Issue link: https://publications.tfs.ca/i/1511583
DESTINATION / DESTINATION University of Toronto PROGRAMME / PROGRAM Life Sciences NATALIE R. Natalie, having attended TFS since she was three years old, is going to miss the atmosphere of the school. Her years of forming many meaningful relationships across her activities, which included being a peer mentor and taking part in the Dance and Fashion shows, have left her with memories that will last a lifetime. A virtuoso in the performing dance arts, Natalie especially enjoys ballet and hip-hop. She also recalls travelling when she was younger for physical education classes to a nearby ice rink a couple of times a month to take skating lessons. She fell in love with it, and her parents gladly encouraged her passion. Nowadays, as an accomplished figure skater, she practises six days a week, focusing on the technical aspects of the sport, such as jumps and spins. Recently, she's raised her competitive edge, placing ninth at the 2023 Canadian Figure Skating Championships. Natalie thoroughly appreciated the fun dynamic between her figure skating outside of school and her life as a student at TFS. The culmination of her activities in the Dance and Fashion shows even helped her gain a new perspective while on the ice and helped to refine her craft. Academically, she's interested in biology and chemistry, which stems from her mother's career as a surgeon: "My mother always introduced me to medical terms and always took the time to teach me about medicine, if I was ever curious," she said. It is her curiosity that has now led her to pursue a career in medicine. Natalie is attending the University of Toronto, where she is studying life sciences. She wants to take a balanced approach towards the future – one that keeps her connected to her figure skating, with the goal of going to more international competitions and possibly reaching an Olympic standard one day. But she's not forgetting about her social and academic goals either, and she intends to join university clubs and volunteer at hospitals to broaden her knowledge of the medical world. TFS 15 Pursuing Excellence Across Fields