Havergal College Grad Profile 2023

Queen’s University COMMERCE Kaitlyn Dean

Maya Gupta

Katie Sievenpiper Dalhousie University HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

McMaster University HEALTH SCIENCES

Giving back was a big part of Kaitlyn’s time at Havergal; she learned so much by organizing activities such as Relay for Life in support of The Canadian Cancer Society, representing student voice as Student Prefect and volunteering in the Therapeutic Playroom at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. “These experiences shaped my values as a person,” Kaitlyn explains. “Volunteering at Holland Bloorview helped me learn to identify capabilities instead of inabilities so I can better respect and interact with people who do not have the same abilities as me.” She applied these learnings toward completing Havergal’s Global Leading and Learning Diploma, in which she focused her final project on accessibility challenges in Toronto and offered solutions for positive improvements. A Havergal student since Grade 1, Kaitlyn always felt supported by her teachers, especially when it came to her interest in business, which was ignited after she got involved with business case competitions (DECA). “My participation in DECA in Grades 9 to 12 was formative; it was such a rewarding experience for me because I was able to explore the business world, which ultimately influenced my decision to study Commerce at Queen’s University.” Kaitlyn was the recipient of the Queen’s Chancellor’s Scholarship and is focused on a future career in investment banking.

Maya was a shy child who struggled with confidence in her co-ed classroom. She joined Havergal in Grade 3 because her parents hoped an all-girls environment would enable her to thrive, and it did. By Middle School, Maya was performing with the Symphonic Band and participating in the peer tutoring group Study Buddies. “Being involved in these co-curricular activities allowed me to meet people in different grades,” she says. In Grade 10, Maya and a friend were interested in leadership roles, so they co-founded the Food Club as a way to engage in different food-related activities, including collecting food donations for a local organization that supports youth experiencing homelessness. Maya also became interested in raising awareness and supporting maternal health after completing a project on a subject in Grade 12 World Issues. “What drew my attention the most when it comes to maternal health is how high the mortality rate is for pregnant women in developing countries and how preventable these deaths are.” This passion led her to study health sciences, which she is currently pursuing at McMaster University. “I was always a quiet student, but the Havergal community continuously encouraged and

When Katie started her Havergal journey in Grade 4, she was excited for all of the co-curricular opportunities the school offered. As a Junior School student, she joined the soccer, track and field, cross country and hockey teams and participated in clubs such as chess, watercolouring, math, journalism, drama and choir. In the Middle School, she was involved in the Havergal Youth Theatre group, sang in the Middle School Choir and participated in clubs focused on coding and science. She joined Havergal’s Model United Nations (MUN) group in Grade 8 and became a committed and enthusiastic member throughout her Upper School years. “I always had such a great time at MUN conferences because I’m interested in politics and the people were so great,” she says. “But it was my experiences singing with the choirs that helped me become who I am today because of the confidence I gained.” By Senior School, Katie was involved in all of theatrical plays and choirs, played on the soccer and curling teams and was elected as Arts Prefect in her Grade 12 year. “I should have dropped something, but I loved it all,” she recounts. After graduating from Havergal, Katie headed off to Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia to study History and Political Science.

supported me to try new things; it’s important to take advantage of that.”