TFS - Canada's International School

Sal Patel '04 recently spoke to Entre Nous about his experience at TFS, how he combines his passion for business and film in work and travels, and his latest adventure at Shopify. Sal believes that studying at TFS has given him incredible opportunities both personally and professionally. He first enrolled in Grade 1 because his immigrant parents wanted him to have a bilingual education. Remembering his time at TFS, he has great memories which include a good balance of academics and diverse extra-curricular activities. He values the strong friendships he made, which continue to this day. While a student, Sal was an active member in the school community, participating in Model United Nations (MUN), debate club and school council among other activities. He says TFS graduates benefit from the variety of courses that are part of the IB program and diverse extracurriculars that give students a "foundation of diverse experiences." In fact, Sal attributes his ability to evolve his career from banking, to film, and then technology, to TFS, where he nurtured a wide appreciation for many different fields of study. When it was time to consider post- secondary, one alumni of TFS who was enrolled in Queen's University commerce program became a mentor to Sal, giving him a campus tour and sharing insights into the program. Inspired, Sal enrolled in Queen's Commerce and minored in film studies, combining his passion and interest in film. Sal credits one of his French teachers and classes where he studied different media forms of French culture as where he first discovered his passion for film. Sal Patel '04 Written by Megan C., Level V student "Fluency in the language coupled with my interest in French movies allowed me to understand and appreciate French films in their native language." Sal believes his French has helped him gain an international perspective that has enriched both his professional career and personal travels. As Managing Content Producer at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), he oversaw TIFF in the digital space through web, podcast, video production and social media. He says, "fluency in the language coupled with my interest in French movies allowed me to understand and appreciate French films in their native language." Sal believes that his French language skills have "opened doors and created opportunities at work to do new things." For instance, Sal attended the prestigious International Cannes Film Festival for work where he hosted important TIFF events. On a personal level, Sal also uses French skills in his travels to Europe and other countries enabling him to form richer connections with local people and the culture. In his new role as Managing Editor at Shopify, Sal brings interesting stories around entrepreneurship to life across YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Sal has great advice for graduating TFS students. Over the past 10 years, he has adapted to working in three different industries, and recommends students continue to explore a broad set of interests for personal growth and development. He encourages each student to "listen to your passions and interests, and follow those things." 23 TFS ENTRE NOUS 2019

• Cover