Welcome!
My name is Michael. I live in Toronto, Canada. I am a student at Parkdale Collegiate Institute. I am very interested in aviation and flight simulation, and I also enjoy biking, travelling, math, chess, and drawing.
How Jeff Wall's Weightlifter Changed How I See Goals
I went to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto and saw an exhibition of Jeff Wall, a famous Canadian photographer from Vancouver. One photo, called Weightlifter (2015), really stuck with me and made me think about my own life goals. In the picture, a man is struggling to lift a huge barbell. It feels like a mix between old-school hard work and modern personal ambition, almost like a conversation between the past and our tech-filled future. It also reminded me of stories about my grandfather, who worked as a miner in Ukraine and had to do heavy labour to get by. Now, people lift weights in gyms to get stronger and improve themselves, not to survive, and that difference really stood out to me. I started to see the weightlifter as more than just a guy in a gym. The photo made me think about how effort and pushing hard can turn into a way to chase my own dreams. That idea motivates me to work harder at school, in my hobbies, and in my everyday life.
My Next Chapter: Learning with the Junior Academy at the New York Academy of Sciences and The Knowledge Society
I am excited and grateful to share that I have been selected for two competitive extracurricular programs for the 2026–2027 school year. First, I was accepted into the Junior Academy at the New York Academy of Sciences. The Junior Academy is an online international program that brings together high school students who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and solving real-world problems. I look forward to working with students who share similar interests, learning from mentors, and developing creative ideas and solutions to important challenges. Second, I was accepted into The Knowledge Society (TKS) Toronto with a partial scholarship. TKS will give me the chance to participate in an in-person group program, explore emerging technologies, build important skills, work on challenging projects, and learn how to solve major problems. Its alum community includes more than 5,500 students from over 80 countries. Many TKS alums have gone on to build, lead, and work at some of the world’s most innovative companies, which I find very inspiring. I am especially excited to meet other motivated students, learn about new technologies, and challenge myself to think in new ways. I know both programs will require hard work, curiosity, and dedication. I am ready to begin this new journey, learn as much as I can, and use my knowledge to make a meaningful difference.
Thinking Unconventionally at TKS
My first week at the TKS kickoff was amazing! I learned from my group members and leaders, and they were all motivating and inspiring. We met at Deloitte’s downtown office in Toronto, and the location itself made me feel excited about what I could achieve. The session focused on “Unconventional Success” and the importance of having an “Unconventional Thinking” mindset. We explored unique real-world examples showing how people can succeed by thinking differently, taking creative risks, and looking at problems from new perspectives. Overall, I learned a lot in just one session, and I am looking forward to what comes next at TKS. A big thank-you as well for all the gifts and the delicious snacks. They were a great bonus!
Giving Back in my Community
Receiving a certificate of appreciation from the City of Toronto for my volunteer work this summer was an honour. Volunteering nearly 60 hours showed me that even small acts of service make a real difference in a community. I appreciate this recognition and the chance to make a meaningful impact by supporting children, assisting during pool trips, and helping kids learn. Volunteering means more than giving time: it helps others, teaches me new skills, and builds stronger connections with people around me.
Winning the Grade 8 Math Award
I graduated Grade 8 in Toronto and winning the math award made me feel proud and excited to start high school and keep learning more.
Harvard Model United Nations
Meeting the World’s Best and Brightest
I am proud to have participated in the inaugural Harvard Model United Nations Canada (HarvardMUN Canada), held in Toronto from May 28–31, 2026. As the first-ever Canadian edition, the conference brought the renowned HarvardMUN experience to delegates from across the country and beyond, building on more than 72 years of tradition.
What I Learned in a Delegate’s Role
I served on the Council of the Federation, representing Zack Bell of Prince Edward Island (a real Canadian politician), where I engaged in dynamic discussions on addressing interprovincial trade barriers to strengthen Canada’s economy, and coordinated provincial responses to U.S. trade pressures, industrial policy, and cross-border supply chains. And I absolutely love the video the organizers posted about this event on Instagram.
About my Harvard MUN Journey
HarvardMUN Canada really impressed me. There were over 1,200 participants, and I learned new ideas that made me better.
About my Harvard MUN Journey
Getting this HarvardMUN certificate means a lot to me because I worked hard to research Canadian affairs, speak in front of others, and help write resolutions.
Where Tradition Meets Innovation
I learned how HarvardMUN Canada redefined the delegate experience by combining the best of HarvardMUN tradition with the world’s leading MUN innovations. Since Harvard’s Model League of Nations, HarvardMUN has drawn upon nearly a century of experience, talent and knowledge.
From Contenders to Champions
There were many inspiring presentations, workshops, debates and performances. And some of the most inspiring celebrations I have ever seen!
Inside HarvardMUN Canada
Delegates learned a lot at this conference about debating, Canadian and international politics, and different visions for the future of the world.
Learning Life-Saving Skills
HarvardMUN Canada also offered a training with World Saves Lives, an international NGO that works with WHO Europe on public health in 53 countries. They work with universities such as Princeton, UCLA, and Oxford to teach harm reduction and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) worldwide. I took part in an opioid overdose training session and learned a lot. In Canada, over 55,000 people have died from opioid overdoses since 2016, and worldwide about 125,000 people die from opioid overdoses each year.
Cambridge Re:Think Essay Competition 2026 - Honourable Mention
Thankful for Support
I am very grateful to my teacher, Sara Dow (Park Lawn Junior Middle School), for providing thoughtful comments on my essay. Because the competition explicitly prohibits any assistance and requires an academic referee, the bar was high for me, but I appreciated that challenge.
Ranked in the Top 10% of 15,000+ Entries
This year, the Cambridge Centre for International Research (CCIR) received over 15,000 submissions from students across more than 50 countries. Out of the submissions, our jury panel selected the top 10% of submissions for Honourable Mentions for both Junior and Senior Divisions. I had to compete in the Senior Division for 14–18‑year‑olds.
About My Essay
The Topic: Should governments fund moonshot scientific projects (like curing aging or interstellar travel) even if they appear speculative, or prioritize incremental improvements with more immediate benefits? The essay prompts were contributed by distinguished professors from Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Cornell, UPenn, Berkeley, Princeton, Oxford, Columbia, and Cambridge. The prompt I chose was contributed by Dr Alejandro Carnicer-Lombarte of Cambridge Neuroscience in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge.
Proud Award Moments
I Won Math Gold! I got notified that I have achieved the highest honour at the Bhanzu Mathlete Scholarship Assessment in North America, the coveted 🥇 GOLD MEDAL! I was super nervous watching the screen as the timer ticked. I even had to use special proctoring software for this competition. Around 1,800 families signed up their kids. My prizes are pretty awesome: a real medal, a new iPad, a certificate, a report about my math strengths, a Letter of Commendation, and a 100% free spot in the Bhanzu Math Program. I am grateful to have received a wonderful package with the 128 GB A16 iPad, the gold medal, and even the cap! This whole experience makes me feel like math can really be my superpower, and I am excited to keep levelling up. Bhanzu was founded by Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, the world’s fastest human calculator and winner of a major mental math championship in 2020, and I am eager to learn more and work toward a similar experience. 🚀
Mathlete Experience
The Letter of Commendation is not just about my score. It also highlights how I can reason through problems, spot patterns, understand ideas clearly, and I’m ready for more advanced math. It says I face confidence issues and have strong problem-solving potential. This scholarship gives me a chance to think more deeply, be creative with how I solve questions, and build a long‑term love for math. Math is also about growing my confidence, staying strong when things are hard, and learning how to handle tough challenges.
Highlights from My Certificates and Awards
