May 25, 2017 – One by one, the graduates of Toronto International Academy arrived at Mississauga’s Kariya Park for their big photo op day. It was one of the last occasions they would spend together before their bittersweet farewells to each other and the school, and the new exhilarating voyage to come in university.
The first few to arrive were noticeably nervous, and unsure if they dressed well enough for the occasion; a few of the girls, Lucy and Sami, were completing the last of their maquillage(makeup??) before the cameras pointed their way and snapped ceaselessly. As more came, Ms.Gavrila, the school’s Guidance Counsellor, handed out black graduation gowns and hats for each student to don for the photoshoot. By the time everyone was present the grads were comfortable in their new clothes, chatty and excited, and posing in front of the camera for silly pictures.
“I’m glad we have the chance to get together like this and spend some time capturing memories – even if the sky is cloudy today,” said Ken, a graduate headed to the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus in the Computer Science.
Under the canopy of Kariya Park’s cherry blossom trees there was a feeling of tranquility, quiet, and simplicity that was unmistakable to any visitor. And yet at the graduates knew what was to come in the following months, when they return from their summer vacation and confront the challenges of university life. It was like a calm before a storm – a storm that, if one weathers through it, would bring an abundance of rewards.
Most of the grads will be headed to Canadian universities in September, especially in Ontario, while a few others plan to travel overseas, like to Europe.
“Since I came to Canada, I always thought I would enter into a Canadian university. But in the end I realised that the best place for me would be in England,” explained Becky, who will be packing her bags and heading to Coventry University in the UK, “we all have our goals in life and there are so many options available to us to reach success – I chose what’s best for me.”
In 2017, the vast majority of TIA’s grads entered into the top tier universities Canada has to offer, an almost annual trend at the school, and a testament to the work ethic of the school’s student body and studious culture.
For the final snapshot of the day, the students gathered together in one group on a wooden bridge that strode over a quiet pond underneath. Their eyes shone with hope and vitality, and their smiles were kind and confident, as they looked to begin the next stage of their education
Congrats TIA grads!
