How School Captain Carol Rong Found Her Voice at Havergal
It was the co-curricular program that first drew Carol Rong to Havergal as a Grade 9 student because experiences outside the classroom were just as important to her as her coursework.
“Havergal was the only independent school I applied to. I knew I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” she says. The transition to a new school environment and community was smooth, she explains, attributing it to the culture that’s fostered by both faculty and students.
“I felt like my voice was valued. People actually took time to listen to what I had to say, even if I didn’t even think my points were valid,” Rong says. “Everyone really wants to build on what you have to say and you are a valued member of the community.”
Fast forward four years: she’s now in Grade 12 and School Captain, a leadership role that’s allowing her to give back to her fellow students what they offered to her when she first arrived. The comfort and confidence she feels in the role comes in part from the diversity of experiences she’s been encouraged to have from day one at Havergal.
I felt like my voice was valued.
“When I first started, I was really drawn to all the opportunities, because there were just so many available that I never had access to previously,” Rong says. She started with sports: field hockey, track and field, curling. “I’d never heard of it before!” she says of the winter sport. Interested in business, she also joined the Debate Team, Marketing Club and DECA, the competitive business club that fosters young leaders. That was all in her first year. Since then, she’s also participated in Band, the Science Club and a peer tutoring club. “It was really rewarding and it allowed me to connect with younger students,” she says.
Rong started picking up formal leadership roles in Grades 10 and 11. “I wanted to help my peers make a difference and amplify their voices,” she explains. During these years she was elected as the Grade Representative, a role that allowed Rong to build on experience she’d had during Grade 8 when she was elected as Vice President of the student council at her elementary school. “I saw the impact that I could make in my local community and wanted to continue going for leadership roles, because my previous experiences with it were very rewarding.”
It didn’t come without setbacks. In Grade 9 she tried out for House Council, but didn’t get elected. However, she was encouraged to try again because the community was so supportive. “I felt comfortable enough stepping up again and trying out again,” Rong says.
That opportunity as Grade Representative opened her path to School Captain. “I saw the impacts of my action more and more, and had larger roles to take on, so I felt comfortable in Grade 11 to go for School Captain,” she explains.
Rong also owes her comfort in these prominent roles to the guidance she’s received from faculty members. Fiona Marshall, a social sciences teacher and the school’s Director of Student Leadership, is one of them. “I’ve always admired her because she shows a lot of compassion,” says Rong. “You can tell that she cares for you and she’s someone to talk to about any situation. I really wish to be like that for others.”
Amanda Tesciuba is another. The lab technician supports students in chemistry, biology and physics classes. “Dr. T,” as she’s known by the students, is someone Rong considers an academic mentor. “I often go to her with my science ideas to get her help or advice. She’s really inspiring. She went through the things that I aspire to do in the future, and it’s nice having a grown-up who knows what it’s like, just to talk to her, get her advice and feedback,” she explains.
Do what you want to do, do what fascinates you. If it matters to you, it’s important.
The environment Dr. T fosters in her labs also helped Rong feel more confident in her academic decisions. Her goal for post-secondary studies is to focus on either neuroscience or biochemistry. She admits to being a little shy when she first started doing lab work, but access and hands-on experiences made her feel more comfortable and confident. This developed into a passion for working in a lab, leading her to land an internship at University Health Network’s Krembil Lab.
As School Captain, Rong prioritizes these same opportunities for her peers. Along with proposing new ideas at the school — she advocated for Meatless Mondays to lessen Havergal’s environmental impact — she fosters the confidence she’s acquired at Havergal for her fellow students. Under the guidance of Ms. Marshall, Rong proposed a lunchtime Captain’s Corner. “Every week during lunch, I set up a table in a very popular location. People can ask me questions, provide concerns or suggestions to get the student body more engaged.”
She also works with the Prefects to ensure they are supported with their own initiatives. “Whenever someone wants to do a job related to their portfolio, I lead the team to make sure everyone shows up and helps one another. This way it trickles down to students,” she says. “Everyone else sees that example and wants to show up as well.”
For others on the same journey as Rong, who may be trying something new or embarking on a new phase in life, she offers this advice: “Do what you want to do, do what fascinates you. If it matters to you, it’s important.”
She also encourages students to embrace all the opportunities offered at the school — and in the community.
“There aren’t many other schools like Havergal. It’s really important to get engaged with others, like your peers or even older students, because they’re always there to support you,” Rong says. Older students were particularly impactful when it came to finding confidence in her aspirations. “They gave me really good feedback and they really supported me. That really made me more confident in my own beliefs.”
Published April 2025
2024–25 Issue
