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My birthday was on January 10th, 2008, at North York General Hospital. The event was a hugely significant day for my family and close friends. The depth of impact of the moment was immense, as were many people, close friends, family, and my parents. Everyone was in anticipation for this moment. For me, my birth marked the start of my journey and is the reason why I’m alive. The scope of impact first only extended to my immediate family and close friends who directly were impacted by my existence. However, as time has passed and I’ve been able to learn the faces of new people, my life has affected friends, teachers, and mentors too. Lastly, the duration of impact has been going on for 15 years and still more. As my presence continues to bring joy, frustration, and anger to those around me, these are all directly related to my birthday.

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My elementary school years (2013-2018) hold a special place in my heart. Its depth, scope, and duration all extend beyond my own experiences. The depth of impact is significant due to it being my formative years. My experience at elementary school shaped me on my character and also learning critical life skills needed in the future. Not only did elementary school shape my life, but it also had impacts on my parents, teachers, and classmates. Here, I made friends that I still am close to today. The scope of impact was wide-reaching, not only did elementary school leave a lasting impact on me, but also impacting my family, teachers, and the friends I made during the time. My elementary school experiences had helped me build long-lasting relationships, develop crucial skills, and lay the foundation for my academic journey. The duration of impact remains evident within the life I live today, not just affecting me during the 5 years I was there. The lessons learned, friendships forged, and values instilled during my years at elementary school ultimately helped shape who I am, the choices I make, relationships I hold, and my approach to learning.

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Kevin (middle), graduating middle school

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My middle school years (2019-2021) were truly significant. They were filled with memorable achievements and experiences that left a lasting impact not just on me, but on the entire school community. During my middle school years, I had the privilege of hosting open house events, delivering morning announcements, which allowed me to connect with students, parents, and teachers alike. The depth of impact of these years were deeply felt. On a personal level, my middle school years impacted me through winning the Valedictorian title, along with the Principal’s award and the Star of Excellence. Others to have been felt by my middle school events still exist, as many younger students still recognize me and say hi to me many years later. The scope of impact extended through much of the school community, as my role in open house events and announcements helped affect many people throughout the school. The duration of impact is still ongoing, not just through the 3 years I’ve been there, but also the impact that still leaves with me of the lessons learned and friends made through the years that still last to this day.

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My family’s homegrown garden has been created since 2014. However, the garden was always a second thought and not important for much of my life. In (2019 - Present), when the pandemic hit, I discovered my garden as a sanctuary of solace and sustenance. The depth of impact of the garden to me, is immeasurable. During COVID, gardening provided me a source of comfort and purpose during uncertain and scary times. Gardening became a therapeutic escape from the anxiety and finding peace and finding peace amidst the chaos of zoom classes and toilet paper shortages. Additionally, the garden allowed my family and I to eat cheaper, healthier, organic foods that allow eating healthier. The scope of impact extends not just to me, but also my family and neighbours. Gardening allowed my family and I to bond together, and additionally my family, neighbours, and I were all able to benefit from the fresh produce grown in the garden. The duration of impact goes beyond the 4 years I have used the garden as a safe space and a way to get fresh veggies. My garden’s impact still stays with me today, as it remains a significant reminder of self-sufficiency, resilience, and the therapeutic benefits that come with gardening, still shaping my life today and, in good spirits, many years to come.

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My piano examination (May 7th, 2022) was so much more than an exam to me, it symbolized the culmination of a decade of hard work to be able to reach this musical milestone that has resonated deeply with both my loved ones and me, still having lasting impacts on my daily life. The depth of impact was profound, as the exam marked a milestone of how far I had come musically, the growth, dedication, and practice needed to come this far. The depth goes further than just an exam, it reminds everyday of the journey needed to success, the times of nerves and excitement, of pushing boundaries and striving for excellence, which left indelible marks on my journey as a musician. The scope of impact extends to my family and piano teacher. Their unwavering support, encouragement, and constructive feedback were instrumental to my success, all of whom were incredibly proud and prideful of the accomplishments made during these exams. The duration of impact is more than just the physical year that has passed since taking these exams, the influence that music plays within my life, through volunteering and teaching kids musical theory, to learning how to conduct for the school orchestra. The piano exams have symbolized my love for music and act as a testament to how much music has influenced my life.

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My high school experience thus far (2022 - Present) is more than just school, it has been a journey of personal growth, academic challenges, and meaningful connections. The depth of impact of these years so far is immeasurable, not only has highschool helped shape who I am, it also helps create ambition and aspiration for my future and post-secondary education. The depth of this time period can be marked through the friendships forged, lessons learned, and mistakes that lead to self-discovery. The scope of impact extends to not only me, but also friends, family, teachers, and classmates. My friends and family are affected when I inform them about how my highschool is going, or if they help me with my work. Additionally, teachers and classmates are affected through how I behave and learn and through the influence of the classroom. The duration of impact is still ongoing. The skills, knowledge, and memories I’ve gained through my first two years continue to shape who I am and influence my choices and shape my path forward. Whilst I have yet to graduate, the impact of these experiences is already palpable in the decisions I make, and its duration of impact is still more to come.

