Cypress Magazine 2019

C Y P R E S S

M A G A Z I N E

M U L G R AV E S C H O O L ’ S A L U M N I P U B L I C AT I O N

BALANCE I S N OT SOMETHING YO U F I N D. IT’S SOMETHING YO U C R E AT E .

JANA KINGSFORD

F R O M PA S T TO P R E S E N T

CONT 1

03 WELCOME

25TH ANNIVERSARY

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MULGRAVE CONNECT

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Cam Henderson

& Alumni Basketball Game

How to Connect | Mentoring

NEWEST ALUMNI

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FIND YOUR FIT

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10-YEAR CELEBRATION

Welcome, Class of 2019

Finding the Right University

Congrats, Class of 2009

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TENTS SUMMER KICKOFF

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UNIVERSITY TOURS

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IS THIS MINDFULNESS?

& Tribute to Mr. RJ

Visiting Alum at School

Cam Henderson

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21

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FROM STAFF TO STUDENT

SPOTLIGHTS

ADVISORY BOARD

Nisia Minicucci & Charlotte Philpotts

Alumni features

Alumni Board Members

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With each passing year of this magazine, I am reminded of my own time at Mulgrave.

Memories of classes gathering at the end of the school year and watching our well-accomplished peers cross the stage with their awards. We would all clap and the occasional hoot or holler could be heard; it was a celebration of excellence after all. And why should we not celebrate those who have excelled? I know many did not pursue their goals and passions with an award in mind. They went for excellence and found it.

We’re all tied together on this crazy journey. When you think about it, the relationships with your high school alum are some of the most diverse you might have.

In university, you likely are friends with people in the same/similar faculties, or maybe you end up working in similar regions; you’re all moving forward on similar life trajectories.

But rewind to high school. Almost no one has a castin-cement clue of what they’d be five years in the future, let alone 20. We all went our separate ways... keeping up with some, not so much with others.

But there likely were a few thought bubbles in the minds of parents whose children got nothing all those years. “My kid does amazing stuff, too! Why aren’t they being celebrated?” Over the years, awards and recognition of achievement have evolved.

Each year, the graduating class spreads out across the globe yet our individual stories branch out from one single origin. Journeys are not straight lines - they bend, kink, break, and sometimes, even u-turn.

I was looking back through all these magazines over the last six years, and in each one we acknowledge the incredible achievements of our alum. Our alum have done some inspiring things in the short history of this school, so why not feature them? Why not highlight the great things that our community has achieved?

Saying you know where you’ll be in five years as a high school graduate is either a lie or an educated guess. Why spoil the story anyways? We now have Mulgravians coming into their 15th year as members of the Alumni Association. Our community grows larger every year.

However, I realised there is more to it than that. You come back to the school every year, or just once in a while, to meet up with old friends and just talk about life. That was what I was missing: the stuff nestled in the day-to-day grind, uncertain futures, new jobs, and moving to new places. We need the welcoming familiarity that you experience with a group that you used to run around with on the field, dread extended essays with, and sit with at lunch. Some of the faces you haven’t seen in years, but the conversation flows as if you just showed up for the same first period class on an average Wednesday.

So as we come together once again, I would like to welcome you back...back to these halls, this gym, and these old (as in familiar, of course) faces.

I hope you enjoy this collection of Spotlights and highlights from the past year, as well as photos of your fellow alum enduring, thriving, and living out their daily grind. You’ll find a common theme of mindfulness, defined in many ways, woven throughout this issue. Oh, and there are some comments from teachers, and some then-alum, now-teachers who have come full circle.

So I looked at the magazines again, and to be honest, my passion for it was renewed.

Feel free to take a copy of Cypress home; you never know when you’re going to need a good coffee table magazine that your friends can thumb through and say, “Your school has an alumni magazine?”

This issue of the magazine still highlights people with some amazing things going on. But now, we’re also just catching up.

Welcome back. Have a great time.

Sincerely, Cam Henderson CYPRESS MAGAZINE EDITOR Alumni Communication and Engagement Assistant, Mulgrave School

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W

E M O

C L E W

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GAME SCORES: ALUMNI GIRLS 49 vs. SR. GIRLS 48 ALUMNI BOYS 34 vs. SR. BOYS 45

25 T H A N N I V E R S A RY & ALUMNI BASKETBALL GAME Spirits ran high as friends reconnected with one another, and the voices of parent and student choirs filled the air.

Hundreds filled the Linda Hamer Theatre to the brim for an official birthday ceremony, complete with lots of cake!

On December 20, 2018, Mulgrave’s halls were alive with laughter, whoops of recognition, and chatter of a crowd reunited. About 800 current and alumni students, parents, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate this school’s 25th anniversary, christen the new West Wing, and cheer on the athletes in our annual alumni basketball game.

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To think of this school, 25 years ago, taking up just a few rooms at the North Shore Winter Club fills us with pride. We have come a long way since those times; our community has grown and our students learn in some of the best spaces in the city. But despite all of that change, our vision for the future is just as large and powerful as it was 25 years ago.

Our Alumni Girls team, always the underdog, was not going to let past losses rule them and they came out fighting. The score remained even through the first half, each team putting up solid defenses.

As the celebrations continued and people explored the school, our alum filtered into the gym where two battles took place: the alumni showdowns against the current Senior Boys and Girls basketball teams.

Historically, these match-ups have had rather predictable outcomes. The Alumni Girls fall prey to the well-trained Senior Girls team. The Alumni Boys use their size to dominate the Senior Boys. This year was the exact opposite.

The Alumni Boys, filled with confidence, lost handily to the hard-training Senior Boys. Looks like they let it get to their heads! The score was 45-34 for the youngins.

Over the past few years, the Senior Girls have lost some valuable talent, which has been added right back to our alumni team. As the seconds on the clock ran down, the Alumni Girls were up 49-48... and then the Senior Girls made one last play. A successful blocked pass put the ball in the Alumni Girls’ possession and the game was ours. The first win by Alum Girls!

As this great night demonstrated, the success of our school is dependent on not just the school itself or the current student body, it is a result of a melding of all of its constituent parts: our students, our alumni, our teachers and staff, and our parents, as well. We are all the reason this community is what it is today. Let’s take a moment to be thankful for that.

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CONN Ever wonder what happened to that guy who sat next to you in math class? Or perhaps the person who proclaimed a future life in politics? Did so-and-so follow their dream of working for themselves? Are there any familiar faces in the new city I’m moving to? Will I run into anyone I know at university next year?

If thoughts like these have crossed your mind, then Mulgrave Connect is the perfect place for you. We’re so excited to launch this new platform to further build on the strength of our community. Mulgravians are well-known for lifting one another up and supporting those who have both come before us and who are following in our footsteps - let’s keep that tradition going, no matter where in the world we end up.

WHAT IS MULGRAVE CONNECT? Mulgrave Connect is a simple and easy-to-use social networking platform on which our alumni can find one another and share their own personal and professional journeys. The system provides exclusive access to a robust and growing network of Mulgrave Alumni who are eager and willing to share their wisdom and advice. This is a valuable tool that will not only connect our alumni but has the potential to provide support to Mulgrave’s current students as they approach graduation, post-secondary education, and the world of work.

Mulgrave Connect is ready and waiting for our Alumni to join the platform. Simply visit: Mulgraveconnect.com and follow the prompts.

Sign-up is intuitive and takes only a few minutes. Just like that, you’re a member of the Mulgrave Connect Alumni Community!

HOW TO CONNECT 7

How do I sign up?

1. Visit www.mulgraveconnect.com.

2. Click ‘Get Started’ or ‘Join Now’.

3. Log in via LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, or email.

4. You’re a member! Visit your profile to ensure your personal information is correct and to add additional content. Your profile can be updated or changed at any time.

