TFS - Canada's International School

DESTINATION / DESTINATION Tufts University PROGRAMME / PROGRAM Liberal Arts & Science TRISTAN K. Tristan is currently at Tufts University in Boston studying physics and considering a focus on biophysics or quantum theory. He chose Tufts for its collaborative culture, liberal arts structure and undergraduate research focus. His ultimate goal is to work in academia, both doing research and teaching. Tristan says he's wanted to be a scientist since he was in Grade 1, but before that, in La p'tite école, he considered a career in jungle exploration. There are two co-curriculars which have defined Tristan's TFS experience: robotics and classics. He joined the Robotics Club in Grade 7 as one of the youngest members and quickly took on an active role. By Level III he was working as the drive coach and helping lead outreach efforts, including founding a LEGO robotics program for younger students. In Level IV, the team won the Inspire Award at provincials— the competition's highest honour. More than anything, Tristan says, robotics helped him form a community. "Some of my closest friends are people I met through the club, people I might never have connected with otherwise," he says. The Classics Club piqued his interest early on. As an avid reader and fan of mythology, Tristan was excited to join other like-minded students. One of his most memorable TFS experiences was travelling to the Classics Conference in 2023, where he helped create and direct a skit based on the myth behind Romeo and Juliet (Pyramus and Thisbe). "It was such a joyful, emotional moment. People were actually crying. I even wrote about it in my university applications," he recalls. Though his academic focus has always been science, languages have also been a strength and passion all the way through. French felt natural from a young age and his love of language extended to Latin as well. He took Latin classes through Level IV and was an active member of the Linguistics Club. "Learning languages helped me think about things differently, it helped me understand grammar, etymology and how language structures meaning," he says. As Well-Being Prefect, Tristan drew from his personal experiences overcoming mental health struggles to shift thinking and help others. "I wanted to raise awareness around stress and stress-management, destigmatize mental health and normalize things like therapy and meditation," he says. Tristan looks back on his time at TFS with a sense of accomplishment. "My advice to students is to get involved in as many clubs as your schedule allows. Perhaps you'll be as lucky as I was to really find my community through clubs and co-curriculars." DESTINATION / DESTINATION Brown University PROGRAMME / PROGRAM Liberal Arts JULA H. Jula arrived at TFS from China in Grade 3 and spoke little English or French. But it didn't take her long to find her footing. "It was really hard at first," she says. "But the intro class helped ease me in, we'd slowly start with English and gradually learn French. It wasn't too sudden." By the time she reached the Senior School, she was not only fluent in French, but also confidently conversing with teachers. A moment in Montreal stands out. "The random people you speak to, they might not think you know the language but then you surprise them," she says. "It felt like belonging, like I was part of the culture." Alongside her language journey, music also became a significant part of Jula's school life. Starting as a flautist in Grade 7, she grew into leadership roles as Band Head and Music Peer Mentor, helping to organize performances and events. That sense of belonging extended far beyond language or music. Over the years, Jula found herself drawn to all corners of TFS life: entrepreneurship, leadership and outreach. But it was the culture of giving back, through student-led initiatives and grassroots action, that left the biggest impression. As an Outreach Prefect, she helped lead food drives, clothing collections and Truth and Reconciliation days. "We tried to shift the focus from fundraising to real impact," she says, noting how projects like experiential mentorship helped younger students care more deeply about their communities. Jula's future plans were sparked by family conversations at the dinner table. "My parents are entrepreneurs, so I grew up hearing about the challenges they faced, the decisions they had to make." In Grade 10, her curiosity led her to launch a chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America and, later, co-host a podcast interviewing real-world founders, including a Nobel Prize winner. "Learning from their setbacks, how they overcame obstacles, it felt like it was a great way to grow my understanding of what it's like to be an entrepreneur." That same spirit drove her team's moonshot project, Terra, developed through The Knowledge Society, where they created an AI-powered drone to detect crop-borne diseases. "We pitched it to venture capitalists and former Y Combinator founders. It felt like the real world." The team became Earth Prize Scholars for the innovation and the experience cemented Jula's desire to blend technology and entrepreneurship in the years ahead. Jula is heading to Brown University to study economics. She chose it because Brown's Open Curriculum will allow her to design her own academic journey without education requirements, so she can focus on her passions and goals. Above all, Brown is also a place where she can keep doing what she's always done: explore widely, lead humbly and build towards something bigger. 52 ENTRE NOUS

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