My Summer SHAD Experience

Ruolin Zhang
SHAD has been an enrichment program for high school students since 1980. Over the years, it has grown larger and larger and as of 2016, 12 universities have joined SHAD as its host campuses. This year, over 1500 students applied for the program from across Canada and overseas. 701 of them were accepted. The program runs every year for four weeks in July, focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and entrepreneurship.

I was fortunate to be accepted to the program hosted by the University of Western Ontario. It was not just a learning experience, it was a life-changing one.
We participated in a wide variety of STEM and entrepreneurship related lectures and hands-on workshops that allowed us to try something new every day: Engineering (civil, software / electrical, chemical, structural, and environmental), stock trends, a case studies on crisis management at Maple Leaf Foods, and the list goes on! One of the most interesting lectures was with Dr. Keith Griffith which began with a seemingly simple question: “Can we see atoms?” The lecture started off with scientific discussions on wave nature, angstroms, and ellipses, but then it progressed onto the philosophical aspect of what it meant to see something. We argued that even if we see an image of it, it doesn't really mean that we saw it. If one sees a photograph of a lion, does that mean that they saw a lion?
Business, another big part of the program, and for the Western SHADs, we were lucky to attend lectures at the beautiful Ivey Business School, taught by some of the very best professors. Paul Schmidt’s presentation was probably one of the best presentations ever! This may or may not have to do with the fact that his lecture was on how to give effective presentations. He got a standing ovation, and with all honesty, he really deserved it.
As for the labs, a 3D anatomy lab and a DNA test were the two major ones we had, and were also my favourites. A program called BodyViz can turn MRI or CT scans into 3D - literally bringing an image to life! Not to mention, you can also drive through a brain or a human heart with an add-on gamepad. This newly developed technology helps physicians to accurately locate damage or a tumor and come up with the best treatment. I was completely blown away.
This summer, I made 55 more like-minded friends, who recognize my talents, embrace my quirks and make me want to try harder, and be better. In their presence, every moment has each become my happiest memories. Coming out of SHAD, I realize that it has taught me so much more than almost anything has ever before. A month away from home, I learned how to be independent - how to take care of myself and the people around me. I learned that stepping outside of my comfort zone on a regular basis has been a powerful instrument for my learning and growth. SHAD introduced me to wonderful program leaders and peers who believed in my potential, showed me in more ways than one of what I can achieve. I honestly, wholeheartedly could not have asked the month to unfold in any other way.
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Balmoral Hall School

630 Westminster Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada  R3C 3S1
Tel: (204) 784-1600 | Fax: (204) 774-5534 | info@balmoralhall.ca
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Our mission at Balmoral Hall School is to inspire girls’ imagination and the courage to excel, to reach, to lead, to care.

We are a nondenominational independent day and boarding school, educating students from Junior Nursery to Grade 12.