direction for a sustainability programme that could be effective with extremely limited funding.

As a Mulgrave student, you were heavily involved in service initiatives, having served as a prefect and as the co-chair of the Cypress Student Summit. What skills did service-based learning instill in you and how do you integrate these skills into your day-today routine?

I’ve always been driven by a passion to affect The programme is course-based and focuses positive change. Being a prefect and organizing on theory and practical the Cypress “Being a prefect and organising the Student Summit knowledge of resource and environmental showed me I Cypress Student Summit showed me management in the could make a biophysical, I could make a real difference real difference helped me and helped me discover my strong and sociopolitical and legal discover my strong realms. Students are suits: organisation, suits. ” able to individualize planning and their programme through electives and course communication. In tackling change in these assignments to focus on their area of interest. roles, I learned to use reason, logic and research For me, that’s the sustainable management of to work through obstacles and to facilitate resources at a community level. agreement across a diverse group. Now, my passion is sustainability, and all of these skills help As a part of your MREM, you have spent the me pursue this passion as my career. summer spearheading an initiative to transition Canadian Forces Base Greenwood into a You will be graduating in December 2014. What is sustainable enterprise. What has been the biggest your post-grad dream job? challenge you have faced in creating this initiative?

As my passion lies in transitioning our society The biggest challenge was figuring out my role. to a sustainable one, I would love to continue I brought the internship idea to the engineering working in sustainability programme application leader on the base. They were keen to have a and governance. In particular, I would like to competent intern who could focus on improving work at the community level where organizations the sustainability of their operations, but hadn’t such as governments, corporations or the

68| fall 2014 alumni spotlight series military have the ability to affect significant change in the sustainability of our practices and operations.

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a programme that focuses on resource and environmental management?

Think through where you might fit and what you might actually want to do. The environmental field is huge and ill-defined right now; it ranges from engineering of waste water treatment plants to field work collecting information on wildlife, with everything in between. It may be valuable to get an undergraduate degree in

another area and then angle yourself, either through employment, extra-curricular activities or another degree towards resource and environmental management. Most degrees can be applied in a resource and environmental management field, not just engineering or biology, but economics, psychology, and law, just to name a few. If you don`t know exactly where you fit yet, talk to people. Learn about the space and what kind of work is out there as much as you can before jumping into a lengthy programme.

Keegan Balcom, September 2014

From Fame and Little Women to The Laramie Project and Cyberlife, Alexandra Crone played essential roles in making things happen behind-the-scenes of many Mulgrave productions. From working as a technician to taking on the responsibility of being Stage Manager, Alexandra, Mulgrave Class of 2012, learned a lot about the magic of theatre during her Mulgrave years. She continues her passion for all-thingtheatre as a resident of London, England, where she is studying costume design at the University of the Arts London. Alexandra shares with us her reflections on her time spent backstage in the Linda Hamer Theatre and fills us in on what costume design is all about this Alumni Spotlight.

Q&A Crone

ALEXANDRA Mulgrave School Class of 2012| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | October 2014

What motivated you to attend University of the Arts London to puruse your degree in costume design?

When I initially applied to UAL it was because of the notability of the Costume course offered at Wimbledon College. The location itself was appealing because it gave me an opportunity to immerse myself in a different culture, which is something that I’ve always found highly interesting. London is such a massive place with so many things to discover that it seemed like the chance of a lifetime. Along with the number of theatres and studios, it is a brilliant place to see many things come to life first-hand.

Did you have any mentors throughout your high school years who helped you in finding this path?

I had many mentors throughout my high school career, both at Mulgrave and within the wider community. I wouldn’t necessarily say that these mentors helped me to find the path I’m currently on, but rather presented a framework that allowed me to discover my strengths and weaknesses. Within the school, the Fine & Performing Arts department had the biggest impact. I spent quite literally hundreds of hours in the theatre working from the time I was in Grade 7 up until I graduated, and Mr. Pope was a constant fixture during my time there. He taught me a great deal about patience, organisation,

70 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series leadership and the importance of gaffers tape.

Also, Ms. Morgan, who will always inspire students to think outside the box and keep a quick wit about them.

What type of work does your programme entail?

What is the biggest misconception you hear about costume design?

A lot of people I have talked to assume that costume design is the same as fashion design.

While both create clothing, fashion, ultimately, is created to be sold to a consumer. Whereas, costume is the creation of a believable character through the visualization of their clothes, hair and make up. The latter requires a huge collaborative effort between many departments of a production or show. It has a lot to do with understanding others and how individuals present themselves in different facets of their lives.

First off, to answer that I should say that unlike most other degree programmes I know of, there are no flexible modules or classes. The timetable I have is set by the college and includes myriad topics, ranging from fashion history lectures to corset making. There are two components that make up my course: Critical and Contextual Studies (which is a bit like ToK but directed more As a Mulgrave student, you were a key member towards the arts) and Practical Skills, which of the technical crew consists of design for much of your high work and sewing.

“Working as a part of a team and school career. What We collaborate with understanding how to navigate skills did you acquire others throughout our course and, team dynamics are probably the backstage that you have been able to carry with occasionally, with two most important skills that I you into your postindustry professionals secondary career? have been able to use...” to create designs for prospective plays, In my time on the tech crew, I had a chance to films, television series, dance or other types of work in many different roles from technician performance. to Stage Manager. Each of these roles taught me a new skill set from time management and If you could design the costumes for any play or organisation to the importance of a community performance? you can rely on. Working as a part of a team and understanding how to navigate team dynamics I grew up reading and watching a lot of science are probably the two most important skills that I fiction and fantasy stories, and it’s something that have been able to use in the past two years of my has stayed with me. These are genres that allow course. Considering the collaborative nature of for a lot of creativity and historical research my course, these skills have been key. being used in new and innovated ways, which I find really exciting. Shows like Doctor Who, Did you experience any ‘culture shock’ upon your Firefly and Game of Thrones blend historical or move to London? contemporary styles into something more to create a visual aesthetic of their own. I would The sheer size of London was a massive shock love to work on something along that sort of when I first moved here, along with the labyrinth line. that is public transport. In general, it takes an hour to get anywhere within the city. This took

Alexandra Crone | 71 LEFT Our first major sewing projects were to make a corset and petticoat with bum roll both of which work well together to create the underpinnings of an outfit.

BELOW The first group project we were given was based on Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur and had a minuscule budget. We were also given an element which we had to incorporate - in our case this was grassand any language our group members could speak which included Icelandic, Swedish, Dutch, French and English.

some getting used to, but I realized quickly that as long as you have a decent book, it’s perfectly manageable. The lexicon is another thing that has taken some getting used to and is something that I’m still working on. This is the difference between saying metro versus tube or band-aid and plaster. The size of the city also means that it is very much a cultural crucible that is in constant flux. Other major culture shocks have included the price of living, how much the UK loves curry, and that about 90% of museums and galleries are free.

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing costume design?

There are a few things that I’ve found to be very important for costume design. Firstly, learn how to sew. It is absolutely crucial and although as a designer you may not have to do much actual sewing, it’s important to understand the construction of garments. Secondly, observe those around you. Beginning to understand what type of impression a person makes by what they wear can be extremely useful. Thirdly, sketch anything and everything. This goes for just about anything in fine arts and is a wonderful skill to have. Lastly, have fun!

Alexandra Crone, October 2014

72 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series Juliette Levine, Mulgrave Class of 2011, was the third Mulgrave graduate to attend an Ivy League university in the United States. An outstanding and involved student during her Mulgrave years, Juliette has continued in her pursuit of excellence at the post-secondary level. A soon-to-be Princeton grad, Juliette has a wealth of experience through her academic, volunteer and business initiatives.

