By: Kana Ogawa

What is something most people don’t know about you?

“I have an older brother, who is ten years older than me. And I just had a niece! My niece’s birthday is one day before mine.”

Where were you born?

“In China, a city close to Shanghai called Hefei. I came to Canada towards the end of 2013.”

What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

“I really love to dance… I’ve been doing Latin dance since I was in grade 3. I also play a traditional Chinese instrument called Guqin, which I started because I thought it was cool, watching people play it in a lot of traditional Chinese TV shows. I’ve been playing the piano for four years, and I do kickboxing and hapkido as well.

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been to?

“I really like a place in South China called Lijiang, because I like the style of the buildings and how people live there. The food is nice, and I like the slow lifestyle of the people … it’s like a nice countryside but with lots to do. They have really nice restaurants, great shops, and at night you can even sit beside the river and have a drink.”

What would you tell your Grade 9 self?

“Enjoy grade 9, 10, 11, and work hard in grade 12! I didn’t really do much in grade 9, 10, and 11. Because school was really easy for me, I should have done more travel, hobbies, and overall enjoyed it so that I could be more focused in grade 12.”