5. Post a message/picture on the main feed to say hello to the other members.

6. Stay connected with the Mulgrave Connect App. Note: During the sign-in process, you will be asked if you want to become a mentor. The time commitment for mentoring is minimal and can be determined by individual Mulgrave Connect members.

NECT M U L G R AV E C O N N E C T

CONNECT Find and reminisce with fellow graduates, see what they have been up to, and stay in touch.

GIVE BACK Introduce, employ and offer to act as a mentor to our graduating students.

EXPAND Leverage your professional network to get introduced to people you should know.

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JOIN THE APP DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY OR YOUR APP STORE

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MENTORING AT MULGRAVE

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME? We encourage mentors and mentees to connect regularly. However, the

We are developing a Mulgrave Connect mentoring programme that will allow you to form unique, meaningful, and lasting professional relationships with other alumni in your chosen field. As a Mulgrave Connect member, you’ll have a chance to request a mentor to assist you with career advice and personal development. We encourage mentors and mentees to connect regularly.

However, the frequency and form of communication are things you both can determine. Opportunities to interact through the programme will include networking events and informal meetups.

How do I participate?

1. Register / Log in www.mulgraveconnect. com (on a computer, not a mobile device) 2. Complete / Update your profile (under the ‘Me’ tab, click ‘Update your profile’) • Upload a professional photo • Include academic, volunteer and professional experience • Answer this question in the ‘About Me’ section: “What do you hope to learn from a mentor?”

• Make sure to click ‘Update’ for each section The mentoring programme is found exclusively through Mulgrave Connect; alumni who have not joined the platform cannot participate in the mentoring programme.

How to use the Mentoring feature.

1. Search and review mentor profiles on Mulgrave Connect using the Directory tab: 2. Under ‘Refine your search’ make sure to select ‘Willing to be a mentor’ 3. Filter your search using the following categories: • Education: field of study, degree, graduation year • Work: position, company/institution, industries • Location: city, state, country • Keyword search

frequency and form of communication are things both the mentor and the mentee are able to determine. The Mulgrave Connect Mentoring Programme is about building your professional network, personal development, and gaining academic and career advice. This programme is not a direct pipeline to a job or internship, though it can often help with opportunities in the future.

HOW LONG IS THE COMMITMENT? The commitment to the programme will be determined by the mentor and mentee. There is no expectation of an extended partnership but all requests and conversations must be presented in a professional manner.

IS THERE A LIMIT TO HOW MANY MENTOR REQUESTS A MEMBER CAN MAKE? There is no limit to the number of requests that can be made at any time. Do, however, be respectful of the fact that all mentors are volunteers and will have professional time constraints. Make sure to review mentor profiles carefully and send your request to those who best fit your interests and career goals.

HOW MANY MENTEES AM I EXPECTED TO SUPPORT? As a mentor, you are able to limit the number of mentees you are working with at any given time. It is understood that all mentors are volunteers and will have professional time constraints. Please be selective when accepting a new mentee.

If the fit is not right, please feel free to respectfully end the partnership or contact the Mulgrave Connect Administrator for assistance.

I MESSAGED SOMEONE AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. WHAT SHOULD I DO? We ask that mentees give mentors enough time to respond, typically two to three days. Keep in mind that mentors are busy with their professions and personal lives, so please be considerate of their time. If you do not receive a mentorship request acceptance, please do not send a follow-up message.

THE MENTOR I WANTED TO CONNECT WITH IS NO LONGER WILLING TO HELP – WHAT HAPPENED? Once a mentor has accepted their maximum number of mentees, they will uncheck the “Willing to be a Mentor” box to indicate that they are no longer accepting mentor requests.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE RELATIONSHIP? Mentees and mentors are welcome to stay connected as long as both find the relationship to be positive.

ARE EVENTS AND PROGRAMMES MANDATORY? Attendance at events and programmes is not required. The great thing about this initiative is that your mentorship connection can be carried out as both of you see fit. However, we do encourage you to attend as many programme events, both in-person and virtual, as possible to build a strong connection between mentor and mentee.

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W

WELCOME CLASS OF

F I N D YO U R F I T CHOOSING BETWEEN UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES

No two of our Grads are cut from the same cloth. They each have their own vision, priorities, and notion of what makes a post secondary choice right for them; what makes it a fit. As we interviewed these students about their thoughts and processes for marking out their next phase in life, we discovered a few common threads that run amongst the Grad Class of 2019.

We invite you to explore this diverse collection of stories. From their cutting-edge programme goals, to the bespoke approach of our University Counselling team, we know that our students have put a great deal of time, energy, and consideration into creating a future that is tailor-made for them.

L E A R N M O R E AT F I N DYO U R F I T. M U LG R AV E .CO M

I’M TAKING A PATH LESS

THE INTERVIEW PROCESS & LANGUAGE

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE & INTERNATIONAL

TRAVELLED

STUDY FIT MY LEARNING STYLE

STUDENT BODY MATTERED MOST TO ME

I wanted to be fearless and to try new things.

If I told my Grade 10 self that I’d pursue Middle

I picked UBC because of the diverse,

While I could engage in a career in the sciences

Eastern Studies, I would have thought I was

international nature of the student body; I

without studying medicine, I’ve decided to take a

crazy! But conversations with my University

didn’t really realise how much that mattered to

detour from the usual route, which I am confident

Counsellor really helped me gain confidence in

me until I visited other schools. Having been at

will benefit me in the future. My parents and the

what I want to study.

international schools all my life, where students

Mulgrave University Counsellors helped me figure

have a global perspective, it’s something I

out the path I wish to take in my pursuit of the

As far as picking Cambridge, there are a few

really appreciate. The programme offered also

biological sciences. We discussed the application

things that helped me come to a decision -

really helped me choose. I can do a Masters in

process for medical school and did practice

scholarships, the programme and opportunity

Management as well as a degree connected to

interviews together. They also gave me feedback

to study a language in another country for a

environmental sustainability, and I can do it in

on my resume, application, and essays.

year (I’m thinking of going to Jordan), and

four-and-a-half years.

the interview process. The interview panel I feel like I’m going to a place where I can further

was made up of my future professors and

It’s also great that some of my classmates

explore my interests in science. I believe my

heads of the department, so I had the chance,

are going to UBC, and I’ll be rooming with a

studies of medicine will, in the future, offer me

right off the bat, to connect with them. It all

fellow Mulgrave grad. My sister regretted that

occupational flexibility in the field in which I

felt very natural and was a really interesting

she didn’t know anyone on her first day of

choose to work. The programme specifics really

conversation, so I knew it would be right for my

university, and that stuck with me.

spoke to me, and I look forward to pursuing my

learning style. The whole process showed me

desire to do scientific research alongside learning

that they are very invested in carefully choosing

how to be an excellent doctor.

the students they want to study there.

A TOUR WITH A PHD

I CHOSE A DYNAMIC & PROGRESSIVE

I LIKED THE FEELING &

STUDENT OPENED EYES

COMMERCE PROGRAMME

SENSE OF COMMUNITY

My family and I went to the UK last summer and

I chose the Queen’s Commerce programme for

I never thought I’d want to go to a women’s

stopped in at Oxford. I hadn’t decided to apply

its reputation and structure. It is dynamic and

college; there are a lot of stereotypes, and I had

there, but I went on a tour with a PhD student and

progressive, having changed in recent years to

an impression already in my mind. But I visited

it really opened my eyes to the school being a fit.

adopt a more case-based model. Class sizes are

the campus and spent a few hours talking to

It checked a lot of my boxes - amazing faculty,

very small with a maximum of 75 per class even in

someone who went to Wellesley a few years ago.

fantastic library resources, and incredible research

first year, getting even smaller in the upper years.

I liked the feeling that I got while I was there

opportunities. It’s a big university with a lot of

They also have among the greatest number of

and discovered that while there is competition

choices, but because of the college system, it still

financial job placements of any school in Canada,

amongst students, the focus is really on lifting

has a community feel. At the end of the process,

which gives me an excellent chance of getting a job

everyone up; it has a real sense of community.

