Mayfield’s top scholar graduated with 100 per cent average

July 22, 2016 · 0 Comments

28-Chou - 5.5 By Bill Rea
It’s not only hard to top the marks Roland Chou achieved to end his high school career, it’s impossible.
He has graduated with an average of 100 per cent in his top six Grade 12 courses, making him the top scholar in the Class of ’16 at Mayfield Secondary School.
The courses he took included advanced functions, data management, music (saxophone and percussion), music (piano), physics and chemistry. It wasn’t all perfect, as he received 99 per cent in calculus and vectors, 98 in biology and 95 in English (he took the advanced functions and calculus and vectors courses in Grade 11).
Chou was enrolled in the arts program at Mayfield, majoring in piano.
“I never really thought about being the top scholar,” he commented. “I always tried to give my best effort.”
Chou said the secret to academic success was having a strong work ethic, being organized, staying focused and being persistent right up until the end.
He also found time for activities away from the classroom. He did volunteer work as a counsellor at a summer Bible camp, and was a swimming instructor at Loafer’s Lake Recreation Centre in Brampton.
Chou is planning to attend McMaster University next year to study health sciences. He observed it’s a difficult program to get into.
“I feel really lucky to get accepted,” he said. “It’s one of the hardest undergraduate programs to get into in Canada.”
“It covers all aspects of health sciences, from biological to social issues,” he added.
Chou sees this program as leading to a career in medicine, possibly as a surgeon or radiologist.
“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor,” he said, “because it’s a very respectable job.”
Chou also indicated he was grateful for the high school experience.
“I was very shy going into high school, but being in the music program helped me open up and be more sociable,” he said.
He added he’s hoping to get involved in some musical pursuits at McMaster, and maybe take part in some sports, as well as find time to volunteer.
And for students who are starting high school, Chou urges them not to hold back on studying, but also to be involved in school activities and spend time with friends.
“The high school experience will pass by very quickly,” he said.