TFS - Canada's International School

DESTINATION / DESTINATION University of California - San Diego PROGRAMME / PROGRAM Science ALICE T. Long before her future plans took form, Alice was exploring the world around her through languages, leadership and community connections. Born in France and raised in a multilingual household where Russian was her first language, she arrived at TFS in Level II after a move from Lycée Français. "It was right in the middle of COVID," she recalls. "I hadn't even seen the school before my first day, but everyone was so welcoming. The transition was smoother than I could've imagined." Alice quickly immersed herself in school life. She played on the tennis and hockey teams, started the French Debate Club and served as the Francophonie & Cultural Life Prefect. In that latter role, she launched fun, inclusive initiatives like francophone movie nights and interactive mentorship activities, such as an escape room for the Grade 6s and 7s. "It was an interactive way to do that, a different way you can engage," she says. "We put House points as the reward, and the younger kids liked it quite a bit." Outside of school, her interests and leadership drive expanded even further. She was the starting goalie and a team captain on an all-boys hockey team that she had played with since the age of 10. It's a rare experience that taught her early on: "You learn quickly that you're always going to stand out, so why not stand out, be good at it and be a leader?" She's also danced with the Bolshoi Ballet, captained her team in general knowledge tournaments with her Russian community (leading them to five wins) through Bright Minds Combat and even delivered a youth report on democracy and citizenship to Parliament in Ottawa through a TFS initiative with UNESCO Philojeunes. Academically, her passion for science took shape at TFS. "I always thought I'd go into something like interior design," she says. "But when I took biology at the IB level, I was hooked." After considering multiple offers, Alice is attending the University of California - San Diego to pursue pre-med studies in human biology, aiming to graduate in three years and continue on to medical school with the goal of specializing in emergency or pediatric surgery. Having taken on numerous leadership roles throughout her time at school, Alice's advice to younger students is: "Don't be afraid to explore. There are clubs, opportunities and people to meet. You might try something and realize it's not for you, and that's okay." Looking back, she says that same mindset helped her through her own university application process, which is why, as a prefect, she made it a point to reassure younger students that they have plenty of time to explore and discover what truly suits them. Angus found a community at TFS through athletics. "Joining school teams in Grade 5 completely changed my TFS experience," he says. "I found my people." Over the years, he played volleyball, basketball, hockey and ultimate frisbee, and in his final year he served as Athletic Prefect, organizing events like Terry Fox Runs and student-teacher games. "Sports gave me so much at school and this was my opportunity to give back." "Before getting that position, I actually ran for First Citizen. I gave my speech, did the interviews, but I didn't win," he recalls. "I hadn't faced many disappointments growing up, but First Citizen was a stretch. It was tough, but I learned the value of putting yourself out there." Outside of school, Angus is a competitive hockey player. While he once dreamed of a career in pro sports, he later considered business before realizing medicine would be most fulfilling. "I'd rather help DESTINATION / DESTINATION University of St Andrews PROGRAMME / PROGRAM Medicine ANGUS B. people if I can," he says. He interned at U of T's Sports Medicine Clinic and attended a two-week medical introduction program in London, England. "I realized that if I was going to commit six years to something, I needed to enjoy it. My love of biology made that decision easy." Angus applied to many post- secondary programs before making his decision. "It was my guidance counsellor, Ms. Birkenbaum, who helped me find the perfect option," he says. Now in Scotland, Angus is enrolled in the Canadian Medical Program at St Andrews University. He'll complete three years of undergraduate study before finishing medical school at the University of Edinburgh and completing his clinical placement in Alberta. "It's the best path back to working as a doctor in Canada," he says. Beyond athletics and sciences, Angus also discovered an interest in investing while at TFS. To explore this further, he co-founded Capitalize, a student club focused on teaching younger students about the stock market. Because he started at TFS in PK, he learned French early and recalls how immersive those early years were: "We spoke only French in class. It really pushed my conversational skills and helped me learn to use the language in the real world," he says. A real turning point came in Grade 8, however, when he wrote and won a French playwriting competition, Les Zinspiré.e.s. It was the first time I thought about being creative in French, not just using it for school. It was eye-opening." With all of these impressive accomplishments, what makes him most proud? "Being voted valedictorian," he says. "While this is often awarded to the highest achieving students, I don't think that's me. But I've made my mark on the school and was proud to represent our graduating class." 44 ENTRE NOUS

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