I realised that some of the things I thought were

in corporate finance in Toronto, which is my goal.

most important to me could be achieved in ways other than through a programme.

I WANTED TO GO TO NEW YORK TO

I WANTED A PRINCIPLED &

THE VIBE AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

BE NEAR BROADWAY & AUDITIONS

METHODICAL APPROACH TO LEARNING

AT UofC CLICKED WITH ME

No question, I wanted to go to New York; to

Both of my parents are engineers, and I wanted

I toured the schools where I had applied to see what

be near Broadway and close to auditions was

to pick a course of study that would teach me a

clicked. When people say you walk onto campus

so important. Fortunately, AMDA wanted me

principled and methodical approach to learning.

and you just know, it’s true - there’s a definite vibe

too and made me an offer at the beginning of

Johns Hopkins offers a rich academic atmosphere,

that you pick up on quickly. At UofC, I feel like I’ll

the year. I was on campus over the summer at

yet it’s a small private school where everyone is

be able to build social connections and finally find

a camp - it was an amazing experience, and

connected and can push each other forward. My

my tribe - that’s really important to me. UofC offers

I was even able to stay in the dorms where

University Counsellor and teachers helped me a lot

entry in the Social Work programme in third year,

I’ll be my first year. Lots of people from my

during the application process. They spent extra time

and also has incredible campus services such as

group are going back for school, so it’ll be

with me reviewing practice papers, offered moral

learning support - those were two big factors in

great to know people when I start.

support during the stress of American universities’

my decision.

early decisions, and helped with references.

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CLASS OF 2009

10 YEARS

TO STAY UP TO DATE ON REUNION DETAILS, JOIN MULGRAVE CONNECT

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S U M M E R K I C KO F F AND RUGBY GAME

June 21st was a bright and sunny day, and a very special occasion for a number of Mulgrave alum: our annual pick-up game of rugby. Surrounded by old friends we hadn’t seen in a while, it took no time for the playful comments to fly about who would dominate this year’s game.

In a King’s Court-style match, the teams were split: young alum and grads, middle-of-the-pack alum, and our eldest alum and teachers.

Somewhere during our time on the field, the teachers and eldest alum started to tire against the two younger groups, losing King’s position, and then their loser’s position.

They happily took to the sidelines to partake in some refreshments...and a bit of a breather.

The youngins battled it out against one another,

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alternating their turns in the King’s positions. As the eldest alum returned to take back what they had owned, some amazing passes, dangles, and fakes ensued. There was no shortage of playful chirps and banter.

This year, following the match, we all reconvened at a local pub in West Vancouver to continue our good-natured catch-up. It was there that we took an opportunity to pay our thanks to someone who has been instrumental to the rugby community here at Mulgrave - Gareth Ronald-Jones.

This event was a great reminder that even though we travel far and wide in our lives, we still have a community to come home to when we visit this school and this city.

There will always be friends around the corner, ready to reconnect if you’re willing to reach out. Here’s to a wonderful event this coming summer, and to many more.

KEVIN CATLIFF REFLECTIONS After the rugby games, everyone headed down to the Red Lion Bar & Grill for dinner and some drinks, where several more alumni joined as the night went on. It was here where we ‘surprised’ longtime Mulgrave coach, Gareth Ronald-Jones, with posters of himself printed out and spread out all over the restaurant and bar. RJ had been the coach of the Senior Boys rugby team since 2008 and he would be leaving Mulgrave at the end of the school year.

The rugby alumni collected enough money to buy him a custom fishing reel branded with his name.

Many of the past Senior Rugby captains spoke to the group on behalf of RJ, sharing several highlights and funny stories over the years. Most highlights centered around the international rugby tours to the UK & South America in 2010 and 2012, the Provincial Championships in 2012 and 2014, and overnight trips to Vancouver Island. RJ and Mr. Jones have both been instrumental in developing the Mulgrave rugby programme over the years and we hope to keep celebrating with them and many alumni every June!

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UNIVERSITY

POPPY & MARTHA SHAW ‘17 CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY

Mulgrave’s University Counsellors are instrumental in helping our Senior School students find the postsecondary programmes and environments that are best suited for them. An invaluable component of their knowledge and ability to provide customised guidance is the opportunity they have to visit schools both locally and globally.

Touring universities helps our counsellors in a multitude of ways. It allows them to network, see the campus experience first-hand, learn about any changes in programming, and to procure a better grasp on what, exactly, universities are looking for.

A highlight of these visits is always the chance to reconnect with alumni and hear about their experiences post-Mulgrave. Our counsellors love checking in on

their process of transitioning to post-secondary and obtaining feedback and advice. Is campus life everything they expected? Has their direction changed? How did Mulgrave help them prepare for life after high school? In addition to ensuring our alum’s wellbeing, this insight into their positive experiences and challenges can also help ease the process for future grads and for that, we thank them immensely.

VISITS

COLE RAJANI ‘19 ITHACA COLLEGE

DAVID LI ‘19 & DINA YANG ‘18 BOSTON UNIVERSITY

learned during her DP years proved invaluable, especially since she was also adjusting to living on her own.

JESSIE XIANG ‘16 CORNELL UNIVERSITY

While visiting universities in California, counsellor Joyce Tang had the opportunity to connect with Shelly Park (‘16) and Edith Hu (‘17) who are both at ArtCenter College of Design. They shared that the school has very little, if any, foundation courses, and students are expected to jump right in. Shelly feels that she couldn’t have survived first year without having been at Mulgrave. The time management and organisation skills she

Over at Chapman University, Joyce learned the school has a lot planned for the future, including a brand new Engineering programme with state-of-the-art facilities.

She also connected with twins, Martha and Poppy Shaw (‘17) and Aiden Carere (‘18). Poppy had just returned from a week on set with a movie production, while Martha was rehearsing for a new theatre production. The Shaws are absolutely loving their experience at Chapman as the opportunity to be part of the entertainment industry in California is invaluable, and despite the challenges of juggling an extremely busy schedule, Aiden says he wouldn’t trade the experience at Chapman for another.

It is firsthand feedback like this that elevates Mulgrave’s University Counselling team.

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IS THIS M I N D F U L N E S S?

I tap the app’s icon and a background of mountains under a glowing Milky Way illuminates the screen. The app itself is a glorified timer, but for a year, I’ve used it to track every meditation session I’ve done.

In actuality, it’s been two years that I’ve spent practicing meditation. Every single day my morning routine demands a few moments of silence. Sounds like a boast right? “Oh, but of course, I’ve been meditating every single day for two years, look at my mindful superiority.” Trust me, it’s far from a boast.

If anything, I feel more confused and further from any sense of peace than I did a year ago. So why do I continue to start every day with eight minutes of quiet? It’s a combination of habit, compulsiveness, and fear. Okay, not really, but I have to get some shock value somewhere, right?

I decided I wanted to write this article to show people a few different perspectives on mindfulness, specifically delving into meditation and habit formation. I don’t want this to be some Instagram inspirational quote-level stuff. Although, in all seriousness, we’d all benefit from some mindfulness. But the story doesn’t have to go all I-went-to-Bali-and-discoveredmyself-and-became-a-yogi either. There is a middle ground.

When I started meditating, it was in an effort to do some selfreflection, and honestly, I thought it might do away with some of the anxiety and depression I had been dealing with. For a while, the glow and effect of just knowing that I was meditating was enough to make me think I had it solved. What was with this ‘meditation is a lifetime practice, blah blah blah’? I felt like every time I sat down, the world opened up to me.

That was until all the things I thought I had got away from came rushing right back. Back to square one. World 1, Me 0.

Mindfulness is a state of consciousness (according to Google). I think of it more of an umbrella term under which you have things like breathing exercises, meditations, yoga, journaling, and much more. The act of being mindful refers to the process of taking a mental step away from yourself to evaluate everything going on upstairs. This is an effective method of seeing your own world

from more perspectives, but also accepting any given situation and emotion for what it is.