In this week’s Alumni Spotlight, Juliette shares her reflections on the International Baccalaureate, insights into her international work experiences, and news about her post-Princeton plans.

Q&A

JULIETTE Levine Mulgrave School Class of 2011| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | October 2014

How did the IB Diploma Programme prepare you for your post-secondary studies at Princeton University?

The time management and study habits I learned through my IB education prepared me well for my studies at Princeton. Freshman year arriving at Princeton, I was surprised to learn how prepared I was for the academic rigor. During orientation, they tell the incoming students and their parents not to be alarmed at poor performance on the first set of midterms as

students aren’t prepared yet for the amount of studying needed to succeed. However, I never felt the shock experienced by most of my classmates as they acclimatised to the work environment. If anything, at Princeton I was pleased to find myself with more free time on my hands than I did during my time at Mulgrave.

Did you have any mentors who helped you in navigating your post-secondary ambitions while at Mulgrave?

Juliette Levine | 73 I was fortunate to have close relationships with many of my teachers at Mulgrave who encouraged me to keep pushing myself and supported my ambition to go to an ivy-league school. Ms. Morgan played a particularly big role as my physical and emotional cheerleader during the process. Ms. Morgan helped me with my admissions essays and spent a lot of time on a thoughtful letter of recommendation. More importantly, without her mentoring me in debate, school, and during the admissions process, I am sure I wouldn’t be where I am today.

What drew you to Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs?

in Ottawa, 2010, and later represented Canada at the Worlds Public Speaking Competition in Australia. How did your experiences as a debater help to shape your interest in public and international affairs?

Debate is one of the main factors that got me interested in public policy. During debate competitions, we typically debate policy recommendations such as ‘Performance Enhancing Drugs should be Legalized’. Although some of the issues may seem clear on the surface, through the process of researching both sides for a debate, you learn how complicated the issue actually is. I find the process of trying to draw some conclusions out of a gray area of uncertainty and confusion really interesting.

Through many years of debate, I knew I was interested in studying politics of some form “The time management and study You traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to work in university. However, habits I learned through my IB as the Director of beyond theory, I was interested in the education prepared me well for Strategic Partnerships and Community practical application my studies at Princton.”

Engagement at of politics and how DUMA, a socialto influence change. entrepreneurship startThe Woodrow up, in the summer of 2013. What type of work did Wilson School is at the intersection of politics, your role entail? economics, history, sociology and, increasingly, science as a lens through which to solve I joined DUMA after they had only been on the problems in a policy format. Therefore, not only ground in Kenya for one year and had just moved is this essentially a ‘problem-solving’ major which to Nairobi, so it was still a very small company. allows me to think up solutions to major world I got to work closely with the two co-CEOs problems, but it is also broad, appealing to my and cofounders on shaping their strategy and wide range of interests and passions. vision for the future, in addition to my official job description. In my role, I reached out to the During your years at Mulgrave, you were a top Kenyan universities and attended meetings member of the Debate Team. Not only did you to pitch them the idea of partnering with our earn the Senior School Public Speaking Award employment service for their graduating students. in recognition of achieving the highest overall I also created job opportunities through the standing in competitive public speaking, but you DUMA database by sending business proposals were also the Top Speaker at the International to international companies with a Kenyan Independent Schools Public Speaking Competition

74 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series

ABOVE Juliette and fellow Class of 2011 grads, Ethan Gaudry-Gardner and Andrew Moffatt, with Ms. Morgan in front of the houses of parliament in Ottawa at the International Independent Schools Public Speaking Competion in 2010.

presence, encouraging them to use our system for their hiring needs. However, I am most proud of my role in writing the grant proposal DUMA submitted to the Rockefeller Foundation which won $100,000 to allow DUMA to develop a sophisticated screening mechanism to test job candidates for the skills they list.

my previous internship, and there was not too much carry-over in terms of skills. I went from working in a t-shirt at a start-up incubator to working in a suit on the 22nd floor in Times Square. I learned a lot at Thomson Reuters about conduct in a business environment, attention to detail, research and presentation.

What was the greatest challenge you faced while working abroad in Kenya?

You are involved in a very special organisation founded by a fellow Princeton student, Music is Medicine. Can you share with us your experience working as a director for the ‘Donate A Song’ project?

I think my biggest challenge was just a matter of safety and independence. Nairobi is a dangerous city; therefore, it wasn’t advisable for me to leave the house unaccompanied. I’m an independent person, so I found this frustrating and limiting.

This past summer, you worked as a Summer Analyst in the Financial and Risk Corporate Strategy Sector of Thomson Reuters. What skills from your previous role at DUMA were you able to lend to your work in this sector?

Honestly, this job was extremely different than

I have been involved with Music is Medicine since my first year at Princeton and have been the Director of the Donate A Song Project for 2 years now. The Donate A Song project connects critically ill patients with celebrity artists who meet them, write them personal songs and then perform these songs for the patients. The songs are later released on iTunes and YouTube and all proceeds go towards research for that child’s illness. It has definitely been a challenge leading

Juliette Levine | 75

LEFT Juliette presents to the judging panel during an IBM case competition.

RIGHT Juliette chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda with one of DUMA’s CEOs and Juliette’s housemate from Kenya.

this project as it involves coordination between bureaucratic hospitals, extremely busy artists, and patients who we sincerely do not want to let down. However, it is rewarding to know that this experience changes the lives of the patient, their friends and family, and the artist. Our mission is really to make giving back to the community a normal and expected part of the music industry.

If you want to know more, you can take a look at the Music is Medicine website at www. musicismed.org.

than applying to Canadian schools, but it can be really rewarding. I almost didn’t apply because studying for the SAT seemed like too much work, considering I probably wouldn’t get in anyway.

However, the SAT is not that important – US universities keep in mind that, in Canada, our curriculum is not geared towards the SAT! Also, really try to dive in to extra-curricular activities.

US universities want to know that when you’re on campus, you will contribute to the campus culture outside of the classroom.

What is next on the horizon for you?

Do you have a favorite Mulgrave memory that you would like to share with our readers?

I recently accepted an offer to work at Bain & Company* next year at their headquarters in Boston as an Associate Consultant. (*Bain & Company is one of the world’s leading management consulting firms).

What advice would you give to students interested in applying to a US university?

Definitely go for it! It is a little more effort

I have a lot of great memories from my time at Mulgrave. One of my favourite times was my Grade 11 SAC retreat. Spending a few days away with classmates strengthened my friendships and also got us started on our Make A Wish/ Olympics 2010 Spirit Week, which was incredibly rewarding and fun.

Juliette Levine, October 2014

76 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series An active, involved and compassionate Mulgrave student, Lauren Bridges successfully completed her IB Diploma in 2009 and moved to California to pursue her studies in Media and Mass Communications at the University of California Berkeley on a full scholarship for the Division 1 NCAA water polo team. Five years later, Lauren hasn’t slowed down, and shares with us how she has found balance and success in her career post-Mulgrave.

Q&A

LAUREN Bridges

Mulgrave School Class of 2009 | Interviewed by Chloe Scott | Nov 2014

How did you get your start playing water polo?

I started playing water polo when I was 12. Prior to that, I participated in synchronized swimming for 4 years. I found the schedule of synchronized swimming (30-40 hours a week at 11 years old) far too much and decided to look for a new after-school activity. I knew I wanted to do something aquatic – swimming lengths by myself didn’t appeal to me, and I was scared of heights so couldn’t dive. My friend and duet partner from synchro moved into swimming, and it was her brother who encouraged me to come and play water polo with his team to try it out. After going to two practices, I knew I liked it – then joined the girls’ team. As they say, the rest is history!

