This past month, high school students across Canada have been reflecting on the concept of wellness, what it means to them, how it shapes their lives and how best to ensure that people have access to it.
It is part of a highly competitive, month-long experience program hosted by universities across the country.
Each year, the Shad program receives about 2,000 applications. Half of those 10th and 11th graders are accepted into the program for a chance to expand their science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) skills.
This year’s program, which was held in person at 18 campuses, began on July 2 and ended on Friday.
In Sudbury, Ontario, Laurentian University first hosted the Shad program in 2021, but it was done virtually due to the pandemic. This year is the first time the school has welcomed students in person.
Our idea was to purchase office space that was not being used by companies due to the pandemic and convert it into living quarters.- Victoria ZhangLiu, Grade 11 student from Waterloo, Ontario.
“The goal of the program is to take these high-achieving high school students and challenge them for a month,” said Thomas Merritt, co-director of the Shad Laurentian program.
According to the Shad Canada website, the program started in Aurora, Ontario as Shad Valley. Shad Canada now offers a widespread STEAM and entrepreneurship program for students in grades 10 and 11. A selection process is held each year to determine the participants.
Throughout this month, Merritt said, students have been putting their heads together to come up with health-focused business proposals.
“We have things like a urinalysis machine and we have an app on how to be less of a perfectionist. The spectrum is incredible,” he said.
Theo McTavish, 16, is a high school student at Mission Secondary School in British Columbia. Their group presented an application for their business idea.
“It’s for teenagers who struggle with perfectionism,” Theo said. “There was goal setting and a social function where you could talk to people who had similar experiences to you.”
Thomas Merritt, co-director of the Shad Laurentian program, says the goal of the Shad program is to take high-achieving high school students and challenge them for a month. (Sam Jurich/CBC)
Theo noted that while entering the program may seem daunting at first, students are glad they took the plunge to apply.
“It was really scary. You had to write four essays. To be honest, I didn’t think I was going to get in.”
Victoria ZhangLiu is a Grade 11 student from Waterloo, Ontario. Her group focuses on improving the well-being of Canadians by addressing Ontario’s housing crisis.
“Our idea was to buy office space that is not being used by companies because of the pandemic and convert it into residential space where we can rent out to live in and they can buy later if they want.”
Victoria ZhangLiu, a Grade 11 student from Waterloo, Ontario, says participating in the program has made her excited for the future. (Sam Jurich/CBC)
While the Shad program allows students to participate in hands-on learning and skill-building, Merritt said at the heart of the initiative is a desire to bring students out of their shells and realize their potential.
“The most impressive thing is watching these students open up and discover a little bit more about who they are, but who the people around them are, and that mutual growth over the course of the month.”
Victoria said completing the program made her excited for the future.
“I feel better about what I’m trying to do and I feel more confident that I can definitely achieve it,” the teenager said.
Shown are students participating in the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, as part of the month-long Shad program. (Sam Jurich/CBC)
In addition to college-level classes and STEAM workshops, students had the chance to build strong friendships and experience dorm life for the first time.
“I met a lot of people like me and I met a lot of different people and it really gave me a new perspective on life,” Theo said.
Morning North7:17 High school students across the country are trying to improve Canadians’ access to wellness through STEAM education
The Shad program offers tenth and eleventh grade students a chance to expand their skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and math… or STEAM. They use these skills to understand how to improve the well-being of Canadians. This year the event is hosted by Laurentian University. CBC’s Ashishvangh had a chance to check it out.
Add Comment