So there I was, having full on break-downs, wondering why even meditating is failing me. I thought I had it down. What was I doing wrong?

What was wrong was the assumption that I made about mindfulness solving life’s problems. In my head the equation was simple: meditation + life = peacefulness. The universe was smiling in that way Yoda did when he knew more than you, like it enjoyed my struggling because it could see where I would end up.

In reality the equation goes a little something more like: meditation + life = better at dealing with life. Don’t get it twisted. Meditation and mindfulness won’t get rid of tragedy and mistakes. They won’t even get rid of the breakdowns and burnouts. They do, however, give you a better ability to handle those situations, deal with them, and return to normalcy as quickly as possible.

Thrown back to ‘GO’ (wasn’t even able to collect my $200), I had to re-evaluate and decide what to do. So far, the decision I made at this point was the best one I have made to date.

And my decision was, drum roll…to just keep meditating. Part of it was the sliver of hope I had that it could still solve my problems.

The other reason? I could not tell you if I tried. Maybe it was just faith that somewhere down the line, I wouldn’t regret the choice.

I’m sure this is not at all unfamiliar to anyone: the repetitive process of trying to start a new habit and failing after a few weeks, or even a month or so is tiring. Let’s be honest, sometimes we get to day two and give up.

Creating habits is hard. But overcoming the hard part also makes for a lasting difference. So how did I keep going? These are the three things that help me build a good habit: Try to start in the morning. That’s what I tell people. It’s not about getting up early, though it can help. Nor is it about running five miles, doing some work, reading a book, and making $1000 dollars before the sun is up. It can literally be as simple as doing a single pushup as you get up (fall) out of bed.

When in doubt about a routine, go for easy, every time. The good thing about easy, is that it’s easy! You’ll find that eventually, you

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start to push yourself. One pushup becomes five, five becomes ten. Ten becomes ten pushups, writing in your journal, checking the news, meditating for ten minutes, and making breakfast. Wait, what? Don’t let it get too out of hand, I would know. No one told me you could have a mental breakdown at 8:00am after discovering a lack of bagels in the pantry. My routine was ruined...I’d have to journal before breakfast. What a travesty.

every part of your life. We become more proactive, tend to be happier, and seek out more nature. The list goes on and I don’t feel the need to bore you with facts.

Avoid, by all means necessary, social media before you are done your routine. Have you ever had those mornings where you wake up and check your phone? Suddenly you’re late for work and annoyed that you’re going to work and not travelling the Caribbean by sailboat like Megan is. Yeah, we’ve all been there: the time sink that is social media.

Apps that I have tried and recommend for meditation:

What do I do? Turn off social media notifications. Most of us are already addicted enough to not forget to check it, so why even have notifications tempting us. The DMs can wait. Hide the app in a folder on your phone as well, it avoids the impulse decision to just take a quick peek.

Trust me, try deleting the app for one day to see how many times you open your phone, only to realise you have nothing to check. It’s a bit scary actually.

I have this routine in place, yet it still evolves over time.

On vacation it either can be lengthened or shortened.

The rest of the time, it stays relatively the same.

Creating a habitual routine that includes mindfulness techniques has shown me how much more I have to learn.

I still sit down and ‘meditate’ for ten minutes, only to get back up and wonder if I just slept through it. Other times, I can be led on wild tangents of imagination. It’s frustrating sometimes, but I keep at it.

The key I’ve found to keeping up with a routine is to allow it to be flexible and adjust it for how you are feeling.

So where do I stand on this whole mindfulness thing? I know that is has taught me valuable lessons about myself and has allowed me to deal with problems in better ways.

I don’t feel any more accomplished than I did before.

But knowing I have those few moments of silence each morning is reassuring.

The effects of meditation and creating space for yourself to really do some self-reflection bleeds over into almost

Today, meditating, journaling, and a whole slew of mindful activities are all easily accessible and more often than not, available in app form. The excuses are far and few in between for not taking a stab at it.

Headspace for those needing a super simple and undemanding introduction to meditation and breathing.

Insight Timer (I personally use this) is more dedicated to guided meditations and has a timer function when you just want to sit quietly. This app has something for everyone, but I think it is geared more for people that practice quite often.

Other apps include #Mindful, 10% Happier, Calm, and Simple Habit Daily Meditation. I don’t have experience with them all, but they all serve the purpose of helping you meditate and stay mindful. A simple search on the app store yields hundreds of results. If you don’t know what you want, try the first one you find and go from there.

In the end, all this might not work for you. Mornings may not be your thing or maybe meditation doesn’t serve you.

All of that is okay because the best thing you can do is treat yourself right. As long as you aim for some balance in your life, you’re doing just fine.

Like I said before, you don’t have to become a yogi or monk to attain some sense of peace and happiness. We’re busy keeping our jobs, having a social life, and spending time with loved ones. Many of us need to seek out our versions of mindfulness in small ways. Going for a walk in nature, exercising, even having a few moments of silence between yourself and your coffee in the morning are great ways to get some self-reflection time into your day.

Many of us unknowingly create these situations primed for self-reflection because instinctively, we desire a sense of peace in order to relieve some stress from the day-to-day grind. Being aware that we’re doing it does actually help.

Take some time for yourself tomorrow. Keep it cool. Keep it chill. You got this.

I S T H I S M I N D F U L N E S S?

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FROM STUDENT TO S TA F F Some of us have returned to Mulgrave for various job opportunities: a summer gig leading camp programmes, helping out with theatre productions, offering casual tutoring services to students, or interning on the Admin team. Not many students have come full circle, from being a student in these halls, to telling students to tuck their shirts in, but a few have!

Nisia Minicucci, now a Physical Education Teacher in the Middle School, and Charlotte Philpotts a Grade 3 Teacher in the Junior School, both attended Mulgrave as students.

We wanted to know: What is it like being a teacher at the school you grew up attending? Check out their responses below for a little insight into their not-so-deja-vu experience.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE GRADE AT MULGRAVE?

DO YOU HAVE A NEW FOND MEMORY FROM YOUR

NISIA: Grade 7 when Ms. Roy was my homeroom teacher. Ms. Moore was my volleyball coach and Mr. Jones was my basketball coach that year. We had a blast all around. I liked all my teachers equally though.

CHARLOTTE: Grade 7 as well, when Ms. Roy was my homeroom teacher. My favourite memory was being on the swim team coached by Ms. Roy and Mr. Gardiner.

TIME WORKING HERE?

NISIA: Reconnecting with all my old teachers in a new way as a colleague. In our first staff meeting of the year Ms. Mac gasped when I was introduced as a new staff member; that was pretty funny.

IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE YOUR TIME AT MULGRAVE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE GRADE AT MULGRAVE NOW?

NISIA: I don’t have favourites because I like my students all the same. But the Pre-K 4 PE class I teach is another level of fun. Those kids tell me they love me after each class and that’s pretty hard to beat!

CHARLOTTE: I love my Grade 3s. I enjoy coming to work each day and hearing all their stories. No day is a bad day with them.

WHAT IS YOUR FONDEST MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME ATTENDING THE SCHOOL?

NISIA: It’s a tie between the Grade 6 trip to Australia in 2006 and the many memories I had over the years playing basketball.

CHARLOTTE: I think that participating in the swim team is my highlight from Mulgrave. Any opportunity to represent your school on a sports team is a memorable and special experience.

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NISIA: It taught me about resiliency, hard work, and perseverance. I have a lot of memories with some amazing people from 13 years as a student. Some things didn’t come easy but we always had fun.

CHARLOTTE: My time at Mulgrave has shown me how strong the Mulgrave community is. I have been lucky enough to experience this as both a student and staff and it is a true testament to the success of the school.