As a student-athlete at Mulgrave, how did you balance the rigours of the IB Diploma Programme with your Water Polo career?

Balancing the two – IB Diploma and a blossoming water polo career – was a challenge. My first year at Mulgrave in IB was also the start of my full-time training with the Junior National team and being invited to other Senior National team training camps and tournaments. In addition, I also played with my club team, and we trained 5 days a week. The heightened intensity of both athletics and academics meant I often needed to make choices about what was important and stay focused on my ultimate twin goals – graduating with a full IB diploma and making the Canadian National Water Polo Team. The support

Lauren Bridges | 77 of my teachers at Mulgrave made a phenomenal Cal Berkeley. Additionally, I was not travelling difference to me. Their willingness to accept as much for the National team because our online assignments allowed me to have flexibility NCAA team was priority until the summer time in my academics while also travelling back and when we would play in Canadian National team forth to Montreal for National team training or tournaments. abroad for tournaments.

Most of my homework and papers were written on airplanes or in the middle of the night!

Some teachers deserve special recognition because of their support of me – James Gardiner, Karyn Mitchell and Stella Abblett all worked to ensure I could ‘balance’ two demanding aspects of my life: academics and athletics. In addition, my life wasn’t exclusively academics and athletics. ABOVE Lauren and teammates representing Canada at the 2008 Jr. Pan Am games.

I developed close friendships with a group “...it was precisely the rigour of my high school IB of people and maintain those today.

Did this change at all once you reached university?

programme and Water Polo athletic career that made the transition to University of California, Berkeley much easier.”

Interestingly, it was precisely the rigour of my high school IB programme and Water Polo athletic career that made the transition to University of California, Berkeley much easier. Even though being at Cal Berkeley was academically stimulating and the number of water polo practises per week increased, the university provides so much support for student-athletes (free tutoring, early class scheduling around practices, student-athlete peer advisors, etc.) I was able to work with that support and use the same strategies I learned at Mulgrave while at

Did you have any mentors while in high school who helped you navigate IB and your athletic pursuits?

I had a lot of wonderful support while at Mulgrave. The big standouts for me are Mr. Gardiner, Ms. Mitchell and Ms. Ablett. All three of them went above and beyond to help me with my athletic/academic balance so I could achieve great success academically in the IB programme and with my water polo.

When our final papers were due for IB, I was in

continued on next page...

78 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series

LEFT Karyn Mitchell and Lauren at the 2008 Upper School Awards. RIGHT Lauren at the 2008 Jr. Pan Am Games. OPPOSITE TOP Lauren and her teammates at their graduation from UC Berkeley.

OPPOSTIE BOTTOM Lauren and her friends showing off their Cal Bears pride on CAL game day.

“All three of them went above and beyond...so that I could achieve great success academically in the IB programme and with my water polo.”

Holland for a training camp with the Netherlands national team, and Mrs. Ablett was able to help me by getting my final paper where it needed to be. She also was constantly supportive of my schedule and helping me find work-arounds (like letting me come into school early to work on my HL art show, or take my spare to catch up on the calculus lessons I had missed) so I could stay on track of everything!

Mr. Gardiner was not only a huge help for me at Mulgrave but he was also my coach for water polo at our club team. This meant he truly understood my schedule and was so incredibly helpful and supportive of me. Not only would

he help tutor me in physics and calculus after practices and on airplanes, but he was so helpful to me in getting me to my goal of playing with the National team and also playing water polo down in the US. He connected me with the coaches of the top 5 NCAA water polo schools and helped me coordinate my recruiting trips, while also guiding me as I figured out which programme would be best for me. James was such an amazing support for me at Mulgrave and we were lucky enough to be able to visit with each other when he was down in California and saw our Cal team play in the Stanford Tournament.

Lauren Bridges | 79

Ms. Mitchell was both a confidante and an academic support person. She had originally taught at Strathcona Tweedsmuir School in Calgary where I first met her as my gym instructor. When I enrolled at Mulgrave she made certain that I got to know other great students, that I learned about my new school and its expectations, and that I contributed to student life, in addition to participating in academics and athletics. I am truly indebted to her for caring so much about me.

What drew you to Berkeley’s Media Studies/Mass Communications programme?

At Berkeley, I was fortunate enough to start with an entire semester worth of credits just from the IB programme! This enabled me to start taking some of the courses immediately that would allow me to work towards my chosen major. I took some preliminary major classes and the Media Studies/Mass Communications class interested me because I loved learning about continued on next page...

80 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series

the marketing and creative side of business.

Once I was in the major, it was exciting to take more specific classes to a certain media and communication or theory, and this really propelled me toward my goal of going into marketing or advertising after university.

tournament in 2008 hosted in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In the championship game, I scored 4 of Canada’s 5 goals.

Can you share your competitive Water Polo highlights with us?

• I was also part of the Canadian Junior Women’s National team that won a second gold medal at the Pan American Championship tournament in 2010 hosted in Miami, Florida.

• I was part of the first Canadian Junior Women’s National team that won a gold medal at the Pan American Championship

• I played with the Senior National team at the Four Nations Tournament (Italy, China, Canada & USA) and Holiday Cup in 2010.

Lauren Bridges | 81

LEFT Lauren playing water polo for Team Canada in a game against China.

RIGHT Team Canada at Canada Cup 2010.

That was an important tournament for me because, although I had not trained full time with the Senior National Team, I started in several of those games.

• I continued to play and train with the Sr. National team for 2010 & 2011.

• At UC Berkeley, I was one of the two freshman who got the most playing time and as a freshman, our Cal team qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time, and we finished 3rd. My sophomore year, I was the

starting set defender, and we finished 2nd at NCAAs. Being part of the National Team programs and the UC Berkeley team opened so many opportunities for me to travel to amazing places for training camps and tournaments with my teammates: Spain, England, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil, and the United States are some of the countries we visited.

continued on next page...

82 | Fall 2014 Alumni Spotlight Series

TWO

ONE

THREE ONE Lauren sporting a gold medal at the Jr. Pan Am games in 2010. TWO Team Canada after winning the gold medal at the Jr. Pan Am games in 2010. THREE The UC Berkeley Women’s Water Polo team at the Oskis Cal Athletics Awards Ceremony in 2013. FOUR Team Canada at the Canada Cup Tournament. FIVE Lauren playing in the Canada Select League. SIX The Cal Bears Women’s Water Polo team in a huddle during a game versus Stanford.

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

Lauren Bridges | 83 I’m sorry to hear that you suffered from injury and can imagine that it was an emotional decision to medically retire from water polo. How did you overcome this event in your life and how did you channel your energy into other pursuits?

Getting injured was indeed very challenging, both physically and emotionally. I had my first shoulder surgery with labrum reconstruction in 2011 and continued to rehab and train with the UC Berkeley team and the Senior National Team. Unfortunately, I was re-injured at the end of the Cal season in the spring of 2012, and my surgeon recommended I medically retire due to shoulder damage and potential future tears of my labrum and bicep tendon.

After playing water polo for 10 years and still wanting to go further with my athletic career at that point, it was very difficult to stop playing! In my senior year the transition from full time athlete to full time student enabled me to participate in several things that I did not have the time for because of our training schedule. I worked for BARE magazine and directed the photo shoot for the publication in my last semester at Cal Berkeley.

In addition, I worked at the University Athletic office and learned how to write bulletins about student athletic performances and publish them on Berkeley’s website. My newfound freedom gave me a chance to develop relationships with individuals not on athletic teams and also sustain those friendships today. The switch from being an athlete although difficult, was also a big step for me moving forward after university and helped me get to my job today.

