Alum Corner with Jack Yeung
I immigrated to Canada in 2011 and joined the Waldorf community that same year. I started in Grade 6 and attended through to Grade 11, and I’m happy to say I’m still very close with my classmates from the Class of 2020.
When I first arrived, I immediately noticed something different in the atmosphere at VWS. There was a genuine sense of community, not just from the faculty, but also from my fellow students. Many of them had been together for years, yet they welcomed me with open arms. They didn’t just see me as the new student – they took the time to truly get to know me.
In Grade 12, a close friend and classmate of mine and I embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime journey: we travelled halfway around the world aboard a tall ship while continuing our academic studies. It was a difficult decision to step away from my class at VWS, a community that had come to mean so much to me.
Today, I’m in the final term of my psychology degree at UBC. I was drawn to this field because I’ve always been fascinated by what connects us as human beings – how we think, how we feel, and the importance of deep, meaningful conversation. That curiosity began at the Vancouver Waldorf School, where I first experienced the power of authentic connection.
If I could offer one piece of advice to current students, it would be to stay connected to your classmates – even as you go off to different schools, programs, and parts of the world. The world expands quickly after graduation. Suddenly, you’re in a much larger setting, and it can be both exciting and overwhelming. If I’m honest with myself, the advice I would have wanted to hear at graduation is this: carry forward the trust and connection you built within your class. In a small school like VWS, you learn how to truly rely on one another and how to collaborate, and you are seen as your whole self. That sense of trust, that deep understanding of community – don’t leave it behind. Bring it with you. It will help you find your people wherever you go and remind you of the strength that comes from meaningful relationships.
Being in a smaller school like VWS opened up opportunities that simply wouldn’t have existed in a larger setting. In conversations with my university classmates, many of whom didn’t attend Waldorf schools, I’ve often heard stories about feeling unseen or undervalued during their high school years. That wasn’t my experience. I felt known, supported, and encouraged. I believe that’s because of the intentional care and reflection the teachers at VWS bring to their work. They really take the time to understand who you are and offer guidance that helps you grow.
What I gained from my time at VWS was a deep trust in myself and in others, as well as the confidence to step into the world ready to keep learning and evolving.
So many memories come to mind, especially the class trips, which were always such a meaningful part of the Waldorf experience. But if I had to choose just one moment, I’d go back to Grade 8, and we had just returned from our end-of-year outdoor week trip. Ms. Johnston had created a quiet reflection space for us in the classroom next to the Woodwork studio. The mood was calm, thoughtful, and connected. We shared memories, laughter, and meaningful words with one another. It was one of those rare moments when I could really feel the bond we had as a class. It captured something essential about VWS: the space to pause, to reflect, and to honour not just what we had done, but who we were becoming and where we were going.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Lori Johnston for the way she welcomed both me and my parents to VWS. I think I was seen as a shy student at the time – quiet, observant, and still trying to find my place in a new environment. Lori’s warmth, patience, and steady guidance helped me feel safe enough to open up, build trust in myself, and begin to follow my passions. That early support made a lasting impact on who I am today.
As I wrap up my undergraduate studies, I’d love to connect with folks in the mental health and education fields. If there are any mentorship opportunities I might be able to contribute to, I’d be honoured to support the VWS community, however I can.
Conducted by Brock Sheppard, for Development May 2025
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.