IN TERMS OF CREATING THE ENVIRONMENT YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED AS A STUDENT, IS THERE ANY ROLE A TEACHER PROVIDES THAT GOES UNREALISED

BY STUDENTS?

NISIA: Since becoming an educator, I have never felt more humbled. Educators are mini superheroes in a very intentional way. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into making even just one lesson feel engaging for a student. At Mulgrave, the sheer amount of time and effort that teachers put into their work is incredible. As students, we were very lucky to have the teachers we did. What I don’t think I realised as a student was that all my teachers were at school sometimes hours before me

and often hours after I went home. They gave up their lunch to chat sometimes and many coaches gave up their weekends to travel to tournaments. The teachers at Mulgrave always did these things with a smile on their face even though they had hard days just like anyone else.

Mr. Hardy is SO WISE and SO KIND, he’s the best person to visit when you are having a bad day.

CHARLOTTE: James Gardiner and Elizabeth Kok are the best bakers around! I love morning tea when I see their names are on the schedule.

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE SIDES, ALUM OR TEACHER, WHICH

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST PART OF COMING BACK TO WORK AT YOUR SCHOOL?

CHARLOTTE: Definitely calling my old teachers by their first names!

WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

NISIA: I’d choose whatever Mr. Catliff chooses.

CHARLOTTE: Definitely teacher!

DID YOU EVER ANTICIPATE COMING BACK TO TEACH

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF COMING BACK TO WORK AT YOUR SCHOOL?

NISIA: Feeling like I already have a family of co-workers who know me.

CHARLOTTE: Coming back was easy because of the pre-existing familiarity I had with the school. There’s a level of comfort which made it an easy transition from student to staff.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN SHARE ABOUT TEACHERS THAT NOT MANY OF US KNOW?

NISIA: Our teachers are so much cooler than we thought they were. They don’t sleep at the school and actually have lives outside of Mulgrave. They’re really fun people.

Melissa Moore is THE best boss. Mike Olynyk loves wearing flip flops. James Gardiner is a great baker and an even better coworker because he always shares what he bakes. Zsu Zsu Straub is hilarious and not scary at all.

AT THE SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED AS A KID?

CHARLOTTE: I never thought I would be back, but I am so grateful to be working at Mulgrave.

DO YOU EVER CATCH STUDENTS DOING THINGS THAT YOU DID AS A KID?

NISIA: Disclaimer: do as I say and not as I do...Purposely not bringing PE strip to skip PE in the rain. Not wearing proper number one uniform all the time (i.e. rolling skirts, wearing hoodies, etc.) Trying to get paired up with a crush for group activities.

CHARLOTTE: It is funny to see some of the same games being played on the playground that I used to play with my friends. The game that comes to mind is handball. It was never my strong suit, but maybe my students will teach me one day!

Thanks so much to Charlotte and Nisia for taking the time to talk a little bit about what it’s like to come back to the school not only as an Alum, but a Teacher.

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SPOTL 27

LIGHT ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Traditionally, our Spotlight Series has highlighted just a few members of the Mulgrave Alumni Community who have excelled in personal pursuits in their lives after high school. But there is so much more to our community than awards or achievements (not that these aren’t important to celebrate, too). So in this series, we’ve gone after a diverse group of alum with no shortage of achievements, and we’ve dug a little more into their everyday lives.

We come back together once or twice a year to see old friends and reconnect. Why should this magazine not be a tribute to that? It’s an appreciation for all that makes this community so special and rewarding.

Here’s to you, and to us. Enjoy.

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J E R I CO LU M A N L A N WRITTEN BY CAM HENDERSON

I took some time in mid-August to talk to Jerico about where he’s at and where he’s going. We had a great conversation about university life and pursuing personal goals. Jerico is currently in his last year at Northeastern University in Boston studying UX/UI design. UX and UI stand for User Experience and User Interface. It didn’t start out this way, though. In first and second year university, Jerico thought that a business degree was where it was at. He loved the way start-ups operate and was always interested in tech, so business felt like a good place to start.

Second year began, and things started to take a turn. The classes were not as interesting as he thought, his grades started to slip, and parties became a regular distraction. He decided that a gap year was his best option. If he didn’t know what he was going to, he didn’t want to spend his time just churning.

But he wasn’t picturing a year of aimless wandering; Jerico knew that in order to make the most of this time, it was on him to figure out what to do longer term. The solution? A ten-week intensive UI bootcamp located in New York. When his parents found out, they were obviously worried. For them, a UI bootcamp was not enough of a reason to up and move to New York, so he didn’t settle. Instead, Jerico secured two internships during and following his bootcamp, convincing his parents to let him go. This was Jerico’s path to a six-month internship at Spotify and then another at The Future Forward.

Designing user interfaces and experiences is something that takes a keen eye and a willingness to work long, hard hours.

These designers work with a specific focus on detail. Jerico’s projects from all his internships can be found online, where he showcases his work.

For Spotify, he was tasked with creating a new experience for students. But how? He first had to conduct his own research on what students might want. After talking to friends from his own university, a clearer idea began to emerge. The result was the design for the Mutual Mix - a mix that is created using the listening history of multiple friends who accept invites to join the playlist. It was Jerico’s idea, and he presented it to the Product Development Team. A crazy experience for sure!

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So how was it interning for start-ups and a tech company?

At Spotify, Jerico felt like an employee - not an intern. He told me they “genuinely cared about my development” and that they said, “Hey, just do your best, and we will guide.”

A situation you certainly couldn’t ask for at many places of work.

Jerico also interned at WorkOf, where he looked up to the CEO. It was a small start-up that required a lot of close interaction between interns and the CEO. The CEO was making sales and acquiring clients, and the team spent long hours together. Jerico said that the atmosphere at WorkOf was like a family because of the intense collaboration needed to get the tech working.

When Jerico returned to school, he didn’t want to just move back into the studying lifestyle. He caught the startup bug and wanted back into that atmosphere. East Coast Catalyst accepted him as a part-time student for a term. On his last day, Jercio went up to the CEO to ask him why they took him on despite his minimal availability. “We took you because of your grit,” was the CEO’s response. Jerico knows now that “if people see you’re willing to do the work, they’ll give it to you.”

Throughout his gap year, Jerico never took his foot off the pedal. He applied to jobs until he got them and spent his time immersed in the life that he had a particular interest in. It was through this commitment that Jerico discovered

both increased happiness and motivation. With friends from Northeastern, Jerico has started Worksense to help technology companies promote more inclusivity in the workplace.

Jerico was interested in tech start-ups before his internships and bootcamp, and I was curious if that passion was still alive inside him. His answer was a resounding yes.

“Eventually, I want my own start-up.”

Where did this passion come from? Jerico remembers Middle School, doing homework in his father’s study. The books that spanned the wall piqued his interest and he took the time to read a few. Since then, Jerico said he has had a flame in the back of his mind; it’s the idea of ownership of something that really motivates Jerico to continue to work forward.

I wanted to know how Jerico was able to avoid burning out or letting the sheer amount of uncertainty topple his mindset. He admitted that he actually didn’t fully avoid it and had suffered from some anxiety about it all. But there are things that he has learned over the past year, which he attributes to his success overall. He doesn’t work on weekends. This includes a no-phone policy in the evenings where he forces himself to avoid work. He regularly does weightlifting, an activity he pursued at the beginning of his gap year, winning gold in his weight class at a competition.

I asked Jerico what mindfulness meant to him, and he paused for a moment before replying.

“When I think mindfulness, I think… how does my body feel, how hard am I going at work, do I need some social experiences right now, am I eating healthily? That’s how I see mindfulness - just being aware.” It’s a pretty apt and amazing description.

He went on to speak about his first two years at university. He had the wrong priorities and was not in a healthy head space. His struggle over his gap year provided the necessary self-discovery opportunities that have put him where he is today. Most importantly, Jerico said he had to embrace the fact that he was struggling. In the end, “You’re just doing your best, and that’s all you can do. That’s all you should do.”

