Read more details about Ridley College on their 2026 profile page.
Reflections and Advice:
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
Being a Lifer at Ridley gave me years to figure out who I was and what actually mattered. Coming from Shenzhen meant big adjustments at first, but Ridley let students build things if we had the vision and commitment. When Rebecca Liu and I decided to revive The Tiger Times, the school newspaper that had been sitting dormant, administration didn't just approve it. They gave us resources and trusted us to lead 20+ students in producing monthly issues for the entire community. Same thing with founding HOSA Club or leading DECA and Model UN. The school got that leadership isn't about titles but creating stuff that lasts beyond you. Now at Vanderbilt doing pre-law and writing for The Hustler, I'm using everything I learned about organizing people and building sustainable projects.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
Reviving The Tiger Times with Rebecca Liu was probably the best thing. Building something that will outlast us taught me more than any class could. Founding HOSA and leading DECA showed me how to spot needs and create solutions. Being Prefect taught servant leadership. The IB program and 4.0 GPA prepared me intellectually. Mentoring Chinese immigrant kids through The Cajor let me give back. Coming from China and thriving at Ridley taught me adaptability. The main lesson was that leadership means creating platforms for others, not just personal achievement.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
Wish I'd started Tiger Times earlier to build more momentum. Also wish I'd been better about rest because newspaper plus HOSA plus DECA plus MUN plus athletics plus Prefect was exhausting. For incoming students, especially from China, find what you actually care about and go deep rather than spreading thin. If something's missing, create it. Ridley will back ambitious projects if you show commitment. Build systems that continue after you leave. Don't lose connection to your culture while engaging fully in school life.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
The support for student-led projects that created real impact. Reviving Tiger Times, founding HOSA, leading DECA and MUN taught me how to build teams and sustainable organizations. IB prepared me intellectually, leadership opportunities developed practical skills. Being Prefect taught service. Boarding as an international student created community and independence. Ridley gave me space to figure out who I am and what matters, which shapes how I approach journalism and pre-law at Vanderbilt now.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
Take initiative, don't wait. If something should exist, create it. Tiger Times taught me Ridley backs ambitious work. Get involved early because leadership teaches things academics can't. IB is hard but prepares you well. Boarding becomes family if you invest, especially matters for international students. Commit deeply to what matters rather than doing everything. Build stuff that lasts beyond you. Leadership is about serving and creating platforms, not collecting titles.
Academics:
1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
The academics challenged me but prepared me well for Vanderbilt's pre-law track. IB pushed actual thinking rather than just memorization. Economics taught me systems and incentives. History emphasized multiple perspectives and context. Language and Literature developed writing skills I use constantly in journalism now. Teachers treated running The Tiger Times or competing in DECA as real intellectual work, not distractions from academics. Maintaining a 4.0 required focus but the curriculum developed independent thinking, which was different from education back in China. The preparation meant transitioning to Vanderbilt felt manageable.
Athletics:
1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
I played First Girls Volleyball and Rugby 7's. Athletics weren't my main thing since journalism consumed most energy, but the teams taught me about pressure and supporting teammates in ways that applied to newspaper deadlines and MUN committees. Coaching was solid, facilities were good. Ridley didn't make you feel inadequate if sports weren't your priority, which I appreciated.
Art, Music, and Theatre:
1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
Cappies Niagara let me combine writing with theater criticism. Analyzing shows and writing reviews developed analysis skills that transferred to journalism. The arts community seemed engaged and productions were quality.
Extracurricular Opportunities:
1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
Reviving The Tiger Times taught me everything about leadership and building systems. Taking a dead publication and rebuilding it meant constant problem solving, managing 20+ people, meeting deadlines, building a website. That connects directly to journalism at Vanderbilt now. Founding HOSA created space for students interested in health careers. Leading DECA meant competition prep and winning provincial awards. Model UN developed public speaking and facilitation skills. Being Prefect meant serving the boarding community. I also mentored at The Cajor, a writing camp for Chinese immigrant kids, which let me help younger students find their voice. These weren't resume stuff but actual skill building.
Dorm Life:
1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
Boarding as an international student from Shenzhen meant dorms became home in ways they wouldn't for local kids. The house system provided structure and belonging when you're far from family. Late nights working on Tiger Times with editors down the hall, conversations about cultural differences and random topics. Being Prefect while also boarding created interesting dynamics around having authority over people who are also your friends. Dorm staff understood challenges international students faced. The experience taught independence and prepared me well for Vanderbilt.
Dining:
1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
Dining hall was fine. Food was consistent with decent variety. Some dishes felt familiar from home, some didn't, but there was enough selection. Meals became social time with the boarding community.
Social and Town Life:
1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
St. Catharines felt safe and the town supported school events. Close enough to Toronto for bigger city access when needed. As a boarding student from China, most time was on campus but the location allowed exploration when appropriate.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
Running The Tiger Times created instant community with the editorial team. Leadership in HOSA, DECA, and MUN connected me with driven students. Being Prefect meant relationships across grades. The boarding community got tight from being around each other constantly. Being bilingual Chinese and English helped me connect with both international and Canadian students. The social dynamic felt supportive rather than toxic. Finding people passionate about journalism and policy made it meaningful beyond just academics.
Read more details about Ridley College on their 2026 profile page.
Alumni Reviews Review School
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Being a Lifer at Ridley gave me years to figure out who I was and what actually mattered. Coming from Shenzhen meant big adjustments at first, but Ridley let students build things if we had. . .
Ridley's approach to balancing athletics and arts stood out to me. I was able to pursue rowing and violin seriously without having to choose one over the other, which isn't always the case at schools. . .
Ridley's basketball program was exceptional and central to my experience there. The opportunity to both captain the Prep Basketball Team and assistant coach the U14 team in just two years gave me leadership experience from. . .
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