This Summer, I Was a Havergalian and a Canadian

Writer: Sophy Wu

Just three months ago, the 2017-2018 school year ended. To me, Exam Viewing Day marked not only the end of my first year at HC but also the beginning of my journey as a Canadian. After giving a speech at Prayers, “rocking” Triathlon (as written on the completion pin given to Grade 9s), and experiencing House Shout, I was filled with HC spirit encouraging me to live my life and explore the world.

In a high school summer program at Columbia University, I was surrounded by students from all over the world. It was the first time that I could say, “I’m from Shenzhen, China, and I’m also from Toronto, Canada.” At the World’s Fair event where students voluntarily became ambassadors of the countries they were from, I was lucky enough to sit in between China’s and Canada’s desks. It was fresh and comforting to introduce and regard myself as both Chinese and Canadian, since, despite being born in Canada, I didn’t always remember while I was in China that I hold Canadian nationality. I could even identify myself as a Havergalian since I met several others there as well as a Crescent boy.

In the Urban Case Study course, I had the privilege of going to New York City’s downtown to learn about the city’s urban environment, culture, literature, history, and public policy. This was certainly not an easy course to learn, especially for me, since I am still adapting to an English-speaking environment, and I know so little about the US. Nevertheless, throughout the course, I found myself more confident than I expected on many occasions, whether it was during class discussions, group presentations, individual guide narrations (while the class was on trips), or casual chats.

I also found myself becoming more independent while I was living on my own during the program, especially when I had to go outside of the campus to shop for daily supplies such as a pack of detergent to put in the washing machine and all three meals on weekends. Both of these personality improvements are because of the enriched foundation of both academic and extra-curricular experiences I had at HC, such as the interactive classroom settings, the cooperative projects, the performing arts opportunities, and Debate and Model UN practices.

Living for three weeks in New York City helped me become more confident and independent; then, studying Environmental Science at Stanford later in the summer led me to actually build friendships with diverse people. There, my peers and I got to hang out more because of the dormitory setting: students from three courses are put into one big House and three Houses form one large cluster. Having the concept of the diversity of Canadian culture and the motto of Catherine Steele House (love, unity, truth) on my mind, I tried to start conversations with a more diverse group of people during afternoon activities and celebration events. Even though I wasn’t familiar with the popular Netflix series, puns, and celebrities everyone was into, I found that I could totally chat well in English and in a North American context. I was able to put some effort into building connections, such as catching about Harry Potter.

I worked on my final project with my partner from Edmonton. As the only two Canadians in our class, we decided to introduce Parks Canada and to talk about three examples of Canadian National Parks (Banff, Sirmilik, and Rouge).

Within a school year, HC has given me respect, relief, support and surprise. I was welcomed and involved for which I hold the sincerest gratitude and happiness of being a Havergalian. This summer, I discovered and explored as a Havergalian and a Canadian; this fall, I am looking forward to an even more challenging and memorable Havergalian year as HC celebrates its 125th birthday. In addition, from civics and history courses, I wish to further understand the responsibility and meaning of being a Canadian