In your senior year, you had a taste of being on the ‘other side’ of athletics, working in the Cal Bears Athletic Media Relations office. What did you enjoy most about working in sports media?

Being involved with Cal Athletics from “behind the scenes” was a really fun and great experience! It allowed me to stay involved in the athletic world while getting a great work and learning opportunity. I wrote press releases for the Cal Bears website, headed the social media platform for the Women’s Volleyball team, Women’s Water Polo team, and Men’s Basketball team and also wrote the post game reviews with player and coach interviews. One of the coolest parts was being able to attend the football games and sit in the press box to do stats and gather notes from the games and be part of covering the press meetings for the rebranding of the Cal Bears logo and partnership with Nike!

“...whether it’s a sports team or magazine team, there are lots of different roles needing to come together in creating success!”

What skills did you acquire through sport that you were able to lend to your creative pursuits with BARE Magazine?

Being part of the BARE magazine was like joining a new team. And whether it’s a sports team or magazine team, there are lots of different roles needing to come together in creating success!

Having been part of a valuable team experience with water polo, joining the BARE team was a natural transition for me, and I loved being involved in many ‘teams’ on BARE: Creative, Editorial, and Events. Having team experience definitely helped me take a larger role with the BARE team, allowing me to co-lead the centerspread photoshoot during my first semester and then lead my own photoshoot during my second semester with the magazine. continued on next page...

84 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series LEFT On site at the BARE photoshoot that Lauren coordinated. RIGHT Lauren at the BARE launch party Fall 2012. BELOW Lauren in action at the BARE photoshoot in the Spring of 2013. OPPOSITE Lauren at a client work event in Las Vegas. FUN FACT A photo from the photoshoot that Lauren co-lead was not only picked as the cover and centre spread for BARE magazine, it was also featured on Teen Vogue as one of the best college fashion magazines to watch.

Lauren Bridges | 85

Can you describe your role as the Branding and Marketing Account Manager at a branding company?

In my role at Jack Nadel International, I work with large key accounts and assist those clients in devising and developing branding and promotional strategies and items for their organization. This also entails offering creative and strategic suggestions and placing orders, while also following up to make sure everything runs smoothly. I get to use my artistic flare while executing strategic business branding approaches.

I manage two account coordinators who help follow-up and run production for client orders and work with my Account Executive to execute the necessary actions for our clients! Additionally, I help develop strategies and programs such as a loyalty or referral program and I prospect to generate new business for our account team.

“One of the coolest parts of my job is that everyday is different!”

This job is exciting because you can work in all industries andwork with companies you are really passionate about. Two of the high profile accounts I manage are DIRECTV, T-Mobile, and the Dallas Mavericks. With DIRECTV, we headed the entire NFL Sunday Ticket merchandising and branding strategies and coordinated all of their “swag” gear with the logo, that was a really fun project to work on! DIRECTV has also just been bought by AT&T, and our team is part of the rebranding committee for these two companies to merge and will help consult them on strategies of cobranding. Additionally, we work with a lot of apparel and put together a yearly uniform program for DIRECTV and T-Mobile, and do a lot of fan apparel and products for the Mavericks. My job is a great combination of bringing together my passion for sports and fashion for my clients, which I really enjoy!

What does a ‘day-in-the-life’ look like working as a Branding and Marketing Account Manager at Jack Nadel International?

One of the coolest parts of my job is that every day is different! A typical day for me means waking up at 6:30am to check my emails making continued on next page...

86 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series sure there is nothing urgent I need to respond to or make a call for (we work with many East Coast clients, so many mornings I am already typing responses or may be needing to do “damage control” with an order). I get to the office by 7:30am and get updated on all of our in-house orders and what is going on with all of our accounts and clients. I usually have anywhere from four to twelve conference calls scheduled for the day with clients. I will create a portfolio of what our discussion will be about and have a ‘product-deck’ made for the client based on their specific needs that we are working with them on.

Usually there will be between two to four decks that we will go back and forth on until things become finalised. Along with the everyday calls, Holly (the Account Executive I work with on the accounts) and I attend weekly meetings with DIRECTV about their uniform programme team and the NFL Sunday Ticket team to stay updated on the stock, revenue, projections, orders from the DIRECTV dealers, and what is going well/ what needs to change, etc.

suppliers/partner manufacturers for me to call and take over a production project to make sure it is executed properly if there was an issue.

By 6:30pm, I am usually finished all scheduled calls for the day and a last wave of proposals and quotes come in for me to work on. Amy, Tom and I go over the quotes that need to be done and they will follow up on timing, pricing and stock for the items, allowing us to move forward with the information for the clients.

I typically leave for the day between 7:30pm8:30pm after writing emails back to clients and vendors that didn’t get sent during the day, and sending out my calendar meetings for the next day to clients that have requested a meeting or call with Holly and me.

All in all, my day consists of lots of client calls/meetings and pulling together branding/ promotional ideas for our clients and working with them to make sure everything is exactly what they want, all with exceptional customer service! On top of client meetings, we have many meetings and tradeshows we attend with our partner manufacturers to stay on top of the industry and the newest ideas that can work for our clients.

“Do the very best you can, work hard, and make sure you have fun!”

For lunch, I typically will either eat at my desk while frantically trying to finish a proposal, attend a lunch meeting with a partner manufacturer at our office (we are presented with their line and “latest & greatest” of product and our benefits as a company with them), or I will attend a lunch meeting with a client and Holly to go over current or new potential business.

During each day I am constantly meeting and communicating with Tom & Amy (Account Coordinators on our team) to discuss production and order progression, making sure everything is on track with stock, artwork, timing, events, etc. for the clients. Many times during these meetings, there will be a new list of

What advice would you give to students interested in working in a creative field like branding and promotion?

Some of the best advice I have gotten is “do the very best you can, work hard, and make sure you have fun”. It seems so simple, but it has resonated with me for the past 10 years in the different stages of my life! The idea of being part of the IB programme while playing on the National Team was incredibly daunting, but I did have a lot of fun continued on next page...

Lauren Bridges | 87

RIGHT Lauren and a friend at the Golden Gate Bridge BELOW Lauren after running the annual Manhatten Beach 10km run.

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ABOVE Lauren and her teammate at an Aquatic Gala fundraising event while at UC Berkeley.

OPPOSITE Lauren’s mom Yvonne visiting in Los Angeles.

with my classmates and teammates during that time of extremely hard work. This continued while at university and now in my current job.

I also highly recommend to stay connected with your contacts and get involved in different clubs or internships that interest you! Building a strong network Is what has truly helped guide me. Although my job is a lot of hard work, very fast paced and long hours, at the end of the day really like what I do and am surrounded by great people at a great company. It has been an honour to be part of a family like like Mulgrave, Cal, and even Jack Nadel International; it’s helped shape and direct me to where I am today.

I was fortunate to have a great support system by my elder peers and professors, but am even more lucky to have them continue to be my mentors after the years have passed. I’m truly grateful to be featured in the Alumni Spotlight series for Mulgrave and hope to inspire and one day be a mentor to my fellow Mulgrave community. Please

feel free to reach out to me at laurenbridges1@gmail.com .

Do you have a favourite Mulgrave memory you would like to share with our readers?

Our Grade 12 trip to Whistler was so much fun! It was great to go as a graduating class and do fun activities like zip-lining. We enjoyed each others’ company, and it was a great way to spend time together before we all went in different directions to go to post-secondary school or to work or to travel. I am grateful to Mulgrave for helping me achieve so much in such a short period of time.

