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C R E AT O R
I N N O VAT O R
NIAMH BARRY 2009 • PHOTOGRAPHER
TIFFANY WONG 2003 • ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST
L IMI TLESS CAMPAIGN
Meet Our Campaign Ambassadors
WRITTEN BY JESSICA LEWIS FEADER 2000
As our
Limitless Campaign
is underway, our alumnae campaign ambassadors reflect on how their educational experiences
have shaped who they are today, giving each of them the confidence to take risks and follow their passions and dreams.
With a fundraising goal of $21 million, our campus enhancements will be dedicated to art, STEM (science, technology,
engineering, math), music, health and well-being, and environmental sustainability, offering our students interdisciplinary
opportunities that will shape their journeys beyond the ivy.
TAKING RISKS:
Photography is equally challenging and
rewarding. Havergal helped me become a confident
individual who isn’t afraid of taking risks. I took a leap of
faith, leaving a stable nine-to-five job to pursue my dream.
I secured an internship at a commercial photography
studio and my fledgling career in the industry took off from
there. Havergal instilled in me a strong work ethic and the
understanding that if you truly want something, you have
to go out there and work hard for it.
DISCOVERING PASSIONS:
During my teenage years, I
lived to play sports, mostly hockey. It wasn’t until much
later in life that I realized my love for photography and the
career options that it would open up for me. In high school,
you could usually find me in a hockey arena, gym or on a
playing field. Today, I’m either inside a studio or exploring
the outdoors with my camera in hand.
GIVING ADVICE:
I would tell students to take advantage
of the multitude of courses and opportunities at Havergal.
There are numerous career paths in the visual arts, so
don’t limit yourself. If you love photography or painting, it
doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t also be taking computer
classes. Your skill set may lead to a career as a photo
editor or illustrator. This profession requires a mix of
computer and business skills, especially since it often
entails being self-employed.
REFLECTING ON EXPERIENCES:
When I was younger, I
really didn’t know what engineering entailed. Historically,
there were very few women in engineering. Even today, male
counterparts continue to outnumber women in the field. A
combination of various teachers and experiences at Havergal
influenced my career path and helped me develop confidence
in my capabilities to pursue engineering. Coming into
Havergal, physics was not a subject I thought I could excel
at. I found the subject extremely difficult and I recall feeling
nervous about taking Grade 11 and AP Physics. However,
with the small class size and exceptionally supportive
teachers, as well as opportunities to practise physics both
inside and outside of the classroom, I excelled. I ended up
being Havergal’s top student in the Sir Isaac Newton Exam
and recipient of the local Sir Isaac Newton Award.
FINDING CAREER SATISFACTION:
As a Senior
Environmental Specialist for the Government of Canada,
I really enjoy having the opportunity to work with various
federal agencies, such as the Canadian Department of
National Defence, Transport Canada and the Department
of Fisheries and Oceans Canada in planning and executing
challenging multimillion-dollar projects from start to finish.
I get to work on very interesting sites including military
facilities, air force bases and harbours. Each project is
different and has its own unique set of challenges, so the
work is always dynamic and stimulating.
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