Pickering College - Review #1

Pickering College felt like a place built for thinkers, doers, and people who care. The school always emphasized kindness, integrity and community. When I arrived as a boarder, I immediately felt the “circle of care” where faculty, dorm leaders and students alike encouraged moral reflection and action. Pickering’s Global Leadership Program also shaped how I understood my role in the world. I learned that leadership is not about power, but about service and responsibility.

The best thing Pickering gave me was a sense of purpose. The Global Leadership Program didn’t teach leadership as a role but it taught it as a responsibility. Through community service, peer mentoring and leadership roles, I grew into a more thoughtful, action-oriented person. I became less afraid of failure because I knew I had support.

I would encourage my younger self to join the radio club or take part in Morning Meeting more actively. Advice to new students is try the things that scare you.

What mattered most was the value system. Pickering isn’t just about academics or sports. It’s about building people who think deeply, act kindly and lead responsibly.

If you’re new to Pickering, go to the Morning Meeting the first week, even if you feel shy. Bring a notebook. Listen. Speak when you’re ready. Also, join one boarding weekend event, you’ll find your people there.

Academics at Pickering pushed me to integrate ideas and not compartmentalize them. In Grade 11 I took AP Chemistry and Global Leadership courses. In the GLP, we didn’t just talk about global problems but we also worked on real action projects, combining what we learned in science, history and English. Teachers were demanding but they also supported you personally. When research felt overwhelming, my advisor walked me through defining a question instead of giving me the answer. That made a profound difference.

Pickering’s athletics program is deep and authentic. We had teams for soccer, basketball and more but the goal was never just to win. We mainly emphasized on growth, teamwork and fair play. I appreciated that Pickering hired certified coaches and expected students to try rather not perfect. The fields and gym were good, but the real lesson was how to push yourself while respecting your team. I came to value training hard and losing even more than the occasional victory.

Although art wasn’t my main path, the arts culture was a bit vibrant. I learnt a lot about patience, precision and trust than in any other class. I also joined morning-meeting bands once in a while and realized that performance doesn’t always need to be perfect but it needs to be genuine.

Beyond all that i mentioned earlier above, I was part of the Student Life Committee. We planned weekend boarding events, multicultural dinners and community discussions. I worked alongside proctors and other student leaders to run these events. I volunteered in local fundraising with my boarding family. We organized drives, cleaned up parks and supported Quaker service missions. These experiences made me feel I was really contributing.

Dorm living was a major shift. We lived in boarding families of about 10–15 students. At first, I missed home, but my house director made sure we had structured evening conversations and weekly common meals. During study periods, staff offered help and on weekends we had outings such as skating, hiking or group trips. Those moments built trust and genuine friendship. My dorm mates became more than friends such that i somehow saw them as my second family

Dining was lively. Meals were family style and every dinner felt like a gathering. We sat with our boarding family, rotated seating and talked about the week. We had special dinners and sometimes friendly competitions at mealtimes. The food was varied and nutritious and the conversations often ran long. Dinner was where we debriefed, laughed, planned trips, and supported each other.

Pickering College’s campus is peaceful, set in Newmarket but with easy access to bigger cities. On weekends, students would head into Toronto or explore local trails. The Blue & Silver Farm, affiliated with the school, was one of my favorite escapes because it gave me space to disconnect but still feel part of community life. That mix of calm and opportunity made weekends both restful and meaningful.

Socially, Pickering felt warm and intentional. Boarding students hosted cultural dinners. We celebrated Lunar New Year, United Nations Day and other traditions. Friend groups crossed grades and backgrounds. There was no pressure to be in a specific circle, but there was always something happening if you wanted to connect. I made friends for life because people listened, debated, volunteered and spent time together.