Q:
Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Felicity, and I’m heading into Grade 11 this fall. I live on a 100% grass fed beef farm, but attend a downtown school, which gives me a unique perspective on the rural-urban divide. I’m passionate about learning and enjoy participating in competitions like DECA, the Waterloo Wellington Science and Engineering Fair, and most recently, the Canada Wide Science Fair. Outside of academics, I love reading, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
Q:
What motivates your interest in entrepreneurship?
I’m passionate about writing and imagining what could be possible. I’ve been fortunate to have my curiosity nurtured through great science teachers and through summer programs like the University of Waterloo’s Engineering Science Quest. There, we did hands-on science experiments like making ice cream with liquid nitrogen. As I continued exploring my interests and sharing what I observed, I began to see the connection between innovation in STEAM and entrepreneurship, something I got to explore further at Shad, where I had the opportunity to develop a STEAM-based business. Coincidentally, we also made ice cream with liquid nitrogen again.
Q:
What was the biggest takeaway from your Shad experience?
My biggest takeaway is that different perspectives enrich a solution. In my Shad project team, everyone brought unique viewpoints and skills. Though it took time and effort to work through our ideas, by integrating our experiences, we created a more thoughtful solution that reflected the strengths of the entire team.
Q:
How do you plan to use #STEAM4Good?
I plan to use #STEAM4Good to make a meaningful impact in my community through thoughtful design and storytelling. Shad encouraged me to design with empathy, fall in love with the problem rather than the solution, and take the time to iterate to meet the needs of the end user. My project, BusBuddies, a community-focused app encouraging public transit use, showed me that sustainable systems depend not just on infrastructure, but on inspiring people to engage with them.
Q:
What lessons would you share with incoming Shads?
Don’t underestimate the field trips! Shad is much more than lectures. The program does an amazing job of blending community and STEAM learning in new environments. At Shad Manitoba, we had the privilege of visiting Churchill, a remote northern town famous for its subarctic wildlife. That experience helped us learn in ways that a classroom simply can’t. Shad field trips can be life changing, so come with an open mind, an open heart, and, possibly, a sleeping bag.