Lauren Bridges, November 2014

90 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series Service-oriented, empathetic and risktaking by nature, it is no surprise to many within the Mulgrave School community that Aryan Firouzbakht, class of 2008, is pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor at the University of Sydney, Australia. What is surprising, and even more impressive, is his ability to balance his studies, his passion for music and photography, and his philanthropic inititatives. In this Alumni Spotlight, we introduce you to Aryan.

Q&A

ARYAN Firouzbakht Mulgrave School Class of 2008 | Interviewed by Chloe Scott | November 2014

Hi Aryan! Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us. Can you explain to our readers what you are currently studying at the University of Sydney?

Hi Chloe, thanks for reaching out; it’s a pleasure!

I finished my Bachelor of Science at UBC in May of 2013, and I’m currently studying for my MD at the University of Sydney, Australia. I am almost finished with my first year of postgraduate studies.

What persuaded you to move to Australia to study medicine?

I had a variety of reasons for moving to Australia.

Throughout the application process, I kept an open mind as to where I would study medicine.

I applied to various universities in Canada, the USA and Australia, and I was privileged to gain acceptance to the University of Sydney. The approach that the University of Sydney has for their MD program intrigued me as students start going to the hospital from the 2nd week of classes. During my haematology block, for example, we were at the hospital almost everyday, working closely with patients and performing examinations on them. It has been great to have that exposure from the beginning of my training. I also lived in Vancouver for 17 years, so my acceptance to the University of Sydney provided me with a great opportunity to explore a new country and culture. In turn, these experiences may, hopefully, help me better connect with my patients in the future.

Aryan Firouzbakht | 91 You completed your Bachelor of Science at UBC. What is the biggest difference between studying at a Canadian university and an Australian university?

To me, the biggest difference between studying at a Canadian university and an Australian university, so far, has been self-directed learning, although I would attribute this difference more to the nature of my degree than to a comparison of universities by a geographical nature. For our programme, we have to not only rely on lecture material, but we must read from various sources such as journals, books and research to augment our learning. Through this process, I believe that I have become more of an inquisitive learner, whereby I’m questioning more and trying to search for the answers. Of course, the weather is a huge difference as well!

Much of your academic studies have included practical experience in the laboratory. What sort of research have you executed?

As both a Mulgrave student and a university student, you have been highly involved in numerous volunteer initiatives, perhaps most notably serving as the President of the Light, Hope and Life Foundation, for which you are also a founding team member. Can you describe the mission of the Light, Hope and Life Foundation and what your role is in communicating this mission?

The Light, Hope and Life Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that fellow Mulgrave alumnus, Kian Abghari, and I founded while we were still students at Mulgrave, along with other motivated members of the Vancouver community.

Our mission is to make a difference for children in their future. Education is a great tool for the future of children, and we have partnered with various international charities such as Education Beyond Borders, Free the Children and SOS Children’s Villages to work towards our goal.

“My acceptance to University of Sydney provided me with a great opportunity to explore a new country and culture.”

While in Vancouver, I was exposed to both wet and dry lab settings. At Dr. Tanentzapf’s lab at UBC, I explored the actions of various gene deletions on muscle maintenance and function for D. melanogaster. Following this, I gained experience in a clinical research setting, where I compared various chemotherapeutical options for the treatment of colorectal cancers at the BC Cancer Agency with Dr. Winson Cheung. The manuscript for this research is almost complete, and I hope to submit the paper soon to various oncology journals. Currently for my MD, we are just beginning the preparations for our research project, and I am in the refining stage of my research topic in the domain of surgery.

I maintained a presidency role for the past year while I was still in Vancouver, and other members of the executive team are currently leading the foundation while I am in Australia. I continue to help manage the charity’s operations remotely while I study in Australia. I hope that we will be able to further grow our charity through the creation of new partnerships and development of suitable approaches to improve access to education for children around the world.

Many of your volunteer positions have a focus on health and medicine. How have these positions helped to shape your career goals?

I believe all of my volunteer positions in health and medicine have helped me gain insight into various angles of medicine in terms of the care of a patient. Being a volunteer with the book sales continued on next page...

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ABOVE Aryan and his mother, Mandana Sadr , at his graduation from the University of British Columbia in May 2013 where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree.

at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) taught me how to interact with the patients and their families as they come into the hospital. As a volunteer in the emergency department at LGH, I observed the quality of care that nurses, doctors and other personnel provided in a highly intense setting, while helping whenever possible with translation or guidance for patients. There are many other volunteer experiences that helped to shape my interest in medicine, such as with the UBC Canadian Liver Foundation, and all of these experiences were not only influential in my decision to study medicine, but also helped to shape who I am today.

Alongside your aptitude for science and medicine, you are also very artistically and musically talented.

How do you find time to nurture both your scientific and artistic sides?

Science and art are both very intertwined. I’ve never been able to focus only on my studies; I’ve always needed an outlet whether it is music, photography or exercise. There is always time to have a break, play a song or to explore your creative side; you just have to make sure it doesn’t consume you too much. I was happy to be involved with the Med Revue and also the Halloween event for the North American Medical Students Association this year in terms

Aryan Firouzbakht | 93

TOP Aryan (centre) with his classmates and teachers as a part of a problem based learning group.

BOTTOM LEFT Aryan takes a study break at Bondi Beach. BOTTOM RIGHT Aryan (left) with friends.

of music production and performance, and I hope to be even more involved through the years.

You have your own photography company, AF Photography. What is it about photography that you love?

The tangible aspect of photography is a great experience. The photographer is able to explore his or her creative side while the subject can do the same (in the case of portraits for example).

Photography can be an activity that you do by

yourself or with a group. The photographs you take will always bring back memories of that time and I think that is what makes the art of photography so appealing. You also have to have a vision inside your mind of what you want to accomplish when you take a picture. It is not about just pressing the buttons, it is the attention to the details that is key.

“I’ve never been able to focus only on my studies; I’ve always needed an outlet whether it is music, photography or exercise.” continued on next page...

94 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series When not studying to become a doctor, volunteering or taking photographs, you perform as a professional DJ. How did DJ-ing become a part of your professional repertoire?

I’ve played the piano since I was 10 years old, completing the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations up to and including my Grade 9 Practical. This passion of music carried to DJing when I started playing some music for a few gatherings with friends during our Mulgrave years. I noticed people really enjoyed the music and that pushed me to learn even more.

I taught myself all the skills from videos and minimal practice, and it grew from there. I have performed at various venues in both Canada and USA. I have always DJ-ed and produced just for the music, for my desire to connect with others and make them feel better through music. I think for those reasons, it has always been an effortless process.

I played one of the leads, Tyrone Jackson. It was my first time being involved in such a huge production, and I’m not sure if Mulgrave has professionally executed a musical to the same extent as our cast and crew did for FAME. It was an amazing experience. We all grew as a cast and crew, and made many great memories; definitely a highlight for sure.

It is evident in the diversity of your experiences and interests that you are a very well-rounded individual. How did the IB Diploma Programme help you to discover new interests and skills?

Mulgrave had so many resources and possibilities at our disposal, and I was eager to explore what I might be interested in. I engaged in what I enjoyed and discovered new passions through the wealth of experiences and opportunities made available to me through Mulgrave. The concept of finding passion in one’s initiatives has carried me through my university studies and is ongoing. If you have the opportunities, I believe you should make the most of them and even push yourself outside your comfort zone because you never know what you may have been interested in or can accomplish.

“I discovered new passions through the wealth of experiences and opportunities made available to me through Mulgrave.”

Let’s rewind a little bit, and reflect on your time at Mulgrave. As a member of Mulgrave’s first IB graduating class, what was the biggest challenge you and your peers faced?