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Math was never easy for me, it was always an uphill battle. My participation in the math competition (2022) was a pivotal moment in my journey with math. The depth of impact was profound, not just for me, but for my family, teachers, and friends. The math competition was more than just a competition, it was the hours of hard work, struggle and pushing through the confusion. Seeing the validation of my hard work inspired me and encouraged me to continue my pursuit in math. Additionally, all my family, teachers, and friends were also extremely proud when they saw I was able to do well after trying so hard. The scope of impact reached beyond myself. My friends and family who all helped me were also affected, as well as teaching children math at after school programs were also affected as now I am confident in my math abilities. The duration of impact is more than just the 1 hour exam. The duration still is with me today and for many years to come. It has led me to pursue further mathematical studies, and has become a defining moment of my educational journey, always reminding me that determination and hard work can lead to incredible transformations, a lesson which will stick with me for many years to come.

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My volunteering experience (2022) where I dedicated approximately 80 hours to teaching music theory to young children, has been deeply meaningful to not just the children I helped but also to me and my passion for music. The depth of impact reached far beyond the notes and lessons. I witnessed seeing children’s enthusiasm for music grow as I helped them grow the confidence to continue on their musical journey. It was inspiring to see how my guidance helped them see their potential and instill a love for music within them. The scope of impact reached beyond myself and the children I taught. The children I taught were inspired to learn music, and I was able to receive volunteering hours and continue my passion. Going beyond, the children and I, the impact extended to the families and community of these children who all collectively celebrated alongside us as they all passed their exams with flying colours. The duration of impact extends more than just the 3 months that I taught them, however the influence the children have had on me in being inspired on my own musical journey will last with me for a lifetime. Additionally, the influence I played on the children, as they themselves understood and were passionate for music will hopefully last a lifetime for them too. The lesson I learned that music has the power to inspire and unite people, still drives me on my musical journey to this day.

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I joined the York Mills’ Strings Orchestra at the start of grade 9 (2022 - present). When I first started, my friends had to drag me there every time, I didn’t know how to play violin, and I was not excited to learn. However, my passion for music drove me to take on new challenges. Today, I am the club leader of Strings Orchestra, playing the harpsichord, piano, and violin for the group, and furthering my contributions by learning and preparing for a conducting role. The depth of impact has been profound, not only for myself but many others within the orchestra. The orchestra has helped me enrich my musical journey. Furthermore, others within the orchestra benefited by having piano and harpsichord accompaniment for the first time in the club’s history. Additionally, me taking a larger responsibility role means the teacher has less of a workload. The scope of impact has been profound, not just for myself, but to the others within the orchestral group, the lead teacher, and the school community. Going beyond the aforementioned impacts within myself, the orchestral group, and the lead teacher. The impact of the orchestral group within the school community is additionally significant. Events like music night, and international day of pink have been celebrated with the addition of the string orchestra having the honor to play there. York Mills is not the only scope within impact, other school communities like St. Andrews, and Windifields have all been impacted as we have performed there. The orchestra’s shared camaraderie and musical purpose goes beyond our own school community and members of the orchestra. The duration of impact continues to resonate, as my role within the club continues to shift, the orchestra’s influence on our school’s and my own musical culture still endures, and hopefully will endure for many years to come than the current year I have been there. This musical journey exemplifies how a passionate pursuit of music can not only transform oneself but also inspire and connect a community, a testament to the lasting impact of music in our lives.

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My experience at the Waterloo debate tournament (2023) was more than just a tournament. It symbolized the hard work and effort over the past year to be able to compete and break as a semi finalist at a university level tournament, it marked a moment of personal growth and achievement. The depth of impact was deeply felt. For me personally, it showed the fruits of my labour and reminded me of how far I’ve come and how far I can go with hard work and determination. The depth of others showed how they were all incredibly proud of this accomplishment and how far I’ve come. The scope of impact extended mainly towards my family, friends and I. We were all incredibly happy with how far I had come. The duration of impact has so far only been a year, yet the impacts continue to be felt today, as the lessons I learned about preparation, resilience, and the excitement of competition continue to guide my approach to debate and life in general. The duration of this event, and the lessons that come with it hopefully stay for many more years.

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My active participation in school councils, where I serve as an executive member for both Music Council and Eco council (2023), in addition to being a club leader of the Strings orchestra. My club and council activities have shaped me and become a meaningful part of who I am and my educational journey. The depth of impact goes beyond my own experiences. My council activities were also deeply felt by the other club members, teachers, and staff who are affected through my club initiatives and decisions we plan together. Through Music Council, we have been able to create and foster a meaningful musical community affecting the students of York mills. In addition, Eco Council has allowed us to raise awareness about environmental issues and help create positive environmental changes within our school. The scope of impact extends to everyone within the school community, from bringing music to all students through my participation in Music Council and Strings Orchestra, to students who benefit from our activities, events, and environmental initiatives. The duration of impact is much more than the few months I have had leadership positions, I hope this duration is ongoing and will last for a long time, as the positive changes and sense of community created through these councils continue to flourish and inspire others to get involved, shaping the school’s culture and values for years to come. These roles have not only enriched my high school experience but also reaffirmed my commitment to making a positive impact on my school and the environment.