After a lovely and insightful talk, I asked Jerico if he had words of wisdom that he wanted to share. He separated it into three categories: for those younger than him, for those his age (22), and for everyone. For those younger: Enjoy the uncertainty and discomfort of life. It should be a learning and growing experience. Meet as many people as you can and have fun. For those his age: Thank all the good people nearest to you for offering guidance when you needed it. For everyone: The number one ROI (return on investment) should always be happiness.

In the end, Jerico wouldn’t have traded any of the discomfort. It was necessary, in his eyes, to bring him to where he is today.

I want to offer a thanks to Jerico for his honesty and vulnerability in this interview. We all have our ups and downs in life, and Jerico is a shining example of this. We wish the best for Jerico in his pursuits as he finishes up with his undergraduate degree and, without a doubt, moves onto great things.

C AT H E R I N E ADDISON We had an opportunity to talk to Catherine Addison, Class of 2010, about her time working for the Vancouver Division of Family Practice, her time at Mulgrave, and her passion for the outdoors. Her honest and generous nature is an amazing gift.

Let’s talk first about your last visit to Mulgrave. What brought you back?

I was back at Mulgrave in November 2018 to speak on behalf of Balding for Dollars, an event organised by a current student. The organisation raises money for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation to benefit Oncology, Hematology, and Bone Marrow Transplant patients. I have worked with Balding for Dollars in a volunteer capacity on and off since 2007 and hosted Mulgrave’s first Balding for Dollars event in 2009 for our Spirit Week that year.

If we zoom out a bit, what has your journey looked like over the past nine years since you graduated in 2010?

I went straight to UBC in 2010 and graduated in 2014

with a BA in Psychology and a Minor in English Literature.

After my time at UBC, I started to work for the Vancouver Division of Family Practice, an non-profit organisation that supports family physicians that practice in Vancouver. I supported the development of the Patient Attachment Initiative through the provincial ‘A GP for Me’ initiative in an effort to reduce the number of residents in Vancouver without a family physician.

In 2016, I left the Vancouver Division of Family Practice and moved to Qingdao, in Shandong Province in China to teach English and travel. During my time there, I travelled

Can you explain your interest in Health Care?

At the age of thirteen, in December 2005, I was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in my rib and underwent 49 weeks of treatment involving multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. I was cured in late November 2006 and have not had any relapses to date. to many Chinese cities and visited Japan and countries throughout Southeast Asia. I then explored Europe on my way home and returned to Canada in November 2017.

After arriving back in Canada, I returned to the Vancouver Division of Family Practice to help coordinate the Patient Attachment Initiative. Our team has grown from three to six members in my time there, and we are currently working on implementing an Electronic Medical Record to allow us to manage the increasing number of patient referrals we receive.

My initial interest in healthcare was a direct result of my treatment. I wanted to give back to the community that was there for me during my recovery. However, I found that volunteering so closely with patients over the years had an impact on my stress. Working in public health has allowed me to have a positive impact on people’s lives in a broader capacity while also ensuring I care for my own well-being.

Public health is also a great opportunity to look at how changes in a system can impact a population. I really enjoy tailoring our work to better support the different populations my organisation works with.

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C AT H E R I N E A D D I S O N We want to thank Catherine for her honest and wise responses to these questions. We really appreciate the opportunity to get a glimpse into the life of someone who is so valuable to our community. We wish her the best in whatever she decides to do, whether that’s going back to school, pursuing her passion for helping others, or merging the two together.

Is there a rewarding experience that stands out to you since you started working with the Vancouver Division of Family Practice?

My team has done a lot of work to expand our partnerships around Vancouver to ensure we receive referrals for patients with the highest need of a family physician (e.g., recently discharged from hospital, complex chronic disease diagnosis, mothers and newborns, patients with mental health complexities, etc). Our work has resulted in partnerships within the acute, outpatient, and community systems, which allow us to support over 150 family physicians and find physicians for over 12,000 patients who otherwise would not have one.

What does your daily life look like as a Project Coordinator?

My day-to-day is pretty varied and depends on the time of year and the particular requests from others on my team and on different teams. I start my day doing some reporting, replying to emails, and processing some patient files. I often do presentations to promote our programme to other healthcare providers in order to generate more referrals. I am the primary contact for physicians for my programme, so I often have phone calls with them to explain the process of accepting patients through my team. I manage our spreadsheets and am the one primarily responsible for any communication requests from our team. I am also leading the transition from paper medical files to an Electronic Medical Record (EMR), which will likely be implemented in early 2020.

What are some of your favourite hobbies outside of your professional life?

I love spending time outdoors - running and hiking are some of my favourites during the summer. I have also done some outdoor rock climbing and would like to do more of it next year. During the winter, I downhill ski and snowshoe.

I am also planning on trying to ski-tour. I hear it is the best of both worlds.

I also love travelling, and the next place on my bucket list is Easter Island. I loved living in China and would recommend the experience to everyone, particularly Zhangjiajie for some spectacular views and Xi’an for the amazing food and the Terracotta Army.

Do you feel like you achieve balance in your life?

I think I stay quite balanced in my personal life. My life at work is very busy and is often not balanced. I do my best to ensure that work doesn’t impact my personal time.

Physical activity is a great way to stay balanced. I typically go on a run outdoors after work three to four days a week.

This helps me decompress before making other plans in the evenings. Otherwise, I spend a lot of time with friends and family doing all of the outdoor activities I mentioned earlier.

What does the term ‘mindfulness’ means to you? Is it just some term people are using or is there more to it?

Our bodies are really good at telling us what they need to stay healthy. To me, mindfulness is about paying attention to this. I think that the prevalence of mindfulness in our culture is a response to the anxious and competitive world we live in. Chronic stress has been shown to have a terribly negative impact on our health. Being mindful of our reactions to stress is an important way for us to live happily and healthily. I hope that the message of being mindful is something that continues after the buzz about the word has faded.

Has mindfulness started to make its way into the healthcare system?

Yes, we have seen lots of healthcare providers ensuring they have an improved work-life balance in a number of ways: working fewer hours in a week or taking longer vacations, taking longer to settle down into a career so that they can make sure to work in a setting that is a good fit, and working in multiple different care settings part-time to increase variety in their day-to-day lives. Examples of this might be physicians who work part-time in a family practice clinic and part-time providing maternity care, or nurses who work casually on different wards or in different roles in the community.

Do you have any advice you would give to those younger than you about life after school?

I would say that life is full of unexpected challenges that throw you off your path. Embracing these challenges with a sense of humour and flexibility is the best way for you to become the most resilient and well-rounded version of yourself. Don’t be afraid to try new things that scare you, because these are the experiences you will remember.

Do you have a question you would ask of those older than you?

I’m struggling to decide when to go back to school. Is it better to go to school before you know exactly what you want to do or wait until you have had more work experience?

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N I CO L E L I N A K S I TA Nicole has chosen to take up two different passions in her life: computer science and piano. From working at a start-up to performing Harry Potter with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Nicole has achieved quite a lot, including being named one of CBC’s Classical 30 under 30. That’s not all though, Nicole speaks about balancing a hectic life as she pursues a Masters in Music in Austin, Texas and dishes out some wisdom on mastering this skill.

I’ll begin with asking a little bit about where you are now. You’re currently studying in Texas for a Masters. Can you tell us what you are studying and why?

I am currently studying a Masters in Music in Piano Performance. It is a performance-based degree, and I am finding that the lower credit requirement gives me a lot of time to practice piano.

It took me some time to decide on pursuing a Masters in Music. When I graduated with a dual degree in Computer Science and Music, I worked at a start-up company during the day and practiced at night.

