Havergal College Grad Profile 2023

London School of Economics BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Natasha Sturdee

Beats Tura

Daphne Yang

Wesleyan University

University of California, Berkeley MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY AND DATA SCIENCE

LIBERAL ARTS

During her six years at Havergal, Beats enjoyed challenging herself both academically and athletically. While maintaining good grades, she also found time to play on the field hockey, disc golf, ice hockey, softball and track and field teams and represented Havergal Athletics as one of the Sports Prefects in her graduating year. Overall, Beats was a great role model for sportsmanship. Outside of athletics, she has a passion for music and enjoyed playing the tuba in the Symphonic Band. “When the band is playing a live performance and everyone is in sync and everything is going right, I get this feeling of euphoria that’s unique,” she says. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Beats and friends started a mobile bike business, offering tune ups to local bike riders. She also worked at the The Model Workshop at the University of Toronto, a woodworking workshop, where she learned to use power tools and was trained on sanding and joinery while making things such as desks, tables and boxes. As a musician, an athlete and a tinkerer, Beats is applying all of her skills at Wesleyan University’s liberal arts program, where she’s considering a major in computer science. Her advice to new students? “Join clubs. Do sports. Be nice to everyone. Those are the best experiences at Havergal.”

Living on campus throughout her Havergal years, Daphne enjoyed the family-style, home-away-from home feel of the Boarding School. An academic at heart, she appreciated Havergal’s challenging curriculum and teaching excellence. “Even though I’m pursuing biology at university, my favourite courses at Havergal were philosophy, computer science and AP calculus; they were very influential to me,” Daphne says. “In philosophy, we learned to think about thinking. In computer science, I discovered the wonderful world of communicating with computers using a programming language. In AP calculus, I was introduced to the abstract aspect of math.” In addition to her academic interests, Daphne also has a passion for the performing arts. She has played the piano since the age of four and enjoys singing, especially with Havergal’s Senior and Chamber Choirs. She became Head of Beatstock, a music festival fundraiser for Havergal’s community partnerships, in her Grade 11 and 12 years. Currently, Daphne is studying molecular and cell biology and data science at the University of California, Berkeley. “My career goal is to combine biology, data science and business to solve real-life problems,” she says. Her advice for new Boarding students? “Immerse yourself within the Boarding experience and connect with the people around you; you’ll learn different ways of life from different parts of the world.”

Natasha understands the value of waiting for an investment to mature. A Havergal student since Grade 4, she took on her first leadership role as a Form Representative in Grade 8, followed by involvement in Student Council, House Executive, Robotics Club Head and Relay for Life throughout her Upper School journey. In Grade 12, she was elected to be Co-Head of the Resources for Youth in India community partnership. Working with the teachers at a school in Mumbai, India, Natasha and team developed teaching videos and worksheets on a broad range of topics including climate change, technology and innovation in order to better support the educational needs of the bright but underprivileged students they are partnered with. Outside of school commitments, Natasha started working at the age of 14 and used all of her earnings to purchase stocks and ETFs. “I have a long-term vision and I know if I keep investing my money strategically, it will set me up later in life,” she explains. Natasha was also involved in Junior Achievement, a youth-based organization in which students start real companies with the support of professionals from affiliated corporations. Learning what it takes to run a company inspired her to study Management at the London School of Economics, where she continues to invest in her future.