By Millie Huang
Every few years, Collingwood is fortunate to be home to a truly significant student whose impact on the school community has been exceptional. I believe one of those people is Eva Cai, a twelfth-grade student and Arts Mag’s remarkable webmaster/visuals director. Now that it has finally come time for her to be honoured in her own Arts Mag’s article, there is no shortage of things to write about (which is probably why this article is so long) — her journey here has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Eva moved to Vancouver when she was in grade 8, making Collingwood her first Canadian school. As an only child, she states that her family is not particularly artistically inclined, and while she doesn't remember any specifics about how her interest in art started, she has now clearly developed it into a heartfelt hobby.
Every few years, Collingwood is fortunate to be home to a truly significant student whose impact on the school community has been exceptional. I believe one of those people is Eva Cai, a twelfth-grade student and Arts Mag’s remarkable webmaster/visuals director. Now that it has finally come time for her to be honoured in her own Arts Mag’s article, there is no shortage of things to write about (which is probably why this article is so long) — her journey here has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Eva moved to Vancouver when she was in grade 8, making Collingwood her first Canadian school. As an only child, she states that her family is not particularly artistically inclined, and while she doesn't remember any specifics about how her interest in art started, she has now clearly developed it into a heartfelt hobby.
Eva’s motivation for artistic projects is simple. She enjoys how the artistic process results in a unique and meaningful final product, as well as the fact that art is such an accessible form of self-expression. Eva explains that a lot of her artistic inspiration comes from her technical experiences with science and math (jokingly calculus with a single variable), as well as her fellow artists, believing that Collingwood is a diverse community brimming with artistic talent. Lastly, Eva also sees art as a "different way of focusing”, as it helps her refine her patience and work ethic, both values that contribute to her overwhelming success in the passions she occupies herself with.
On the subject of her work, she states they are stylistically more modern, and that a lot of her time is spent perfecting tiny details. Currently in graphic design 12, she does a lot of lettering and calligraphy with different writing tools. She especially enjoys typography, explaining that she is interested in how different fonts can express different sentiments. In addition, Eva is experienced in the unique art of quilling, which involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs. Overall, she enjoys the range of mediums that she works with because "they are so versatile, yet they can convey so much."
Furthermore, even with Eva’s very heavy academic load, she is able to maintain excellent grades and find time for her creative pursuits. In addition to being a member of Arts Mag, her penchant for the sciences shines through her spectacular achievements, including a gold medal at the BC Provincial Science Fair, a bronze medal at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, as well as second place with the Collingwood team at the VEX robotics world championships. Moreover, she is a regular volunteer, keen to organize science activities for kids and help spark their interest in STEM fields. Finally, she loves cooking, trying new recipes, and eating, with her favourite dish to prepare being seared ahi tuna.
Concerning the future, deservingly, Eva has received many offers from top higher learning institutions worldwide, and we congratulate her on choosing Harvard University as the place she will attend in the fall. Because of her interest in the field of bioengineering, she hopes to obtain a doctorate and conduct research in protein therapeutics, a topic she takes to because it is an intersection between the many academic fields that fascinate her. Nevertheless, she mentions that her interests regularly shift, making her future uncertain but exciting.
Undeniably, we will miss Eva, an uplifting presence in the hallways, a brilliant student in the classroom, and not to mention a wonderful friend. Let’s make sure Eva’s dedication, not only to Arts Mag, but the entire school community during her time here does not go unnoticed — remember to wish her luck and support her as she leaves her high school years to start a whole new journey. After all, Eva is someone that just might some day change the world along the way.
Concerning the future, deservingly, Eva has received many offers from top higher learning institutions worldwide, and we congratulate her on choosing Harvard University as the place she will attend in the fall. Because of her interest in the field of bioengineering, she hopes to obtain a doctorate and conduct research in protein therapeutics, a topic she takes to because it is an intersection between the many academic fields that fascinate her. Nevertheless, she mentions that her interests regularly shift, making her future uncertain but exciting.
Undeniably, we will miss Eva, an uplifting presence in the hallways, a brilliant student in the classroom, and not to mention a wonderful friend. Let’s make sure Eva’s dedication, not only to Arts Mag, but the entire school community during her time here does not go unnoticed — remember to wish her luck and support her as she leaves her high school years to start a whole new journey. After all, Eva is someone that just might some day change the world along the way.