Hussain Ali, Mulgrave Class of 2012, is a service-oriented, philosophical, and kind student who joined the Mulgrave School community as a result of our relationship with the Sparks Academy in Afghanistan. Upon his arrival in Canada and his enrollment at Mulgrave School, Hussain rose to the challenge of the IB Diploma Programme and is now sharing his insights as he reflects on his experiences in this 2015 Alumni Spotlight Series feature.
Q&A
HUSSAIN Ali
Mulgrave School Class of 2011 | Interviewed by Chloe Scott | February 2015
After your graduation from Mulgrave in 2012, you returned to Afghanistan to be a part of the programmes at Sparks Academy. What motivated you to return to Afghanistan?
Afghanistan, after many years of conflict, has lost the majority of its educated population either to war or as refugees to other countries. As a result, it suffers from the absence of competent and educated people. Sparks Academy is the only institution I know trying to fill the gap by educating youth. Ultimately, what motivated me the most was the idea of making some meaningful contribution towards the betterment of the Afghan society through Sparks Academy. That being said, being part of Sparks Academy itself was a privilege and a learning opportunity
as well. I was fortunate to have a chance to be part of Sparks Academy’s programmes and try to make a positive impact. Lastly, going back to Afghanistan once again gave me the opportunity to connect with family and friends after a long while. I will cherish those moments always. Can you share with us your experience at Sparks Academy? I have quite a lot of memories with various programmes and activities at the Academy. For a few months, I was involved in helping a number of students that were supposed to attend Mulgrave School. I was helping them with their preparation of certain courses and the overall IB journey. But quite ironically, in helping the students, I ended
up helping myself. It was only then that I realised how effective teaching is for solidifying our own knowledge. It was then that I wished I hadn’t already taken my IB exam, and I hoped I could take it again to score a higher mark! For a while, I was also involved in some administrative work alongside a dedicated and hardworking team of people. I was involved in reporting and carrying out communications between the Academy and the Director of the programme back in Vancouver. Furthermore, I participated in various programmes and events that were held by the Academy, either for the community or the staff of the schools. Engaging with the community wasn’t a new experience for me because I had the honor of being part of Sparks even before attending Mulgrave School, but there were always new things to learn. Dealing with people and the community, especially in an environment that isn’t as stable, teaches a lot of life lessons. And that’s what I learned - that theory and reality don’t always comply with each other.
for it. Why did you choose to study at Trent University? Trent was one of the three options that I had chosen; UBC and U of T being the other two. While selecting universities, the location was more important for me than the programmes they offered, partly because I sensed that there is not a wide variance in Canadian universities in terms of programme content. Vancouver was my first option because of the family connections I had established. Toronto was my second choice, and Trent was the third on my list because of its modest admission requirements and its proximity to Toronto. UBC and U of T offered me conditional offers to do their ESL programme, while Trent offered me full admission. I, therefore, went for it, and I don’t regret the decision. The small class sizes, the accessibility of the professors, and the ‘Vancouver looking’ green setting of the campus makes it a nice place to be.
“It was only then that I realised how effective teaching is for solidifying our own knowledge.”
What is one lesson or skill you learned through the IB programme that you were able to implement at Sparks Academy? It wouldn’t be just to single out one lesson from the IB programme, for there were many that have not only been beneficial for me at Sparks Academy, but there are lessons that I still carry with me in university and will continue to carry with me in life. If I had to choose one lesson, I would say that IB really reinforced the importance of team work and collaboration. The spirit of collaboration, team work and helping others is one of the main principles in Sparks Academy, and my IB experience enhanced my understanding and gave me a better appreciation
Having spent a year and a half away from the classroom, did you face any challenges to adjusting back to student life? Not quite, because my experiences at Sparks Academy were similar to those of a student. I was helping others academically and being helped at the same time. Anything I was engaged in, directly or indirectly, was some form of education, which I cherish. Besides, the professors at Trent University are pretty good at designing their lectures in such a way that they clearly cover the basis for their topics so everyone can understand it. How did your IB education help prepare you for university studies?
