Rooted in Community: Celebrating Chris Tao, Inaugural Rams for Life Scholarship Recipient

In every school, there are students whose quiet leadership, relentless dedication, and compassionate spirit quietly transform the spaces around them. At Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate, that student is Chris Tao. As the first-ever recipient of the Rams for Life Scholarship, Chris embodies everything the award was created to honour: empathy-driven leadership, unwavering service, and a deep-rooted commitment to community.

Chris’s journey through high school began in uncertainty, shaped by the isolating onset of the pandemic. But like a seed pushing through hardened soil, she found her place—and helped others find theirs. From revamping the Student Council’s structure as Prime Minister, to building bridges through music as Orchestra first violinist and Music Council President, to leading Relay for Life with heart and hope, Chris cultivated connection wherever she went.

Now, as she prepares to embark on a dual degree in Medical Sciences and Business at Western University, Chris carries with her the lessons, relationships, and resilience nurtured at Laurier. In her own words,

Her story is a reminder that leadership doesn’t always look loud—it often looks like staying late after events, checking in on younger students, and leading with quiet consistency.

The Rams for Life Scholarship doesn’t just recognize achievement; it celebrates the kind of student who makes their school stronger. Chris Tao has done just that—and her journey is only beginning.

We'd like to share both Chris's application essay and her thank you letter.

Application Essay

Lost in Laurier’s Garden

When I started high school during the pandemic, I felt like a seed planted in the wrong season–buried under layers of uncertainty, discomfort, and isolation, questioning whether I would ever take root. In those first months, high school felt less like an exciting beginning and more like a quiet unravelling. I still remember wandering the halls, wondering if Laurier would ever feel like somewhere I belonged, or if I would spend the next four years of my life as a weed among a garden of flowers. Finding my footing in such unfamiliar soil proved harder than I expected. But I would soon learn that even in the harshest conditions, a seed can begin to stir.

My first glimpse of sunlight shone through unexpectedly during a Grade 9 French class icebreaker. Tasked with finding three similarities with our seat partner, determined by where our last names fell on the attendance sheet, my classmate and I stumbled through our differences, laughing over cats vs. dogs, blue vs. pink, early vs. late birthdays. To others, it may have seemed insignificant, but to me, it was the first crack in the soil, a reminder that connection was still possible, even if it felt awkward at first.

Joining the Students' Council as a Grade 9 Representative was my first real step forward. Initially, it was intimidating–the meetings, the senior students, the weight of speaking up–but over time, that space became a garden bed of its own–a place where ideas were planted, nurtured, and grew into meaningful change for our school. By senior year, as Prime Minister of the Council, I was honoured to be entrusted with leading that growth. I spearheaded a structural reorganization of our council, introducing specialized departments led by dedicated ministers. This fostered an environment where each student leader was given their own patch of ground to cultivate. Through initiatives like our Winter Formal, spirit weeks, and homeroom competitions, we sparked new engagement and school pride, developing a culture where students felt empowered to shape their own high school experience. I made it a personal priority to connect with junior students, knowing how daunting it can feel to approach upperclassmen.

Beyond Council, I sought to dig deeper into Laurier’s soil. In music, I picked up the violin for the first time, joining the Grade 9 Orchestra despite not having any idea where to place my fingers. Music quickly became a second home, one built on collaboration, patience, and the shared joy of creating something beautiful together. I formed close bonds with my section members, and as a first violinist in my senior year, I found joy in mentoring younger musicians. As Music Council President, I organized events like our annual Music Social, which fostered cross-grade bonding, and coordinated feeder school visits, hoping to plant seeds of passion in future Rams who might one day walk our halls, pick up the instruments I played, and perform in our auditorium.

Through Relay for Life, I found a different kind of garden: one rooted in service and hope. As someone whose family has been affected by cancer for generations, joining the planning committee offered me comfort and purpose. It shifted my mindset from “Why me?” to “Why not me? Why couldn’t I help?” As a lead chair for my last Relay for Life event at Laurier, it has been a pleasure to work with my peers to grow awareness, fundraising, and participation, knowing that every dollar raised and every conversation sparked is a defiance to cancer’s reach. Each year, Relay reminds me that beyond grand gestures, watering the mission day after day, year after year, can cultivate just as strong an impact.

While these are among my most cherished memories at Laurier–ones I will carry with me long after I walk the halls of our school–the list of meaningful activities, extracurriculars, and service opportunities extends far beyond them. It is all to say that this school has been more than welcoming; Laurier has given me the freedom to explore, the space to lead, and the support to flourish. Over time, it stopped feeling like an intimidating forest but a place I had helped shape–a garden where I had planted ideas, built community, and grown alongside my peers.

Of course, growth did not come without its challenges: events did not always go to plan, leadership decisions that made it difficult to please everyone, moments of doubt and frustration. However these setbacks highlighted what it truly meant to lead, connect, and serve. Every time I decided to stay, to push myself a little further, to care a little more, I strengthened the roots that would propel me forward.

Being part of the Rams family has taught me that community does not bloom overnight. It is messy work. It is about showing up to meetings exhausted, arriving early and staying late to prepare and clean up events, cheering loudly even if the crowd was small. Above all, Laurier taught me that real belonging is less something you stumble upon and more something you help grow. By believing in the potential of ourselves, our peers, and the spaces we inhabit, growth is always possible–even when blooming seems out of reach.

As I reflect on these past four years, I realize that Laurier not only helped me find my place but provided me the resources to create it. Even in the most uncertain conditions, the coldest soil, the rainiest of days, growth is still possible. Laurier taught me that I was not only capable of surviving but also thriving, and helping others do the same along the way. As I head to Western University this fall, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Sciences and HBA through Ivey’s School of Business, I carry that sense of togetherness with me–dedicated to leading alongside my teammates, and planting seeds that build welcoming and resilient communities. No matter where the wind carries me, I will hold onto the spirit of the Rams Family, rooted in community, nurtured in teamwork, and forever chasing the sunlight.

Thank You Letter

Dear Rams for Life Members and Donors,

I am deeply honoured to have been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Rams for Life Scholarship. Thank you so much for your generous support and for believing in the power of student stories to shape the future. When I first walked through the doors of Laurier, I never could have envisioned how transformative these past four years would be. Being a part of the Rams community taught me what it means to lead with empathy, to serve with purpose, and to grow through challenge. Beyond the personal growth I have gained, the relationships

I have built–with my classmates, teachers, and the Laurier community–will remain invaluable as I step into this next chapter of my life. From spending my lunches setting up events to late nights planning council meetings, every moment has helped shape me into the person I am today. To receive this scholarship in recognition of the quiet, consistent work it takes to make a difference is incredibly humbling. Laurier has given me so much, and I am beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to give back. As I begin my studies at Western University, pursuing a dual degree in Medical Sciences and Honours Business Administration at Ivey Business School, I will continue to carry the spirit of the Rams family with me. Your support not only eases the financial burden of post-secondary education but also reminds me of the power of community and the importance of giving back. I am committed to planting the same seeds of connection, leadership, and care wherever I go.

Thank you once again for this incredible honour. I am so proud to represent Laurier and the values it stands for, knowing that its spirit will continue to shape my path beyond the school’s walls.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Chris Tao

Rams for Life Scholarship Recipient, 2025