University of Calgary hosts 64 of Canada's brightest teens at SHAD summer program

Grade 11 student Aleeza Qayyum of Mississauga, Ont., is passionate about the sciences and has always wanted to pursue a career in a related field. Because she is a woman, this wasn’t an attainable goal until after she immigrated to Canada from Saudi Arabia.

“Coming to Canada as an immigrant, it has never been easy to fit in,” Qayyum says. “I found it so weird that everyone assumed I didn't speak English just because I came from a different country, and being an immigrant I always felt alienated unless I conformed. Nonetheless, when I put myself in the right crowd and group of people who celebrate differences, not look down upon them, I was able to celebrate where I come from.”

Qayyum’s strengths aren’t restricted to the natural sciences. She also excels in music and leadership. She taught herself how to play almost every brass instrument and is going on her second term as student council president.

Qayyum is one of 64 students from across Canada heading to the University of Calgary for the award-winning program SHAD, which takes place at 16 host universities from coast to coast.

Enrichment program challenges exceptional students

Founded in 1980 to help youth reach their full potential, SHAD immerses students in Grades 10 to 12 in a one-month enrichment program focused on STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The students interact with renowned university faculty and visionary corporate leaders. In a unique element of the program, the students are challenged to come up with an original solution to a societal problem they learn about in the first week. It teaches them about entrepreneurship and innovation, and leaves the students seeing how they can make an immediate impact.

“These exceptional students from all parts of Canada spend the month of July together with their peers and mentors. We hope they end the month not only dreaming big, but empowered with the tools and passion they need to take risks, roll up their sleeves and get going,” says SHAD President and CEO Tim Jackson.

“I think I stand out because of my passion for student voice and world issues, and I am proud that I act on my passions through opportunities in my community,” says Qayyum.

Qayyum didn't let obstacles stand in her way

Qayyum raised more than $16,000 for breakfast programs and started a breakfast program in her own school. She helped raise more than $10,000 for the Toronto Sick Kids Hospital and organized fundraisers for Doctors without Borders, collecting $14,000. Qayyum will be meeting with Doctors without Borders executives to talk about health issues in the world.

“For the longest times, my family had huge financial barriers as we gave up so much to come to this country,” says Qayyum. “Through all my family’s obstacles, I learned how to persevere and celebrate differences and embrace them. I learned how to live a life not dependent on money but dependent on love, and how to be myself without feeling alienated. It was a struggle, but I made it this far.”

She is thrilled to be participating in SHAD this July. “I could not express the feeling I got when I was told I got into SHAD. It has been some of the best news I have ever heard in my life. Joining a network like SHAD means the world to me. SHAD also motivates and inspires me to strive for more in my life and to work harder, as many SHAD alumni, such as Michele Romanow, have been huge role models in my life. SHAD has given me and will continue to give me a platform for growth that will help me reach my goal!”

Qayyum looks forward to bringing the skills she learns at SHAD back to her community and continuing to give back.

Leadership opportunity not to be missed

“Coming from a school where many people do not seek leadership opportunities and are not very spirited towards leadership in general, I hope that by representing my school and bringing back what I learn at SHAD to my community, I will be able to ignite a spark in students,” she says. “I hope that through my SHAD journey I am able to inspire others in my community to also try out for this prestigious program to become better versions of themselves.”

SHAD 2018 runs July 1 through July 27, after which Qayyum will join other change-makers and top innovators in an impressive network of nearly 17,000 SHAD Fellows, including an NHL hockey executive, a serial entrepreneur on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, a NASA researcher, and a best-selling author.