I think that, as the first graduating class of the IB programme at Mulgrave, the biggest challenge we as a graduating class faced was the uncertainty of our final result. We knew the resources and programme were in place because Mulgrave had received accreditation from the IBO, but we weren’t sure what the final outcome would be.

On that same note, what was the highlight of your IB experience at Mulgrave?

The highlight of my IB experience at Mulgrave has to be my involvment with the musical FAME.

What advice would you give to students interested in applying to medical school?

The best advice I can give to those who are interested in applying to medical school is to be active in your passions. Let your passion for your activities take you to higher levels. Aim to be an individual who is constantly learning by asking questions and finding answers. Through this, get as much exposure as you can to the medical field so you can make your decision. Know what the requirements are for universities and tailor your

Aryan Firouzbakht | 95

ONE ONE Aryan’s headshot from FAME amidst his fellow cast members’ headshots.* TWO Aryan and fellow alum Christie pose on the old steps of Mulgrave School. THREE The first Mulgrave IBDP class graduated in 2008, and are pictured here along with many of their teachers and advisors. *These headshots, along with other photos and memorabilia from a variety of past Mulgrave productions, are part of the Mulgrave Fine & Performing Arts Department Archives.

TWO

THREE continued on next page...

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Aryan Firouzbakht | 97 approach from the beginning. At the end of the day, I believe that you are not making a decision for a certain career, but rather a different way of life as you will be dedicating many years to perfecting your craft, honing your skills, building your medical knowledge and developing a sound clinical acumen.

What is next on the horizon for you?

I’ll be heading back home for the upcoming ‘summer’ break in December and return to Sydney in late January for my studies as a second year student. During the break, I’ll be studying for the first exam of the US Medical Licensing Exam, which I will take at the end of next year, and hopefully gaining more clinical experience in Vancouver. I’m always happy to speak with anyone who has questions about the process of applying for medical school in Canada, the USA or Australia, so please don’t hesitate to email me at afir2383@uni.sydney.edu.au. Thank you for reaching out Chloe, and I hope to see you and other alumni at future events!

Aryan Firouzbakht, November 2014 OPPOSITE Aryan (sixth from left) with his classmates at the opening of the Charles Perkins centre at the University of Sydney in May 2014.

98 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series With a contagious smile and boundless energy, Meghan Robinson graduated from Mulgrave School in 2010 after being named the graduate with the “Most School Spirit” by her peers. Meghan admirably balanced her academic and varsity rowing career at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and graduated with her B.A. Honours and on the Dean’s List in the spring of 2014.

We caught up with Meghan as she settles into her new life working on her Master’s in Outdoor Education in Edinburgh, Scotland, and she shared with us her reflections on the past four years.

Q&A

MEGHAN Robinson

Mulgrave School Class of 2010| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | November 2014

Hi Meghan! Thank you for taking the time to catch up with us. Can you explain to our readers what motivated you to pursue your post-secondary education in drama at Queen’s University?

Mr. Glen Pope had instilled within me a passion for the theatre early on in Middle School, and that passion continued throughout my university career. I became very interested in the technical production and carpentry aspect of theatre, and after my first year of my undergraduate degree at Queen’s, I decided that Drama was what I wanted to pursue, along with Global

Development Studies and Indigenous Studies, which were my minors at Queen’s University.

Global Development Studies and Indigenous Studies sound fascinating! Did you have any mentors while at Mulgrave who helped you in choosing such a path?

Mulgrave teacher Mr. Lee Hardy has always been both a mentor and an inspiration to me, and he has instilled within me the mindfulness, insight and care to look at the world in a different way.

He has allowed me to understand that one

Meghan Robinson | 100 person can, in fact, change the world – something I truly believe he is doing.

In addition to your academic success, you are an accomplished rower. How did you get your start in rowing?

I learned about rowing through my dad, as he used to be a rower on the Canadian National team. One day, I decided I wanted to try it, too!

When you were a Mulgrave student, how did you cope with juggling your academic programme with your training schedule for rowing?

With very little hours in one day, one either develops the discipline to fully make use of these few hours, or crashes. I learned to be disciplined with my time and to get my work done in the hours that were not taken up by school or rowing, and efficiently enough that I could also have time for friends and family.

Lining up in the starting gates beside USA, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand whilst wearing the Canadian unisuit was definitely a highlight for me. Then to hear the umpires call “Canada” at the start of our world championships final was an extremely memorable moment in my rowing career.

Can you share with us a time that you faced adversity in your sport?

My third season whilst at Queen’s, I unfortunately, did not listen to the obvious warning signs my body was trying to give me, and I fractured my rib while rowing. It is quite a common injury among rowers, as the rotation of the body during the stroke and the amount of force put on the oar can sometimes be too much for the body to handle. It was a horrendous time for me, as I was at the peak of my rowing career. The injury forced me to have to stop rowing for the entire Queen’s rowing season. I found it very difficult to stay positive and remain relaxed, knowing how much training I was missing, especially when I was so close to reaching my dream of being part of the U23 National Team.

“Mulgrave teacher Mr. Lee Hardy instilled within me the mindfulness, insight and care to look at the world in a

different way .”

Did this change at all once you reached university?

This changed quite significantly in university, as my academic workload increased dramatically, so did the hours I spent training. This meant that, unfortunately, social aspects of my life had to be sacrificed. These aspects were sacrifices I was willing to make at the time in order to develop the skill and fitness level that was required to be a part of the National team.

As a member of the Canadian National Rowing Team, your hard work and dedication to the sport has been put to the test in competition. Can you share some of your competitive highlights with us?

That sounds like a very challenging time. How did you overcome such a difficult situation?

It was a very challenging time, and I definitely had dark days, but I tried to focus on the future, and do everything I could to make myself stronger, more fit. Perhaps most importantly, I tried to maintain a positive outlook in order to work towards recovery and set myself up for future success. continued on next page...

You have now moved ‘across the pond’ to study in Edinburgh. What will you be studying?

I am currently doing my Master’s Degree in Outdoor Education at the University of Edinburgh.

What does your recent move mean to your rowing career?

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

T.S. Elliot What advice would you give to student-athletes who are considering pursuing their sport at the varsity level?

Always remember that your family, your friends and your mental health come first.

Never let the dark days of training let you forget who you are or what is important to you.

“Always remember that your family, your friends and your mental health come first.”

Although rowing was a huge part of my life, it was time for me to move on and move forward. I had begun to find that I was moving away from the person I wanted to become while rowing, and I needed to return back to my values and dreams that had somewhat been lost whilst training at an elite level. Although I still hope to row recreationally when back home, I have not rowed since moving to Edinburgh.

What is your motto?

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.

Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”

Henry David Thoreau

Do you have any additional words of wisdom that you would like to share with the school community?

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead Meghan Robinson November 2014 ABOVE Meghan rows for Canada.

OPPOSITE Meghan and Lee Hardy share a laugh during Pathways at Mulgrave in May 2014.

102 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series Nadim Roberts is a multimedia journalist whose print, multimedia and video work has been published and featured in the CBC, The Globe and Mail, the Huffington Post, Metro, the Hour, CTV, the Daily Mail (UK), the New York Post and others. He is currently a freelance journalist based in New York and is pursuing his masters in journalism at Columbia University.

Mulgrave’s Head Boy in 2004/2005, Nadim, reconnects with the Mulgrave community to share his experiences in this week’s Alumni Spotlight.

Q&A

NADIM Rober ts

Mulgrave School Class of 2005| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | December 2014

After graduating from Mulgrave, you moved to Montreal where you earned your Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Middle East Studies from McGill University. What motivated you to pursue these fields of study?

