To Reine, she always felt a step behind in her academic journey. Yet, her trajectory – mastering linear algebra in high school, being selected for highly competitive programs, publishing research, founding nonprofits, and being accepted to the Jerome Fisher M&T Program at University of Pennsylvania – points to a person who is anything but.

Beginning her schooling in Canada, and then moving to China in Grade 2, set Reine off on a challenging foot. “I was fully immersed in western culture, and could barely speak Mandarin. [When we] moved back to China, I went into a completely foreign environment where I went from the top of the class to the worst student,” Reine says.

She struggled with the language and the rigorous academic environment and spent her school breaks just trying to catch up. By the time she finally felt her confidence return in Grade 6, her parents decided to move back to Canada. 

“It was deja vu. I was now completely proficient in Mandarin but my English was at the kindergarten level.”

Perhaps she feels like she’s spent her entire life so far just chasing the heels of her peers, but her resume doesn’t lie – Reine is a bonafide science rock star. 

“Reine can be described as ambitious, dedicated, adaptable, courageous, and genuine,” says her University Guidance Counsellor, Jennifer Adriaanse. “In all of her endeavours, Reine has combined her technical skills with a genuine desire to create inclusive, supportive spaces for those often overlooked.”  

This commitment to community is a core tenet of Collingwood's mission, fostering students who not only excel academically but also dedicate themselves to making a positive impact in the world.

When it comes to her accomplishments, there are many to list. Her proudest achievement was initiating an independent research project on human stability detection in Grade 10 that would eventually win her a gold medal at the Greater Vancouver Science Fair two years in a row, and a bronze medal at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. This project began after taking Science 10 Enriched at Collingwood during the summer following 9th grade. She became interested in linear algebra and computer modeling and wanted to turn her passion into a science fair project.

The pathways to post-secondary are unique for each student, and Collingwood's dedicated team of UG counsellors provides expertise and guidance throughout this journey. Reine's decision to pursue the unique Management & Technology program at the University of Pennsylvania, which admits just 50 students annually for a double major in Engineering/Science and business, perfectly aligns with her interest in blending business with technical knowledge. Her discovery of this program through UPenn’s summer institute after Grade 10 was a pivotal moment.

"I greatly enjoyed the business classes at UPenn, where for the first time, I became interested in the role of a product manager. I also saw the breadth of possibilities this program provides," she explains. 

Her certainty led her to apply as an Early Decision applicant, and she was successfully admitted in early December.

Collingwood's academic program and the University Guidance department were instrumental in supporting Reine’s aspirations. 

"Collingwood greatly supported my goals through offering opportunities like science fairs, the Robotics Club, as well as the greatest breadth of AP classes offered in BC high schools," Reine states, having taken nine APs in Grades 10 and 11. She also benefited from Collingwood’s specialized Advanced Topics in Math courses, where she learned concepts directly applicable to her research. 

Collingwood School’s University Guidance counsellors play a crucial role in supporting all students during their post-secondary application process. The team has invaluable insight into the vast array of programs offered at universities in Canada, the US and abroad. The goal is help each student find their right fit and then to support those students to best tailor their application to each program. 

Reine has presented her research at the MILSET Expo-Sciences International, and at MIT’s Undergraduate Research Technology Conference in 2024. She has written and published more than four research papers while at Collingwood, and became president and founder of the Science Fair Club.

Maybe unsurprisingly, Reine is known at Collingwood as a mainstay in the robotics lab. Pass by the Centre for Excellence in STEEM any time of day, morning or evening, and you will often see Reine inside, tinkering and testing her work. Robotics has been her greatest passion since early elementary school – she now counts 10 years of experience in robotics – and she now mentors younger students in coding and strategy.

With all her acquired expertise, Reine’s ability to divide her time between personal achievements and giving back is important to her. She has founded or co-founded three non-profit organizations while in high school: ARTex Coding, the Global Smart City Institute, and Chronos. Each of these programs utilize her coding and engineering skills to tackle a global issue. ARTex Coding is an international non-profit coding academy that aims to introduce elementary and high school students to the world of coding and computer science, reaching almost 4,000 youth in seven countries. Global Smart City Institute is a think tank that conducts reports and research on sustainable and accessible city designs. Lastly, Chronos is an organization that connects Indigenous youth in foster care with elders for cultural exchange and support.

Reine is most interested in pursuing a career that blends business with her technical knowledge, such as product management or creating a startup. Upon graduation, she plans to have a bachelors in electrical engineering, finance, and a minor in artificial intelligence.  However, Reine’s leaving a few things up in the air to let her passions evolve over time.