Top scholar from St. Michael looking to do it by the numbers

July 31, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
Angela Stewart is pretty good with numbers — in fact, she’s very good.
Stewart is the top graduating scholar in the Class of ‘14 at St. Michael Catholic Secondary School in Bolton, achieving a final average of 98.3 per cent on her top six courses. Three of those courses were maths, and she got 100 per cent in all three, along with 98 in accounting, 97 in religion, 95 in computer science and 94 in economics.
She plans to continue with her math and accounting studies next year when she attends the University of Waterloo, and she eventually hopes to get her CPA certification in accounting. She is also thinking about becoming a forensic accountant.
Placing at the top of her class earned Stewart at Governor General’s Award at the school’s Commencement last month, although she admitted she really wasn’t expecting it.
“I worked really hard,” she said, adding she was able to maintain a balance between academics and extra-curricular activities.
She also said she tried to make sure she was “not being stressed out over everything.”
Stewart said her best years academically were the last two, when she found herself getting especially interested in her courses, particularly the ones involving the maths, accounting and economics. And when it came to extra-curricular activities, she was part of the DECA Business club, and also played for the school’s basketball, curling and softball teams. Away from school, she played basketball in the Caledon Cougars’ organization.
Stewart said she’s looking forward to experiencing more independence in university, a she observed this will be her first tie away from home for an extended period. She also said she’s hoping to take part in intermural activities, and possible join some clubs on campus.
For people facing the start of their high school years, Stewart stressed the importance of hard work.
“Work hard,” is what she said she would advise. “Try their best. Put their full effort into everything.”
She also stressed the need to maintain a balance, pointing out it’s possible to have fun while studying hard.