Alum Corner with Lily Cameron

After graduating from VWS, I went straight to university, moving to Nova Scotia to attend Acadia University in Wolfville. Acadia is filled with pageantry, tradition and has the warmest and most inclusive quality of student life. It was an incredible experience filled with pageantry, tradition, and a warm, inclusive student life reminiscent of Waldorf. Although I loved Acadia, being far from my family proved challenging, and after my first year, I transferred to UVIC, where I completed my BA in psychology in June 2018. Looking back, I sometimes regret not finishing my degree at Acadia, but the experience taught me valuable life lessons.

During my university years, I also embarked on non-academic adventures, including an unforgettable seven-day hiking journey along the Dingle Way in Ireland!

After university, I returned to North Vancouver with uncertainty about my future. Instead of pursuing a master’s degree, I decided to explore my passion for reading and research. I enrolled in an online certificate program offered by SFU. This led me to establish my own small business, Lily Cameron Creative, providing proofreading and editing services to publishers and individuals. Running my business allows me the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world, which is truly exciting for me. As a solopreneur, I’ve enjoyed discovering various aspects of entrepreneurship, and I’m eager to keep growing and learning.

My advice to current graduates is to not hesitate to ask for help when needed. Remember, you are growing up in a different world than your parents experienced, and social media has changed the dynamics of networking and career exploration. Be brave and venture forth!

I have so many fond memories from my time at the VWS: Christmas Fairs, school plays, flute playing, class trips, eurythmy, and more. I feel fortunate that I attended the Waldorf School, especially the elementary school—I experienced so many magical moments! But what stands out the most is the bond I shared with my classmates. I belonged to a huge, rollicking, noisy class that pushed every boundary as we discovered the world together. We were full of mischief and energy, and curiosity. I loved growing up in that environment.

I attended Waldorf from kindergarten to high school, so it’s safe to say it had a significant effect on my life and career choice. Waldorf education fostered my innate curiosity and encouraged reflection. The Grade Twelve Project, in particular, sparked my love for research and inspired me to pursue a degree in psychology. Although challenging, the project did teach me a lot about myself.

Compiled by Ronaye Ireland for Development, March 2019

The Vancouver Waldorf School provides an experiential, age-appropriate approach to education based on the insights of Rudolf Steiner that inspires students to love learning, to be creative, open-minded, and compassionate. With a curriculum that integrates all academics with the arts and social learning, Waldorf Education develops not only the left and right hemispheres of the brain but the whole human being. A child’s social, emotional, physical and intellectual development is considered equally, supporting a conscious unfolding of the individuality within each student. Waldorf graduates possess capacities for empathy and clear, creative and independent thinking that enables them to carry out a chosen course of action with moral courage and social responsibility.