TFS - Canada's International School

DESTINATION / DESTINATION Sciences Po, France, and the University of British Columbia PROGRAMME / PROGRAM Economics and Political Science FARAH M. Following Their Passionate Minds As a deputy on the student council, co-founder of the world history club, a member of the Model UN, and a member of the debate club since Level III, Farah engaged in a bountiful number of activities that are now propelling her into the next chapter of her life. Having arrived in Level II, Farah considers entering TFS the smoothest integration she has ever experienced, having attended six schools in her life, and notes that it was because of the guidance and support she received from the community around her. She reciprocated that same support through her co-curriculars, particularly equity initiatives such as being part of the outreach council and the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice (EDIJ) committee, of which she was one of the original members. "We founded it and started important conversations that included both the faculty and students. We had a big conference in February [2023] that all the teachers and some students took part in, and it included workshops and talks on social issues that needed to be discussed," she said. Farah, with her experience in debating combined with her award-winning best achievement in HL history and global politics, reaffirmed her intent to pursue these subjects after high school. She credits those courses for further developing her critical thinking skills, and she now also wants to transfer her debate and public ENTRE NOUS 20 speaking experience into international law, one of her aspirations. "TFS really emphasized that you're never 100% right [and to] always think outside of your position and be aware of your bias; it shaped and guided me towards where I wanted to go." Farah acknowledges the amount of privilege she received in being able to attend an independent school and hopes to give back through a humanitarian-based law career one day. Farah accepted an offer to attend Sciences Po and the University of British Columbia to study within their dual-degree economics and political science program. As part of this program she will get to complete two years of her undergraduate studies in France. While abroad, she hopes to stay involved in soccer and join the debate team to perfect her oratory skills. DESTINATION / DESTINATION University of British Columbia PROGRAMME / PROGRAM Software Engineering ZACHARY X. One of Zachary's main passions is robotics. After Zachary developed a strong interest in LEGO at a young age, his father noticed his affinity for mechanics. Wanting to enrol him in an educational setting to cultivate his growth but unable to find one, Zachary's father began his own robotics school. It was there that Zachary first developed his skills in coding and building robots. Today, not only does Zachary mentor students at his father's school, but he also transferred his knowledge to TFS and became a co-founder, together with his sister Christy, of the Senior School's robotics club in Level II. He went on to lead the team to a second place victory in the 2022 provincial FIRST Tech Challenge competition. Zachary described the robotics club as his most gratifying co-curricular, and the one that most helped him develop his leadership skills, teaching him how to encourage others to stay organized and finish a project started from scratch. "It's important to be a good leader," he said, "because when I leave they need to take over and teach other students. It perpetuates a cycle that will sustain the club, so that they develop the skills to eventually become a guide and mentor those who come after them, to help them become the best they possibly can be." Zachary takes great inspiration and pride in leading others towards success, which is something he also did as a member of the senior wind ensemble. A seasoned musician, Zachary has been playing the saxophone since Grade 5 and the piano since he was five years old. He later became section leader of the tenor saxophones. "Music is an integral part of my life; it helps my cognitive skills and hand-eye coordination. It's helped me with my academics and the robotics club." Having won the Schulich Leader Scholarship for his commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Zachary is now studying software engineering at the University of British Columbia. It's a branch of mathematics that supports his eagerness to learn and solve problems. Zachary hopes to get more involved with design teams, particularly those involving AI, and in building innovative technology, something he says should only be created to better humanity. He would also be very excited to join UBC's orchestra and stay involved in the music that he loves so much.

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