Looking back on my decision to study Political Science and Middle East Studies, I realise it was a decision based mostly on a desire to learn something that interested me rather than something with a pre-determined career path.

At 18, I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing, so I decided to learn about subjects that fascinated me. In fact, it wasn’t until the end of my second year that I really began to focus on these two subjects. By the time I graduated, I had taken courses in a number of disciplines, from religious studies to English literature. I’m glad that I didn’t have too narrow a focus when first beginning my post-secondary studies, or I would have missed out on a lot of learning.

Nadim Roberts | 103 Did you have any mentors throughout your high school years that inspired you to pursue these disciplines?

success and make some important connections.

Eventually, I decided I wanted to pursue international reporting. There aren’t a lot of opportunities to do international reporting for Canadian media outlets, but the CBC still has a bureau in London, UK, that is home to some of our country’s best and most experienced foreign correspondents. These are the people I wanted to work with and learn from. I secured a highly competitive internship in London, and during that time, reported on and investigated some exclusive stories that impressed the executives back in Toronto. Even though the CBC is cutting upwards of 1,500 jobs over the next few years, I was hired to work on a small investigative team doing very exciting work on homegrown radicalism and extremism. Much of this work has appeared on programmes like The National and local CBC broadcasts across the country. essentially

I had many mentors at Mulgrave who helped me discover and cultivate a number of my interests and passions. Ms. Morgan and Mr. Grant, two of my English teachers, were massive supporters of my love for writing and literature. Mr. Sylvester, who taught creative writing, also was a big source of encouragement when it came to writing. My interests in Middle East Studies and Political Science can probably be traced back to a paper I wrote in History 12. Mr. Gibson, my film teacher, introduced me to films and directors I would have never heard about and, to this day, I’m still a huge film nerd. Every teacher I had at Mulgrave had some hand in guiding my learning and helping me navigate my interests, both “...because that is academic and artistic. what journalism is all about. It is I am fortunate to have had these teachers. storytelling, and to be a good How did you become a journalist and investigative producer?

storyteller, you have to be an even better listener.”

I came to journalism a bit later than most.

While it was something that interested me since my teenage years, I didn’t seriously entertain the thought of becoming a journalist until I’d already spent a few years working and traveling.

By the time I got into journalism, I had already spent time conducting research for think tanks, working for multinational NGOs, running human rights campaigns, and working in the field of development in the Middle East. I’m grateful for these experiences because I find they often inform my work as a journalist.

I began my career doing local/national news in Canada for outlets like CTV and The Globe and Mail, and was lucky to have some early

Can you describe to us a ‘day-in-the-life’ of a journalist?

No day is ever the same in journalism, which is perhaps why I enjoy it so much. A ‘normal’ day, however, will usually begin with reading heaps and heaps of news and getting a handle on the big stories of the day. I do more focused investigative work now, so I will usually check in with my sources - many of who are based in conflict zones in the Middle East - to learn about the situation on the ground. At some point, I will check in with senior producers and reporters based in various other locations around the globe and hope that I have something interesting or relevant to report back on. Other activities include writing for online sites or television, trying to locate new sources, and doing loads of research. Journalism, especially when it comes to broadcast, is a very collaborative endeavor. I’m continued on next page...

104 | fall 2014 alumni spotlight series

ABOVE & OPPOSITE You may have seen Nadim’s byline in The Globe and Mail (as above) or through the CBC (opposite). privileged that at this early stage in my career, I get to work with and learn from some of the best in the business who are incredible at what they do and have decades of experience.

You are now pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University in New York. What are you studying?

slept all weekend, but never for a moment did I feel stressed. When you are passionate about what you do, it feels a lot less like ‘work.’ I think this is certainly true with journalism. I remember the first time I got paid as a journalist, and I thought to myself, “I can’t believe I am getting money to do this…” Mind you, the pay was horrendous!

I’m studying for my master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University. It was a bit of an In your opinion, what are the top three skills a unexpected move person needs to be a “The stories I am proudest of that was largely successful journalist? inspired by the dire are those to which I’ve felt some media landscape Most of the skills intimate connection, either to the in Canada and a needed to be a desire to explore journalist can be issues or to the people involved.” more international learnt quite easily, opportunities. New York City is a major media but to be really successful at it takes something hub, and Columbia’s journalism school is the best extra that can’t be taught. The best journalists are of its kind in the world, home to some top-notch often guided in their work by a personal sense professors. I still do part-time work for the of ethics and responsibility, a moral compass of CBC and also have some freelance projects I’m sorts. They will have an insatiable curiosity and working on while in school which keep me busy. be annoyingly inquisitive. It’s also important to have a passion for telling people’s stories because How do you balance graduate school and working that is essentially what journalism is all about. It part-time? is storytelling, and to be a good storyteller, you have to be an even better listener. It’s also vital to It can be a bit of a challenge balancing work remember that the work you do is essential to and school. A couple of months ago, I was on the maintenance of a just, free and fair society. It deadline for a big story for the CBC while also is a craft and a life pursuit that cannot be taken working on some school assignments. I barely lightly. Too often, it is taken lightly. continued on next page...

Nadim Roberts | 105 What surprises you most about working in journalism?

It still surprises me when I get feedback from readers or viewers after a story I’ve worked on is published or aired. There are times when you become so absorbed in a story and all its details that you forget that it will ultimately be released into the world to potentially hundreds of thousands of people who will criticise it, debate it and tear it apart. One story I worked on recently had over 1800 comments on it online, some of them not so kind. But journalism wouldn’t exist if there were not people taking the time to read it and react to it, so it is affirming when you see that your work has an engaged audience.

Do you have a particular piece/article that you are proudest of ?

I wrote a story some months ago that made the front page of The Globe and Mail. It was a story about Canada’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis, which has essentially been nonexistent and slightly embarrassing considering our nation’s previous generosity when it comes to resettling refugees. The story centered on the efforts of a Christian Iraqi priest, himself a refugee of the war in Iraq, who has been trying to assist in resettling fleeing Syrians without the support of the Canadian government. Many members of my own family were refugees in this country, so this change in Canada’s refugee policy hit me personally. Although journalists strive for objectivity, I believe a lot of us gravitate to issues that we feel a connection to. Certainly the stories I am proudest of are those to which I’ve felt some intimate connection, either to the issues or to the people involved. The story put a spotlight on a disregarded subject, and I was able to tell it in a personal way through the

lives of real people. Usually if someone is telling me their story and I feel touched by it, I know my readers will feel the same way if I do my job well.

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing journalism as a career?

My first piece of advice is to go out and do it.

Don’t wait for someone to give you a job or an internship. Start reporting and start writing.

If you are committed and talented, the right people will notice. And don’t be afraid! A lot of voices are trying to dissuade young people from pursuing journalism because of recent job cuts across a lot of media outlets. There is no doubt that the industry is in a state of flux, but society will always be in need of storytellers, especially good ones. If it is something you feel strongly about, throw your heart and soul into it and don’t doubt your decision. It is not a glamorous profession, nor is it a particularly lucrative one, but it is fascinating and immensely rewarding.

Nadim Roberts, December 2014

106 | winter 2015 alumni spotlight series preview Madison Inman, class of 2011, is well known among her Mulgrave friends as a leader with an amazing passion for making a difference in the world. Her authentic kindness and determination is something to be marvelled, and we are so excited to have the opportunity to reconnect with Madison and learn about her latest initiatives.

Mulgrave’s Deputy Head Girl in 2011, Madison reconnects with the Mulgrave community to share her experiences in this week’s Alumni Spotlight.

Q&A

MADISON Inman Mulgrave School Class of 2011| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | December 2014

Hi Madison, it’s great to connect with you! Let’s start our interview by chatting about what you are currently studying at the University of Western Ontario?

