When Jade began at Collingwood School as a Grade 8 student, she thought she knew what she wanted to pursue – physics. But when other courses broadened her perspective, and enriched her pre-existing love of reading and history, she started having second thoughts. For Jade, there was only one way to be sure: take every social studies class available to her. Mastering the core competencies in the social sciences would give Jade a big advantage, and her pursuit caught the attention of one of the most historic institutions in the world: University of Oxford. 

Jade loves diving into rich histories and discovering the storied pasts of cities, people, and places, so it’s likely she will feel right at home studying at an institution which dates back to the medieval period. Not only is Oxford one of the most iconic universities in the world, but it is also a place where histories are written. This fall, Jade will begin writing her own as she enters the Faculty of Law and strives to build a future working for an international court of law.

Going back to Grade 10, Jade was sitting in her AP Physics 1 class and wondering why she had told herself this was what she wanted to study in university. Growing up, Jade and her mother moved around a lot–Jade credits her mother for teaching her the value of taking risks and being courageous. Changing her mind was not only possible, but encouraged, by both her parents. So, Jade went to her University Guidance (UG) Counsellor, Ms. Davidson, and told her she wanted almost her entire class schedule to revolve around social studies. 

“I have to give much credit and thanks to my UG counsellor, who has supported me from the very first time we met in Grade 8,” Jade says. “Ms. Davidson was always able to provide me with valuable feedback and advice.”

There was one constant in Jade’s planning for post-secondary: study in the UK. She’d dreamed of this as long as she could remember, and thanks to Collingwood’s UG Department, figuring out the complexities of the UK university application process was a breeze. By the early fall of Grade 12, she planned on applying to several UK schools with a focus on law (and a few Canadian schools as well, just in case). Jade worked closely with Ms. Davidson to polish her application, from her personal statement to the LNAT exam, and applied to Oxford, King’s College London, University College London and the University of Bristol.

When the first response came in, Jade was surprised it was from possibly her biggest “reach” school on the list: Oxford. The school invited her to interview with law professors at Oxford in December. This was one step closer to admission, but her work was not yet done. Ms. Davidson and Jade practiced for her interview multiple times, developing smart answers to mock questions like “Is wearing a school uniform a breach of human rights?”

“The more we practiced, the more I was impressed with Jade’s ability to unpack the wording of each question and provide detailed and meaningful responses,” Ms. Davidson says. 

The interview went well, so well that Jade woke up to an exciting acceptance offer one morning in January. She was going to Oxford and studying law!

“When I received an offer from Oxford, my top choice in terms of prestige, academics, location, and opportunities, my dilemma of choosing a university ceased,” Jade adds.

Without the stress of waiting on university decisions, Jade had two trimesters of Grade 12 left to spend reflecting on all her achievements while at Collingwood. One of her proudest accomplishments was participating in The Dora Love Prize, an annual Holocaust awareness project for students in the UK. Jade was among the school’s first members when the contest was brought to Collingwood–she was in Grade 9 and helped recruit students who wanted to participate. Collingwood School’s entry in 2021-2022 was the first international entry to the Prize, thanks to Jade’s efforts.

“[The Dora Love Prize] was a great opportunity for me to extend my passion for history, social justice, and law,” Jade says. Collingwood’s Senior School has dozens of co-curricular clubs, ranging from knitting to entrepreneurship where students can find their passions, and then further develop their skills and interests beyond the required BC Curriculum.

Jade also participated in Model UN and had the chance to go to conferences both as an attendee and a staff member, which enhanced her strength in leadership, critical thinking, and writing. Beyond that, she launched another club – the History Club – for individuals to discuss historical events and find like minded friends.

Described by her teachers as “insightful”, “diligent”, and “a pleasure to teach”, Jade is the epitome of a true scholar and the kind of student who will excel in an environment like Oxford. 

Ms. Davidson says Jade’s decision to pivot in Grade 10 was not a hindrance to her success – in fact, it was just the opposite.

“It’s okay – and in fact, completely normal – for students to change their mind halfway through high school. Jade is proof that working hard, staying humble, and embracing your true strengths can have incredible results,” Ms. Davidson tells us.

Thanks to Collingwood’s personalized learning and customizable course schedule, Jade was able to do just that – and her passion for learning and critical thinking will take her even further. Who knows, maybe we’ll be reading about Jade in the history books one day!