By Michelle Liang
Alexandra Wong, a Collingwood alumnus, embraces every aspect of arts and its distinctive forms, from literary to performing arts. As a student in Collingwood, she was actively involved in literature and various performing arts productions – for instance, the musical “I love you, you’re perfect, now change” with Madame Mofazali and Mr. Wright.
Graduating in 2008, she further pursued her love for literature at Vassar College in New York by studying English Literature. After completing her senior thesis in creative writing, she found herself constantly seeking for opportunities to strategically incorporate creativity in business.
Soon, she found her place at Google in California, where she worked with small businesses across North America. Then, she continued with Google in Toronto, working with the Canadian Government. Just two years ago, she joined the Singapore Google office as a member of the Strategy & Operations team.
Working in such a vibrant environment, Alexandra emphasizes the importance of art. “If I’m just working but not doing anything artistic, it feels like I’m eating pasta … but without the Bolognese sauce. I’m full but not satisfied!” Alexandra expressed. For her, acting is one of the few things that help her relax from work: “The arts give me energy and make me feel balanced”.
Alexandra Wong, a Collingwood alumnus, embraces every aspect of arts and its distinctive forms, from literary to performing arts. As a student in Collingwood, she was actively involved in literature and various performing arts productions – for instance, the musical “I love you, you’re perfect, now change” with Madame Mofazali and Mr. Wright.
Graduating in 2008, she further pursued her love for literature at Vassar College in New York by studying English Literature. After completing her senior thesis in creative writing, she found herself constantly seeking for opportunities to strategically incorporate creativity in business.
Soon, she found her place at Google in California, where she worked with small businesses across North America. Then, she continued with Google in Toronto, working with the Canadian Government. Just two years ago, she joined the Singapore Google office as a member of the Strategy & Operations team.
Working in such a vibrant environment, Alexandra emphasizes the importance of art. “If I’m just working but not doing anything artistic, it feels like I’m eating pasta … but without the Bolognese sauce. I’m full but not satisfied!” Alexandra expressed. For her, acting is one of the few things that help her relax from work: “The arts give me energy and make me feel balanced”.
Alexandra believes in the wonderful impact of art on an individual and praises Collingwood’s “four strands.” By mindfully incorporating the arts in a few areas of her daily life, she found it to have positively influenced her productivity since she could work both the left and right side of her brain. Thus, she advises students to “keep the love of art alive” when going to the next steps in life.
She attributes her success to her encouraging parents and sister and her development in her art skills to her incredible teachers, from creative writing with Mrs. Benson in Wentworth, acting with Mr. Wener, visual art with Ms. Keene, and critical reading and writing with the English department.
Currently, Alexandra addresses her focus in acting, but moving onward, she hopes to get back to her “creative writing roots” and perhaps also the visual arts.
She attributes her success to her encouraging parents and sister and her development in her art skills to her incredible teachers, from creative writing with Mrs. Benson in Wentworth, acting with Mr. Wener, visual art with Ms. Keene, and critical reading and writing with the English department.
Currently, Alexandra addresses her focus in acting, but moving onward, she hopes to get back to her “creative writing roots” and perhaps also the visual arts.