I was lucky to be pre- accepted to Ivey Business School at Western, but Ivey doesn’t start until 3rd year and there is a ‘trick clause’ in that one must maintain a minimum 80% GPA in the first 2 years to maintain the pre-acceptance. None of my advance credits through IB applied either,

as the GPA is based on a full course load. So I first had to roll up my sleeves in the DAN Management program in Consumer Behaviour for two years before Ivey Business School.

Ivey has been an incredible experience and also completely different than my first two years at Western. At Ivey everyone takes the same set of courses in our first year, which covers all your business fundamentals. In second year, we need to cover two mandatory courses, and then the rest is up to you, which is really interesting because

RIGHT Madison (centre row, third from right) with Western’s Charity Orientation team.

LEFT Canadian TV personality Jessi Cruickshank wearing a Wester Charity campaign shirt while leading a student rally that brought 7,000 students together.

you are essentially designing your specialization.

I chose to take courses in marketing, advertising and entrepreneurial finance.

first year at Western and was proud to be the only incoming second year student accepted, historically being led exclusively by upper-year students. Our team leads all of the charity I will actually be completing my final term in programming during Orientation week for Singapore, at Singapore Management University the incoming group of first year students to on exchange. During this term, I will be taking a support the Terry Fox Foundation and Cystic few subjects that I wouldn’t have the opportunity Fibrosis Canada. While this is an intense week to study if I was to of focus on campus, we “I am incredibly passionate about complete my studies work all throughout the in Ontario. For the work we have done, which year and show up for example, I am enrolled many sleepless nights a in turn has become a part of in E-Commerce couple of weeks before who I am and has defined my Marketing, which is not the general student body even offered at Ivey in each fall. During my three Western experience.”

Ontario. years on the team, we raised over $400,000, As a student at UWO, you are heavily involved in for these foundations. In my graduating year, I a variety of charitable initiatives. Can you describe was fortunate enough to lead our team through your involvement with these organisations? all the fall campaigns, which was incredibly rewarding and possibly the most valuable My involvement with Western’s Charity learning experience of my life. A definite highlight Orientation team has, without a doubt, been was MTV host Jessi Cruickshank wearing our the most incredible experience of my life so Western Charity campaign shirt in front of a far. I joined the ‘Soph’ charity team during my 7,000 student rally.

108 | winter 2015 alumni spotlight series preview I am incredibly passionate about the work we have done, which in turn has become a part of who I am and has defined my Western experience. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and urge students reading this to try and find some personal niche at university because it is a big place with a lot going on.

The way to personalize the experience is to get involved in some smaller group of people who are giving something back with passion.

Western Charity was mine, and absolutely made my university experience, and introduced me to the most amazing group of students, with similar values and passions, many of whom will remain my friends for life.

You can find our campaign videos from this past fall online at bit.ly/westerncharityp1run if you are curious about what we were up to!

Many within the Mulgrave community will recall that you were an avid student leader and volunteer during your school years. What skills did you acquire through your various leadership and service positions held at Mulgrave that you have been able to apply to your post-secondary pursuits?

Looking back at my involvement at Mulgrave, I think the most important thing I learnt was how to get people excited. Many will recall my overly enthusiastic morning announcements on the PA system about the Backpack Drive, or whichever event was happening that month. Though this seemed really simple, it was the type of action that allowed me to light a fire among others and garner support behind causes. Passion is contagious and I learned that by embodying this spirit, I could propel ideas forward and infect other students with my enthusiasm.

Did you have any mentors who helped you in navigating your post-secondary ambitions while at Mulgrave?

I remember a very specific conversation I had with Mr. DeBeer in his office at Mulgrave. I was talking about my ambitions and plans to take business at Western and I recall his concern of whether when I began to pursue business training, I might lose sight of my passion for philanthropy (and turn into an insensitive capitalist!) This raised a really profound question for me at the time, but happily it simply did not happen!

Inevitably, I realised that regardless of what degree programme I chose to pursue, charitable pursuits were an integral part of who I am and would continue to be throughout my undergrad.

Nurturing this passion through my charitable involvement on campus, taught me so much more about leadership than any course at school could.

I have to say that an elective in public speaking in 2nd year also gave me valuable skills to project my campaigns and ideas and reinforced the earlier Mulgrave experience, where students are encouraged to get involved and get comfortable speaking and presenting.

What kind of work did your role as a Human Resources intern with the Canucks entail?

This past summer was an amazing time to be a part of the Canucks family because a new Hospitality division was being launched just as I began my internship. Since Roger’s Arena opened its doors about 15 years ago, Aramark has been the food and beverage provider for the arena. After a strategic decision to improve the service quality within the arena, Canucks Sports & Entertainment decided to launch a new Hospitality division in house, which meant hiring over 1,000 staff in just over four months.

Thus, I was heavily involved in the recruitment and selection process for over 700 part time staff, and the logistics associated with hiring, onboarding, paperwork etc. It was an extremely fast-paced environment with a lot of learning and

ABOVE Madison and her fellow Duke of Edinburgh team at Bowron Lakes, led by Ty Gee. communication, which taught me much. The team was incredible and it was a great environment where I was able to take ownership of many new ideas as they were being rolled out.

What is next on the horizon for you?

In January, I will be heading to Singapore on exchange. Afterwards, I will be travelling Europe a bit before heading back to Toronto to start working at Hudson’s Bay Company as an Executive Trainee on their Merchandising team. I am really excited about this opportunity, as I have always had a keen interest in retail, which was sparked while working at Lululemon as a summer job (during the sheer pant crisis in fact!).

Do you have a favourite Mulgrave memory you would like to share with our readers?

One of my favourite memories would have to be my Bowron Lake Duke of Ed trip with

Mr.Gee and the Duke of Ed team. I have honestly never been so cold in my entire life as we were paddling our canoes in the middle of a lake during torrential downpour. I have also never laughed so hard as I watched Conrad pick up his spilt trail mix off the ground during that same rainstorm because of his extreme fear of bears. Some of my best memories from Mulgrave were all the outdoor trips, which I will definitely not forget! My outreach to South Africa and Swaziland was also life changing and I encourage anyone who might have one of these incredible opportunities to get out and get an appreciation for how others in the world live.

Madison Inman, December 2014

114 | blast from the past

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ONE Dina, Tenal, Artimis, Dustin and Elina, class of 2012, during their Group 4 Science Retreat. TWO Sunny and Terry, class of 2009, take a break from band practice in 2006. THREE Alicia, Graham and Liz during their G11 year in 2004. FOUR Some of the class of 2009 pose for the camera during G8. FIVE Art students paint a mural circa 2005. SIX Nathan, Taylor, Daniel and Zoe, class of 2007, play on the Jr. School playground. SEVEN The first Mulgrave Spirit Squad, circa 2008. EIGHT Harry, Hugh, Zak, Ben and Oliver’s band was a favourite among students and teachers alike in 2005. NINE Aryan, Angela and Mario made a great team at the 2007 Cypress Student Summit. TEN Mr. and Mrs. Tuckwell led the Sr. Girls Rugby team to many a victory in 2006. ELEVEN Sonia, Stacie, Kali, Mr. Grant, Alex, Sarah and Jaclyn are all smiles at their 2007 Grad Ball. TWELVE Erica and Ms. Hughes celebrate Halloween 2007. THIRTEEN Kate and Dom perform in a Flashmob as a part of their Grad 2012 celebrations.

FOURTEEN Jack, Kian and Matt take a break during their Habitat for Humanity GEO trip to Costa Rica in 2006.

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