Top Scholar Finds a Home at Vic

^{Ella Choi, a top scholar beginning her first year at Victoria College in the Rotman Commerce program, says she felt at home right away. “The moment I walked up the stairs to the Vic Quad, I just knew this was where I wanted to be,” she said. (Photo by Neil Gaikwad)}

The next generation of leaders is already arriving at Vic. Among them is Ella Choi, one of the top high school students in Toronto, who felt that from her first visit, Vic was a place where she would be welcomed and supported. 

“I went on several campus and college tours,” Choi said. “The moment I walked up the stairs to the Vic Quad, I just knew this was where I wanted to be. My tour guides were some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Every interaction I’ve had with Vic students confirmed this is the community I want to belong to.” 

Choi was named top scholar for Ward 5 in the Toronto Catholic District School Board, an area that includes North York and north Toronto. She began Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto this fall as a Vic student. 

Recognition as a top scholar boosted her confidence heading into university. “I’d be lying if I said there isn’t some pressure that comes with this title,” she said. “Rather than viewing it as a burden, I see it as motivation to accomplish things I once thought were impossible. This recognition taught me that when I pour my energy into something I love, it pays off.” 

The news reached her while she was catching up on sleep after exam season. Her parents woke her with the email from the board, and she didn’t believe it at first. In a school full of high achievers, the recognition was a shock. 

Her success, she said, came from finding interest in her classes. “It was less about studying and more about finding parts of my classes that I liked,” she said. “I also had a creative outlet. The arts gave me balance and shaped the way I approach challenges. Academics taught me discipline and persistence.” 

This fall she is looking forward to meeting students from around the world and exploring subjects she is passionate about. She also hopes to get involved in student activities and make the most of Vic’s close-knit community. 
 
“I’m excited to meet people from all over the world,” she said. “I want to carry the same welcoming spirit I saw at Vic and build a home here.”