My years at Upper Canada College were of angst. I was an outsider without friends, alien to an institution filled with sports stars and over-achievers. They considered me worthless, excelling neither in academics nor athletics, contrasted against these future leaders and powerful men.

I passed through the hallowed halls of UCC, decorated with boards filled with names — community service leaders, scholarship recipients, military achievments — without making so much as a whisper. When I left, it felt as if I had lost a great opportunity.

It was partially my own fault. A lack of confidence and poor social skills made me an outcast. But it was as much the fault of an institution with shortcomings of its own.

The faculty was blind to the meek. In phys-ed, John and I would play our own games because no one would ever pass to the small Chinese guy and his un-coordinated friend¹. The gym teachers never had a problem with it. Students who didn’t understand the material were told to reserve their questions after class, so as not to hold back the others.

With mixed feelings, I swapped out of UCC in my final year to the Catholic school system. As much as I felt like a guppy in a school of sharks, I still understood what an opportunity it was for me to attend. I took the entrance exam and interview twice; the first time without being accepted, the second time put me on the waiting list².

I remember feeling a pang of pride when it was announced that we were to study Fifth Business in English by Robertson Davies, alumnus from 1926–1932. Or seeing my old gym coach on TV playing for the Canada National Rugby Union Team, the burly 6′2″ man who would shave his legs so his hairs didn’t get caught in a scrum. Even media baron Conrad Black, currently on charges for embezzling $60 million, was in attendance at one point, but was caught and expelled for selling exams there. To this day, I tease John that he’ll end up achieving the same level of “success”.

UCC is perfect for those who can take advantage of it’s rich resources. It’s for the rich kids who could afford taking band trips across the world³. The gifted athletes who could play on the baseball diamonds, the hockey arenas. The teachers were top notch too, winners of Governor General teaching awards, university profs, influential authors in their own right. It’s an institution that benefits the strong and the smart. At the time, I was neither.

I used to feel like I didn’t gain anything from UCC. Eventually, I realized that being there taught me to achieve greatness in my own way. That the success of a person is measured in more than money, fame, and power.

The Old Boys of ‘99 Series

1. Introduction
2. Another Perspective
3. Seeto and Bunston
4. Mungovan and King
5. Providing Ignorance as Bliss
6. My Perspective

1. One time, in a fit of frustration, John walked out of volleyball class and smashed the glass case of an old team photo with his fist. The picture is still preserved in its torn state because it’s the only print. I love teasing him about this story. [↑]
2. My parents took the vice-principal to dinner once, soon after the exam, and I was eventually accepted. I always wonder whether this dinner helped me get in. [↑]
3. I was lucky enough to do this once, to Hungary. They made me first flute of the Wind Ensemble [↑]