high performance - The Schulich School of Engineering - University ...

CANADA‘STOP 20UNDER 20BY CAROLINA ROMEOCERTAIN EXPERIENCES STICK WITH YOU FOREVER: YOUR FIRST YEAR OFUNIVERSITY, THE FIRST YEAR LIVING AWAY FROM HOME, THE FIRST TIME YOUREPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY INTERNATIONALLY. THESE EXPERIENCES TEACHYOU A LOT AND YOU CHERISH THEM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.The Top 20 Under 20 LeadershipSummit is one of those experiences.I was one of the recipients of Canada’sTop 20 Under 20 Award for 2009. WhenI met the others at the conference, theyseemed like ordinary people I might runinto on the streets of Calgary. They wereoutgoing, easy-to-talk-to teenagers.But when I found out more about them,I realized how extraordinary they reallywere and how far determination, hardwork and persistence can take you nomatter what your passion is.Among this group of teenagers wereresearchers, public speakers, founders ofcharitable organizations, artists, coaches,mountain climbers and volunteers. Thetasks they took on and the problems theychose to tackle were very broad – but theychose to help in areas that interest themor affect people they care about.Two projects involved helping people withdisabilities take part in everyday activitiesincluding sports. Another challengedpeople to climb Mount Kilimanjaro inAfrica to raise money for HIV and AIDSclinics. A young artist painted a pictureabout his experience swimming in subzeroArctic sea water and formed a studentactivist group to raise awareness aboutclimate change. Others raised significantfunds to spread knowledge about cancer,malaria and homelessness.When you look at this group of youngachievers, you see diversity: we comefrom different regions of Canada, wehave different backgrounds and differentpassions. But we all have something withinus that drives us to accomplish what somepeople call “unbelievable” things at sucha young age. I believe that drive comesfrom not settling for mediocrity, from notbeing satisfied with what has been givento us. We want the best possible life forthose around us. We have chosen to strivefor perfection and look for solutions toproblems that affect us or our loved ones.When I found out moreabout them, I realizedhow extraordinary theyreally were and how fardetermination, hardwork and persistencecan take you no matterwhat your passion is.The most important thing I learned fromthis experience is this: if you have a goal,a vision of something that is meaningfulto you, work hard and don’t stop tryinguntil you achieve what you’re looking for.There are people out there who will beglad to support you, but that drive – thedesire to achieve excellence – must comefrom within.Carolina Romeo is a second-yearstudent at the Schulich Schoolof Engineering. She skipped twogrades in junior high school andwas awarded a Chancellor’s Clubscholarship in 2008, entering theUniversity of Calgary at the age of15. She joined the women’s fieldhockey team, becoming the youngestever athlete at the U of C and theyoungest ever female varsity-levelathlete in Canada.Romeo also plays ringette at thenational and international levelsand coaches girls in ringette andfield hockey. She enjoys cooking andhas volunteered at charitable eventsincluding the Easter Seals Ball, adinner and dance to raise money forchildren with disabilities.In May 2009, Romeo was namedone of Canada’s Top 20 Under 20.This annual list is compiled by Youthin Motion, a non-profit organizationthat recognizes Canadians under theage of 20 who have demonstrateda significant level of innovation,leadership and achievement.Photo by Jason Stang. Illustration by Dave GouldenSCHULICH37ENGINEER