Rob: I had the privilege of attending Shawnigan for Grades 11 and 12, and from the moment I arrived, I knew it was a remarkable place. The teachers were exceptionally dedicated, and the athletic programs were outstanding, creating an environment that seemed almost surreal. Yet, it was the little things like tea time after lunch and dinner in Marion Hall with friends that were some of the sweetest moments.

Leah: Chapel at Shawnigan was truly a cool and special experience. Singing together fostered such a strong sense of community that I always felt a deep connection and belonging. I vividly remember the pride that swelled when our House song was chosen, and how we'd belt it out extra loud.

Reverend Holland had a masterful way of taking a reading and making it incredibly relatable for us teenagers. He created such a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and my friends and I loved being part of the "God Squad."

Looking back on my time at Shawnigan, I deeply miss that powerful sense of community and the beautiful, resonant sounds of "There's a voice in the wilderness crying..." 

Rob: All the teachers were great, but two stick out to me for slightly different reasons. Jean-Jacques Receveaux, my French teacher, was a great mentor, both in the classroom and as a staff member associated with Lonsdale’s at the time. French wasn’t necessarily my area of academic interest, but the passion and energy Mr. Receveaux brought to the classroom (and the flying tying club) made each day engaging and fun. From a different lens, Stephen Lane had an incredible impact on my academic life. As my physics teacher, Mr. Lane’s inspiration for Newtonian mechanics (with a pinch of electromagnetism) inspired me to become a Physics Major at Middlebury College, and to do the dual degree engineering program at Dartmouth. In some ways, it seemed like fate, since in the small town that we grew up in outside Vancouver, our house was on Stephen’s Lane!

Leah: While I valued all my teachers at Shawnigan, two had a truly lasting impact on me. My physics teacher, Mr. Lane, was a tremendous inspiration. His passion for teaching and dedication to his students motivated me to work incredibly hard, even leading me to choose physics as my college major (though I later switched to Computer Science – sorry, Mr. Lane!). I distinctly remember striving for one of his famous "fist pumps" for an astute answer. Earning that fist pump eventually became one of my proudest moments at Shawnigan.

Although I've always leaned towards STEM, Mrs. Bell's Grade 12 English class and her teaching left an equally profound mark on my high school education. Like Mr. Lane, Mrs. Bell's dedication to her craft and her students was felt in every lesson. Her warm demeanour always made the classroom a safe space to take chances and grow. To this day, I still reflect on studying The Crucible or reading The Great Gatsby. She taught me to think critically in a different way, a skill that has significantly shaped both my college and professional career.

Rob: My job at Capital One can sound somewhat abstract. But in a nutshell, I work on the Product Strategy to enhance the digital customer experience and drive business growth among existing customers. What does that really mean? Well, it’s hard to say. The role is a blend of strategic planning, product design, data analysis, and collaboration with many different departments. I most enjoy the variety, and the blend of creative and analytical thinking. And as cliché as it sounds, I’ve found my niche of great people at the company whom I love to work with, and that makes all the difference.

Leah: As a Customer Engineer for Google Cloud, I serve as a technical advisor, effectively bridging the gap between sales, customers, and our internal engineering teams. My primary role is to be the technical point of contact for customers, ensuring their successful adoption and use of Google products.

What I find most fulfilling about this role is its unique blend of technical depth and direct customer interaction. I get the best of both worlds: continuously learning about cutting-edge technologies and then applying that knowledge to help customers solve their most complex challenges.

Rob: For me, Shawnigan incensed a combination of structure, discipline, and community. These values and attributes gave me the agency to take responsibility in life after school. As silly as it sounds, the second order impacts of cleaning your room each morning before you start your day are immense, and it is something I still practice. Importantly, Shawnigan instilled a sense of gratitude. Saying grace before meals and reflecting on what you are thankful for in Chapel may seem small, but they are very powerful habits that shape how you look at the world for the better.

Leah: Shawnigan had an immense impact on my life, teaching me countless valuable lessons. I still recall the classic "cutting corners in the quad is like cutting corners in life.” More broadly, Shawnigan taught me the importance of taking responsibility, not just for my own actions, but for others as well. I learned to be accountable for daily tasks like cleaning my room and making my bed, but also to uphold a greater responsibility to my House and the entire School community. It instilled in me the importance of independence, while reinforcing the crucial necessity of community.

Rob: The advice that sticks with me may be somewhat obscure. But it comes from the 1983 standout book, High Output Management by Andy S. Grove, the former CEO of Intel. Andy’s advice is that you are the CEO of your own career. That is your, and no one else’s, responsibility to bear. And in whatever you do, it is your job to drive the maximum output you are able to handle. Where your output are the results of everything you directly manage, AND everything you indirectly influence in others.

Leah: The advice that has consistently stuck with me is, "If it's not on a timeline, it's not real." This simple mantra has significantly helped me prioritize and stay accountable in both my personal and professional life.

Now, whenever I have an important project or task that isn't immediately urgent, I make sure to give myself a firm deadline. This small act has completely transformed my mindset and self-management, ensuring that intentions translate into accomplishments.

Rob: For most, you will need to sample a few different things before you know what you do and don’t like. But once you start to discover what drives you, you should be honest with yourself whether your career choice will meet those criteria. Unlike in school, in life, it is up to you to define what success looks like. E.g., where you want to live, having a family, starting a business, etc. And once you’ve defined “success,” you are in charge for making that happen. This can feel quite strange at first, since when you’re young, so much of success is defined by parents and teachers. But getting through this discomfort is also incredibly empowering.

Leah: It's true what they say: you don't know what you don't know. When I graduated from Shawnigan, my goal wasn't to become a Customer Engineer – I wouldn't have even known what that meant! But you will find your path.

I vividly remember eating lunch in Marion Hall, silently spiraling after not doing as well as I'd hoped on a test, convinced my life was over. The truth is, life goes on. If you invest in yourself and put in the necessary work, you will find your way. Trust in yourself.

Rob: Shawnigan was a major inflection point on my life. Looking back, I am extremely thankful to have been given the opportunity to attend (even for only two years!). Between the friendships you build, and the lessons you learn around taking responsibility for your life, I owe so much of how I’ve developed to my short time at Shawnigan. And so, it is the least I can do to try and pay it forward.

Leah: So much of who I am today, and the success I've achieved, stems directly or indirectly from my time at Shawnigan. I've been incredibly fortunate to receive opportunities in life through mentors who generously shared their time and advice. I would love nothing more than to give back and help create those same opportunities for others.