DAYA GROVER

Living Pickering College’s values every day

Daya Grover is new to Pickering College and has wasted no time in making her mark.

Just weeks into the school year, the Grade 9 student decided to explore her interest in business further by tackling a DECA business competition. DECA is an organization that helps to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in business through conferences and competitions to help youth respond to real-world issues through case studies. At the regional competition, she finished in the top 10 for the exam and the case study, which earned her a spot to compete at the provincial level.

“I would probably have to say DECA is my favourite thing I’ve done at Pickering College because I didn’t expect that I would do so well and it’s been a great opportunity,” Daya said.

Her other favourite thing about being at Pickering College is the people who, in just a few months, have already helped her develop new skills and try new things.

“It has helped me a lot. My favourite thing about Pickering College is just the community. There are so many nice people, and you can tell that everyone wants you to grow, and they support you,” Daya says.

Outside of school, Daya represents the Pickering College values of compassion and community. In the summer of 2021, Daya and her sister started selling flowers from their garden to raise money for victims of the tornado that hit Barrie that year – they raised more than $2,000.

The following summer, they again sold flowers, this time to raise funds for Glowing Hearts Charity in Barrie, a charity that helps to better the lives of children and youth vulnerable to poverty. And in the summer of 2023, their flower sales raised $1,500 in support of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie.

“I think it has been a really great thing to do for our community,” Daya says, adding that she and her sister plan to continue to raise funds for the community through their flower sales for many summers to come.