I performed with a chamber group called the Postmodern Camerata, and my teacher introduced me to Music on Main. I was learning a lot from working at the start-up company, but because I did not have much guidance, I felt that I could only learn so much. Eventually, I left that role, and I thought that while I was searching for my next software job, I would teach piano. I ended up teaching many students over the next two years while continuing to perform. I felt passionate about working towards performances and competitions, and I was exposed to so many performers playing at a very high level and wanted to continue to develop my playing. Having more time to practice allowed me to become

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more successful in competitions, which led to my biggest win at the CMC Stepping Stone Competition in June 2019.

You currently have undergraduate degrees in both Music and Computer Science, and it is easy to see the passion and seriousness you have for the piano. When did that start? Was your pursuit of a Computer Science degree passion-driven as well?

I decided to pursue a Computer Science degree as well as Music because I have been interested in computer-related things since I was little. When I was younger, I taught myself how to code in html and css using online resources, and I started to get more intrigued by video games. When I was applying to universities, I had the intention of going for a science degree because I was thinking of what careers would be available after graduation. I was caught in the illusion that music would be difficult to follow as a career. However, since music has been a part of my life for such a long time, I felt that I could not leave it behind. I first played with toy pianos when I was around two years old. Apparently I had taught myself to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by ear on one of these toys. I started lessons at the age of four. I was so relieved when I learned that UBC offered a dual degree programme for Music and Science because I could study two things that I had an interest in.

Was it hard to pursue two separate degrees at once? Did you have to make any compromises anywhere else in your life to do so?

It was a big challenge, particularly because both piano and software development are skills that require consistent practice. The hardest part was learning how to manage my time. In the end, I would procrastinate from my computer science assignments by practicing piano and vice versa. I did find that changing subjects gave my mind a rest from the other, so I feel that I was more efficient in that way.

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I couldn’t help but notice your drawings, how did that start? Tell me about the subject matter and why you create?

Okay, seriously, you get/got to perform Harry Potter with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra? How did it happen and how awesome was it?

I have been drawing since I was very little. At the time, I was interested in TV cartoons and would try to copy the style of the artists so I could make my own stories with the characters. I started to draw much more when I got involved in an online art community and even dabbled a little bit in animation. It was inspiring to see so many artists sharing their works and encouraging others to do the same. I was motivated to improve my drawing skills after seeing what other artists could do. At the time, I was working with just a mouse in Photoshop, but once I got the required tablet computer at Mulgrave in Grade 10, I was drawing so much more because it was so easy to access the drawing space.

Playing with the VSO for the Harry Potter concerts was a blast! I played for two concerts. The first one was the Goblet of Fire, where I played the synth, and the second was the Halfblood Prince, where I played piano.

There are a few reasons why I draw.

Lately, it has been a way for me to let my mind relax from university work. I am also intrigued by how a still image can tell a story based on the details in the picture. When I am drawing video game or cartoon characters, I start to notice details that I may have not noticed before, and I feel that it makes me understand the character a little more.

The VSO was looking for a synth player in March 2018 to cover for an absence at the time of the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire show. My teacher at the time, Corey Hamm, was asked to do it, but he was not available. Instead, he recommended me to the VSO and I am so thankful. Since then, I have been on the list of contacts for the VSO whenever they are in need of a pianist.

Your experience as a pianist is amazing, proof given in your commendation by CBC’s Canada’s Classical 30 under 30. Is there any wisdom you can share after all this hard work?

You have only failed if you stop trying. I have participated in many competitions, and in many of them, I did not place or even get accepted.

These are all part of the experience; there are so many talented people out there. However, if you work hard, it will show. People will recognise it. So don’t give up even if you don’t always get the desired result. Also, talk to

people. Having connections is so important in our world today.

I’ve been asking all our spotlights this year - what does mindfulness mean to you?

Mindfulness, to me, means to be aware.

It is to be present in your current situation. Often, we get carried away in our work towards our goals and time passes us by so quickly without us realising it. The journey is equally as important as reaching those goals.

When you look back on life, I feel you will think about more than just your achievements.

You’ve done so much through your university career and onwards.

Returning for a Masters down in Austin must also be awfully exciting.

How do you balance the different parts of your life, whether it’s music and software design or a private and social life?

I have never been very good at keeping a balanced lifestyle healthwise. In order to change this, I joined the Texas Wushu club, which is a sports club at the University of Texas in Austin. Joining the club has motivated me to arrange my day so that I do my university work in the morning and afternoon and I attend practice during the evening.

Also, the members of my piano studio sometimes try to get together

for dinner in order to spend some time together and keep each other in check. I am thankful to be in such a supportive and caring environment.

The hardest time to find balance for me is when a competition or a deadline is coming up. These are times when I push myself so hard I start to risk injury from practicing too much. I am thankful that nothing has happened to affect me long-term, but I know many people who have injured themselves from over-practicing.

This is why it is important to take breaks, which applies to things outside of piano as well. The mind needs time to

rest, otherwise it will not be able to take in information to its full potential.

Have a routine. Set out specific times to get something done and don’t worry about other things while you are doing it. This schedule includes work, exercise, and time for yourself. Sometimes, we may skip out on time for ourselves or exercise because we have a big project coming up, but it is important to stay committed to self-care. I find that it keeps me from burning out and it gives time for my mind to rest before going back to work.

Thank you so much, Nicole, for taking the time to answer these questions. Your insight and wisdom are admirable and invaluable. We wish you the best with all your pursuits as a pianist and hope you get out of it what we get hearing you play.

SONIA ROSENFELD

Sonia has an interesting and unique profession working for the Government of Canada, first granting, and now managing the team that grants Canadian citizenship.

You can tell from reading below how much passion and value she places on the work she does.

I understand that you’ve been promoted recently, however, could you briefly explain what your previous role as a Citizenship Officer looked like?

As a Citizenship Officer, I was responsible for granting Canadian citizenship to new Canadians, as well as clerking Citizenship ceremonies. Simply put, whenever someone wants to become a Canadian citizen, they submit an application. It was then my role to review that application and interview the applicant to determine that they met all of the legislative requirements to become a Canadian citizen detailed in the Citizenship Act. On average, I would interview 60 applicants for citizenship each week. Some of these applications were very simple and easy to process, while others were more complicated and required an in depth review and analysis of the applicant’s life in Canada that could take weeks or even months. Interacting with so many unique individuals on a regular basis, as well as the variety in the type of applications I encountered kept the job very interesting.

After citizenship has been granted, clients are invited to their citizenship ceremony to say the Oath of Citizenship, which is the final requirement to becoming a Canadian citizen. As a Citizenship Officer, I often had the opportunity to clerk these ceremonies. I would

have the chance to call each client forward to receive their certificate from the Judge. This was one of my favourite parts of my job as a Citizenship Officer, as the ceremonies are truly special moments for our clients. There are often tears of happiness, and it’s a very rewarding experience to be such an important part of something so monumental in people’s lives.

In addition to providing these services at the Vancouver Citizenship Office, we are also responsible for providing citizenship services to all of BC and the Yukon. This means I’ve been able to travel to many places in BC and the Yukon that I normally would not have had the opportunity to, such as Prince George and Whitehorse.

What does your current role, supervising your old team, look like?

Currently, I supervise the testing team and mail room at the

In addition, I also have the opportunity to perform a variety of tasks related to HR and employee development. I routinely am involved in hiring processes. I am also responsible for conducting regular reviews with each employee on my team and providing feedback and opportunities for growth. I help them create learning plans, and seek out opportunities for them to develop in their careers. I also lead training courses for new employees on how to be a Citizenship Officer.

Vancouver Citizenship Office. My team is made up of 4-5 Citizenship Officers and 4-5 clerical staff. As mentioned, one of the requirements to becoming a Canadian citizen is having an adequate knowledge of Canada. This is assessed via the Citizenship Test: a 20-question multiple choice test all applicants for citizenship between the ages of 18 and 54 are required to take. My team is responsible for scheduling and administering the knowledge test to all applicants, as well as conducting interviews with each individual applicant following the test.

