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Branksome Hall taught me early that being an international student isn’t a limitation rather it’s a strength. Moving from Branksome Hall Asia to Toronto in Grade 9, I came with uncertainty, but Branksome welcomed me and pushed me to lead. The unique blend of innovation programs (like the Noodle accelerator), IB rigor, and global-minded student support made the school different from any other. These were spaces that didn’t just celebrate classroom success but they celebrated solving real problems.

The best thing Branksome gave me was confidence in my ability to turn ideas into action. Whether through research or leadership, I learned that I can contribute meaningfully.

I would push myself to start innovation projects even earlier. My advice for incoming students is get into the opportunities. Don’t wait to feel ready just start.

What I loved most was how Branksome made me believe that being different, asking questions, and trying new things weren’t risk but they were my advantage. That belief made all the difference.

If you ever feel like you don’t fit in, remember: your perspective is your power. Find mentors, speak up, partner with your peers, and let compassion guide your ambition. Also, take time to walk the campus at sunrise, it’s quiet, beautiful, and inspiring.

The academic environment at Branksome was demanding but incredibly empowering. I fell in love with neuroscience through a summer internship, and Branksome’s curriculum allowed me to explore it in depth linking biology, psychology, ethics, and innovation. Professors weren’t just teachers; they were mentors who asked “why” as often as “how.” That mindset has carried me into my studies at Johns Hopkins, where I major in Neuroscience with minors in Marketing & Communications, and History of Medicine.

Though I wasn’t a varsity athlete, I appreciated how athletics at Branksome pushed for balance. I joined wellness and sports programs informally, cheered on teammates, and found those moments of physical activity helpful for stress relief and community. Even if I wasn’t the fastest or strongest, I valued being part of the energy and discipline that athletics cultivated

.I’ve always admired creativity in others. Even though my main focus was science and innovation, I regularly attended musical performances, theatre productions, and exhibitions. Supporting my friends in the arts taught me empathy and how diverse forms of expression can fuel innovation because neuroscience isn’t just about neurons, it’s also about human stories.

DEI work, global conferences, service, and tech/innovation ventures made up much of my extra-curricular life. I tried to merge passion with purpose for instance, using research and user-experience design to help neurodivergent individuals. I learned project management, collaboration, and that change often starts small but becomes meaningful if you persist.

I was not a full-time boarder in Toronto, but being part of the boarding and international student community shaped me deeply. House mentors, boarding staff, and dormmates helped me adjust culturally, academically, and emotionally. Even staying over with friends in residence, sharing late night conversations or mutual study stress, I felt part of a supportive family.

Mealtime was more than fuel. It was community. I looked forward to shared tables where I could discuss classes, innovation ideas, world affairs, or simply how someone was coping with homesickness. The variety of food, cultural appreciation in meals, and the sense of inclusion around those tables added to my sense of belonging.

Toronto was my classroom in many ways. Guest lectures, city labs, cultural events, and opportunities to link my neuroscience interest with policy or global health issues were all more accessible because of location. At the same time, Branksome’s campus offered a calm contrast with spaces to think, recover, reflect. That duality shaped me.

My social life was built on shared passion and purpose. Friendships were formed in debate rooms, at innovation meetings, during late night group projects, and in moments when someone listened deeply. We came from many places, but what united us was curiosity, care, and drive. Those relationships grounded me and pushed me forward.