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IB indeed laid the foundation upon which I was able to start my university education. But what made my IB education successful was the generous support of my incredible host family and that of the Mulgrave community. Without my host family’s support, I wouldn’t have heard of Mulgrave. Using this opportunity I would like to express my immense gratitude to my host family, and all the wonderful teachers and staff at Mulgrave. When I started IB in 2010, lack of understanding of Western and IB methodology, combined with weaker English proficiency were amongst the biggest challenges I faced. But with the support of the people mentioned above, I managed to earn my diploma as well as admission into a Canadian university. Did you have anyone in particular who helped you in navigating your post-secondary ambitions while at Mulgrave?
Yes, I did. The most significant people and mentors in my life were my host parents. They not only guided and supported me throughout my education at Mulgrave, but also helped me plan my university education and beyond. At Mulgrave, almost all of my teachers were somewhat involved in helping me find my direction, but I would say Mr. Lawson, Mr. Hardy, and Ms. Willard were the ones I worked the most with. What inspired you to pursue a degree in Business Administration? Honestly, my true passion lies in Humanities and Philosophy, but considering the realities of today’s market for employment, having a degree in Business and Administration seemed more beneficial. However, once I started the BBA program, I realised that I still find philosophy in everything that I study. ‘Search for wisdom,’ as the core concept of Philosophy was present
in most of the courses that I have taken so far. Finding the wisest (best) business and administration techniques that are supported by research and evidence is the main concern in many of our courses. Analysing business and administration practices and questioning the roots of those practices - that is indeed philosophy by nature. This, however, is an overly simplified definition of Philosophy or BBA. I am also taking at least a course per semester in Philosophy and
am hoping to minor in it eventually. What has been the most interesting course you’ve taken at Trent to date?
“I would like to use this opportunity to express my immense gratitude to my host family, and all the wonderful teachers and staff at Mulgrave.�
I find all of my courses in Philosophy interesting. Courses concerning the nature of knowledge and reality, and moral and political philosophy have certainly been the most interesting ones. I find these courses fascinating because they not only continued on next page...
make us think, but they help us to think about thinking itself. It improves critical and analytical thinking, which is a highly valued transferable skill needed in almost every field. Moral and Political Philosophy addresses the very fundamental issues of human society. Morality, ethics, and the discussion of right and wrong are very essential topics within Philosophy. In what ways have you become involved in student life at Trent? I am a member at Trent International Programme where I work as a Cultural Assistant. Our job is to welcome international students upon arrival, direct them to the right support systems they need, and to help them transition into university life. I am also a member of the Peer Mentoring Programme, which provides mentorship on a one-on-one basis to students who require regular support in their academics. Recently, I wrote a proposal to start an IB club at Trent. Trent University is fairly diverse in terms of its student population, so this club will hopefully bring IB students together to share their experiences. Through this club, I hope we can develop programmes to promote extracurricular activities just like IB to benefit the Trent community.
them. In the long run, by using my education I am hoping to develop a micro level business model with a focus on rural economy. The idea is to create values and make use of ideal capacities to eventually improve the living standard of people in those communities. What advice would you give to students interested in taking a gap year? It certainly is worth it if you have the time and resources. A gap year between high school and university, especially when utilised properly, is a great opportunity to gain some valuable experience. I would encourage my fellow Mulgravians to be part of some kind of institution, either at a voluntary capacity or to get a taste of a real life work environment. With life experience in hand, you will have a much better appreciation for your university education and beyond. It will also be a break from 12 years of continuous high school education, and a time to breathe and energise!
“ With life experience at hand, you will have a much better appreciation for your university education and beyond.�
What is your dream job? I haven’t exactly thought of a dream job yet, but I certainly have the dream of a meaningful job. I am hoping that my education will eventually not only secure a job, but will enable me to create job opportunities for others. My intention is to make some meaningful contribution to societies in need of assistance, and Afghanistan is one of
Do you have a favourite Mulgrave memory you would like to share with our readers? My entire time at Mulgrave was a valuable memory in itself. One that I particularly cherish is the day I had my farewell with my wonderful teachers. While it was sad to leave them, it was pleasant to successfully mark the end of my IB education at Mulgrave. I hope that I am able to return sometime and see my teachers again. Hussain Ali, February 2015