Each citizenship office across Canada has an assigned number of applicants they are required to test and grant citizenship to each fiscal year. As a supervisor, it’s my role to ensure that my team schedules enough applicants for their test to meet our target. It can definitely be a challenge to ensure my team meets the commitments laid out by the department, but to date, we are actually exceeding our targets!

Finally, I am responsible for the day-to-day management of my team, including resolving interpersonal issues, dealing with underperforming employees, helping employees resolve challenges they are facing, as well as dealing with any issues that arise during the provision of services to our clients. I really enjoy this position because of the variety of work (I really never know what to expect when I get into the office) and because I love working with people. It’s a lot of fun to see your employees grow and succeed!

What are some things that people don’t realise about your job?

I don’t think people necessarily realise how hardworking and dedicated the employees in my department are. Navigating government 42

processes can be challenging and confusing. The people I work with all understand that and truly strive to do their best for their clients on a daily basis. We work hard and often go above and beyond what is required of us for our clients. We do everything we can to make things quick and efficient, but we are sometimes limited by factors outside of our control. I don’t think people realise how much we really do care and that we are doing our best for them.

Are there any interesting facts you can share with us about being a government employee?

There are a lot of benefits to being a government employee. There is a strong emphasis on work/life balance, which I really appreciate.

What inspired you to pursue an education and a job in this area of the government?

To be honest, I had no plans to end up where I am. I have an undergrad degree in Anthropology from McGill and a Master’s degree from SFU in International Studies. After graduating from SFU, I applied to the government’s post secondary recruitment campaign (among numerous other jobs). I believe I applied under the ‘social sciences’ category, so I had no idea where (if anywhere) it would lead. Eventually, I got the call from IRCC and have been there ever since!

I’ve always loved travelling and exploring other cultures,

and I’ve always loved working with people. However, upon graduation, I had no idea what kind of job I wanted that could combine my skills, passion, and education while still allowing me to live in Vancouver (my previous plans of travelling the world and working in foreign countries seemed less appealing once I met my husband and started putting down roots in Vancouver). That’s why I applied to the Government of Canada’s Post Secondary Recruitment Campaign, which led me to the role of Citizenship Officer. It seemed like a great fit.

What are the biggest challenges you deal with on a day to day basis?

I hate conflict, so for me, the most challenging thing is having difficult conversations with employees and dealing with conflict. Having been in my role for over a year now, this is something I have gotten more comfortable with but still find challenging. Luckily, I have a strong support system at work I can turn to for advice and guidance when needed.

How do you keep a balance in your life between your life inside and outside of work?

One thing I really appreciate about working for the government is the focus placed on work/life balance. While I have a work phone, there is no expectation for me to respond to emails from home or on my days off. This allows me to separate from work life from my home life relatively easily. I know when I come into work, I focus completely on

work, but that when I leave, that’s my time to do whatever I like. A good run or workout usually helps clear my head!

When the term mindfulness comes up, what do you think of? How would you describe the term on its own?

I think of making an intentional effort to separate work from home. When at work, being focussed solely on work, and when at home, being focussed on your home life. This is obviously easier said than done because sometimes it is hard not to think about work challenges at home or personal challenges at work. Therefore, I think mindfulness also includes acknowledging this fact and seeking out ways and/or a support system to help you cope with work/personal challenges to allow you to focus on what you need to.

Are there any tricks you use to remain ‘mindful’?

I find that working out helps me calm down after a particularly stressful day. I also find that having some quiet, alone time after work to do whatever I like is really helpful.

Giving myself time to process the day and move on works for me. Another thing that helps me is going for a short walk at lunch time. I find getting some air and getting out of the office helps me clear my head.

You graduated in 2007. If you could distill the knowledge you’ve come across about life since then, what advice would you give to those after you?

It’s okay to have no idea what you want to do in your career. I still don’t really know and am figuring it out as I go along and as opportunities arise. As long as you

work hard and pursue avenues that you are passionate about, something will work out! I really think hard work is important. Even if you’re in a job you hate, do your best because you never know where it will lead and what opportunities will come from it. Do what interests you.

Study subjects that sound exciting and peak your curiosity.

Don’t just choose to study something because you think it will make you a lot of money in the end. Travel and use the time before, during and after university to figure out who you are and what your priorities are. Don’t rush - there is so much time to figure things out. Just enjoy - each new experience will teach you something and help you figure out where you ultimately want to be!

Do you have any goals for the next year?

The next year is going to be quite interesting for me! I’ll be putting my career goals aside for the time being since I’m currently pregnant with my first child! I’m due at the beginning of January, so I’ll be headed off on maternity leave before the holidays. That being said, when I do return to work I hope to continue growing with my department. I really enjoy working where I do, and I am excited about future opportunities. One thing I would love to do is have an assignment working abroad somewhere at a Canadian embassy.

Thank you, Sonia, for answering all these questions so eloquently and giving us a bit of insight into your life, working with people trying to become Canadians! The value that you and your team add to society is remarkable. We wish you the best in your time on maternity leave and on becoming a mother!

W W W. N O C A P R OJ E C T.CO M

NORIKA YUE If you have ever had the chance to be around Norika, you know that his personality and happiness is infectious. Since graduating in 2011, Norika pursued education in architecture while simultaneously building his reputation as a musical artist. So, here is Norika with his very Norika-like spotlight.

I’d like to start these questions off with a life update.

Where are you now?

something physical or to represent their ideas, it has the capacity to do so. I liked that.

Currently, I’m in Alberta attending the University of Calgary.

I’m enrolled in the Masters of Architecture programme and will be finishing up this year.

You’ve had a passion for music for quite some time. Can you tell us when you got started? What motivated you to pick up a guitar and start playing and what got you to pick up a pen and start writing your own music?

Why did you choose to go to school for Architecture?

What was the motivation behind the decision?

There was a whole slew of reasons why I chose to go to Architecture school. Some of those reasons were far from the reality of what Architecture school is, or even what architecture itself is. However, when it comes down to it, Architecture is the manifestation of form and expression.

Whether that form represents someone’s desire to make

I may not have been very good at the piano when I was eight, or the oboe in Junior School, or the sax in Middle School Jazz Band, but I’ve always enjoyed playing music. My close friend at Mulgrave, who I’m still very close with, played guitar and convinced me to play with him when we were in Grade 9. Writing music then became the next instinctive move. I like to take ownership of the things I enjoy so it was natural that I tried my hand at songwriting and performing.

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Now you have Noca Project. Is there any story behind the name?

‘Noca’ in Japanese means countryside. Although it is a gross oversimplification and perhaps wrongfully perceived, I’ve always been enamoured by rural living. It seems simpler and affected by less noise and desires. The name is a reminder to myself to enjoy music and the process of writing and performing it for what it is.

You’ve also made some jewelry in the past. What was the motivation behind that?

At the moment, I make jewelry for myself and friends that ask. My grandfather used to make jewelry, as well, for a hobby. Hammering and welding metal is an oddly calming process.

In another word, we can often talk about the balance in our lives, whether it is between work and passion or a social and work life. Are there ways that you try to keep your life in balance?

Don’t try to be the best at everything.

If it’s not working or making/performing music, what could we find you doing in your spare time?

I try to stay active. I generally bike in the summer and ski in the winter.

Finally, are there any words of wisdom you would like to share from your experiences in life since Mulgrave?

Don’t plan too far in the future. There’s more excitement from surprises.

As a part of the theme for this year’s spotlights, I’d like to ask you: What does mindfulness mean to you?

I think mindfulness is being self-aware. Understanding your own capacity to be engaged, and your capabilities affect how you can interact with yourself and others.

Thank you, Norika, for participating in our Spotlights this year.

We’re grateful for all the energy you put into every relationship you have and wish you nothing but the best in your pursuits of architecture and music, wherever they may lead.

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