Havergal College Grad Profile 2024

Brown University ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS Carina D’Souza

Bona Lee

MEDICINE University of St Andrews Ellie McArdle-Budden

McMaster University HEALTH SCIENCES

Going on the Grade 7 camp retreat as a new student was a defining moment for Ellie: “I only knew three people at Havergal, so I was really nervous and felt outside of my comfort zone, but the experience helped me push myself to make new friends at a time when it was most important,” she recalls, adding that the people who she connected with then are still some of her closest friends to this day. While Ellie focused primarily on the sciences in high school, she also discovered interests in Canadian and international law as well as sociology, anthropology and psychology. “These social sciences subjects were outside of my typical interests, but they were really helpful in developing skills in research and writing, which are applicable in any career,” she says. In Grades 11 and 12, Ellie volunteered her time at Holland-Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, supporting kids with traumatic brain injuries. She is currently studying Canadian Medicine in a joint program with the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh’s Medical School. Her advice for new students starting at HC? “Get involved in anything you’re interested in and just try to live in the moment.”

Carina discovered so many things about herself during her 10 years at Havergal. As a new student in Grade 3, she joined the Chess Club on a whim, not knowing that she was unlocking an enthusiasm that would lead her to represent Canada internationally. Notably, Carina won U16 Canadian Women’s Nationals (2021) and placed 2nd overall at Canadian Women’s Nationals for all ages (2023), which qualified her for the Canadian team. When Carina joined the Rowing Team in Grade 10, she reluctantly accepted the role of coxswain, questioning if she had the confidence to succeed. “During my first race, everyone felt so connected. I’ve loved it ever since,” she says. As a statistically-minded person, she enjoys studying the data of each race, comparing the boat’s GPS and her voice recordings to uncover what motivates her teammates most. Carina continues to row at Brown University, where she is studying Economics and Statistics. She is the co-founder of a non profit organization that works to help improve the financial literacy of students and she co-authored a book on the topic. What’s the secret to her success? “Taking that first step of putting myself out there and trying something new is the thing that helped me the most.”

Bona joined Havergal in Grade 9 with an interest in learning more about herself through experimentation. “I really value exploration and spontaneity; I want to try everything,” she says. A pianist and cellist, she got involved in the arts at Havergal by being the Head of Orchestra, supporting a student-run art show, acting in the play and organizing an inter-school music festival. Outside of school, she runs an art zine focused on photography and produces short films (including having one of her films showcased at the 2023 F-O-R-M film festival in Vancouver). Bona also has a passion for health sciences and history, which led her to work with professors from Harvard University and Hamilton College on populating a database on apothecaries’ inventories and related sources on the history of pharmaceuticals. “There is so much that we can learn from our ancestors and the past,” she says of the experience. Bona is currently studying Health Sciences at McMaster University and is excited about the growth opportunities through the program’s interdisciplinary format. A scientist, historian and artist, Bona continues to immerse herself in different experiences, including joining the 2024 Artistic Committee of F-O-R-M Vancouver.