Flying the Coop: First-Year Away Testimonials

Julia Parry ‘24 and Danielle Tang ‘24 both left HTS in June of 2024 on their way to study away-from-home; Julia in Vancouver at UBC, studying English and Danielle in Dublin at RCSI, studying Medicine. However, this summer they both find themselves back working at HTS Summer Camp, where they spent their entire schooling as Lifers, reflecting positively on their decisions to “fly the coop.”

Q: What was the jump from Richmond Hill to Vancouver and Dublin respectively like? Did you feel prepared to move across the country / overseas for school or was it a challenge to yourself?

Julia: It was definitely a big leap. Going from the comfort and safe bubble of home to the freedom out West was an adjustment, but surprisingly one I was able to do quickly. I romanticized everything heavily - new city, new people, new freedom. Shockingly to me, I did not feel homesick until around Christmas, and even then, it was mostly because I was in the thick of exams and didn’t even have snow to tide me over. I also had the benefit of having my eldest sister (Diana ‘13) already live in the city, and that really made the move easy. 

Danielle: Richmond Hill and Dublin were very different culturally, but it was a new change which was exciting. It was definitely a new challenge, especially since I’m an introvert; I definitely had a lot of concerns and fears in the process of moving and finding new people to connect with. I felt ready for the new change, especially since I have been at HTS for 12 years, although a wonderful experience, I was ready to move into a new environment. 

Q: Did you always know you wanted to study out-of-province / outside of Canada? What sealed the decision for you?

Julia: Always. I’ve lived in the same room in the same house on the same street all my life. The closest school (and my safety) was McGill, but the initial plan was the UK. My dream school was Edinburgh, and I was all set to go, until UBC offered me a scholarship, and I adjusted my plans. 

Danielle: I did know that in thinking of medicine as a possible career, I wanted to fast-track to save time, as med school plus residency can add up to many years of studying, and I wanted to minimize burnout. I tried to expose myself as much as possible to all the career options I was considering, which eventually made me realize my passion for medicine and my desire to pursue it directly from high school/direct entry, which I could accomplish at RCSI. 

Q: Overall (and please be honest), how was your first year? Were there moments of struggle and if so, was there a payoff?

Julia: I met great people, had really cool classes and formed good relationships with professors, and gained a sense of independence. It wasn’t all perfect though, there was a big sense of imposter syndrome, people who weren’t the friends I was hoping they were, and at times I convinced myself I could do nothing but fail. I don’t regret a second of it. I became more confident in myself, learned how to advocate for myself, and discovered my capacity to adapt.

Danielle: I had times where I debated whether I made the right decision. When times were tough, one thing that I would always keep in mind is that the experiences I was living were someone's dream; I keep on working hard to prove myself that I could do it and make my younger self proud. I honestly found that the social and mental adjustment was a greater challenge compared to the actual workload and cultural difference. 

Q: Would you recommend studying out-of-province to other HTS students? If so, why?

Julia: I think if you want to experience life outside of what you already know, it forces you to grow independently. You get to build your life from the ground up and define your identity outside the school or community you grew up in. It’s not easy, and it’s definitely not for everyone, but it’s an incredibly rewarding experience if you’re up for it. 

Danielle: It exposes you to new cultures and environments, which is a nice change. It also allows you to network globally and meet people from different educational and learning backgrounds. Not only do these experiences become really interesting and great conversation starters, but they also help in developing stronger character and allowing for a greater sense of individuality to be found. 

Q: And lastly, what made you want to return to work at HTS Summer Camp this year? Why is HTS still important to you?

Julia: HTS has always been a second home for me and coming back to camp made perfect sense. It doubles both as staying involved and connected with the community that raised me, but also allows me to gain more teaching experience which I need to eventually become a teacher.

Danielle: Having been at the camp already for a few years, it is really rewarding to see some campers return and grow up. Participating in work that is very different to what I am studying allows for variety and keeps me on my toes. Staying in touch with HTS allows me to always have connections back to my roots, help others going through similar experiences as well as know that I have support and help when needed.