What does success look like?
For one graduate, it means earning a full scholarship to study Mathematics in the United States. For another, it means joining one of the world's leading universities after years of balancing academics, athletics, and service. For a third, it means boarding a plane to Spain to pursue a dream on the soccer field.
Their destinations may be different, but their stories share a common theme: the confidence to pursue a future that reflects who they are.
At Canadian Academy, our students are encouraged to explore their interests, challenge themselves, and discover what success means to them. For the Class of 2026, Anastasia, Shuhan, and Matias demonstrate that there is no single path forward. Instead, their journeys reflect distinct values that help define a CA education: challenge, curiosity, and character.
Finding Strength Through Challenge
When Anastasia arrived at Canadian Academy in 2022, she was entering far more than a new school.
Having left her home because of the war in Ukraine and arriving in Japan without a support network, she was faced with the challenge of adapting to a new country, a new culture, and an entirely new educational system. Although she had studied English previously, she quickly realized that understanding lessons and communicating with classmates would be much harder than she expected.
"I remember the first few weeks very vividly," she says. "Everyone seemed so unique and nice. CA was a super free space where anyone could express themselves."
Yet beneath that excitement were significant obstacles. She often understood only part of what was being said around her. But rather than focusing on immediate results, Anastasia focused on growth.
Teachers reassured her that adapting would take time. She embraced the challenge, worked relentlessly, and steadily developed the skills and confidence needed to succeed.
Her passion for mathematics and science became a driving force. By Grade 12, she was taking Higher Level Mathematics and Physics and had developed a deep love for problem-solving.
"Math is not just a class for me, it is a hobby," she explains.
The university application process brought another set of challenges. Throughout Grade 12, she navigated an intensely competitive admissions landscape, experiencing multiple rejections and uncertainty along the way.
What made the difference was persistence and support.
Anastasia credits College Counselor Ms. DeVore for helping her navigate every step of the process.
"She didn't just help me understand all of the details of each application process," Anastacia says. "She shared my worries and stress with me. Everything she did helped me so much."
Her perseverance paid off.
This fall, Anastacia will attend Brandeis University on a full scholarship, where she plans to study Mathematics.
Looking back, she is most proud not only of her academic achievements, but also of overcoming the social anxiety and self-doubt that once made her question whether she belonged.
Her advice to younger students is simple:
"Compare yourself only to who you were in the past, and keep working hard to become a better version of yourself."
Following Curiosity Wherever It Leads
If challenge defines Anastasia's story, curiosity defines Shuhan's.
Since joining Canadian Academy in Grade 6, Shuhan has embraced opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. Whether competing on the soccer field, participating in service initiatives, leading clubs, or pursuing rigorous academics, she has approached each experience with a willingness to learn and grow.
When she first arrived at CA, however, confidence did not come naturally.
Having recently immigrated from China to Japan, she remembers feeling nervous and uncertain because of language and cultural barriers.
"I was always scared to speak up and try new things," she says.
Over time, that changed.
Shuhan found a community that encouraged her to take risks, ask questions, and see mistakes as part of learning.
"CA provided a safe and supportive environment where I could step out of my comfort zone and never be afraid to try and fail."
That mindset shaped every aspect of her experience.
Academically, she pursued a demanding course load that included Higher Level Mathematics, English, and Economics. Outside the classroom, she became deeply involved in athletics, particularly soccer and cross-country, while also dedicating herself to service through organizations such as the Tohoku Team and student-led initiatives including Change For Her and SBC.
For Shuhan, curiosity was never limited to academics. It extended to people, experiences, and opportunities to make a difference.
One of her most meaningful memories came through service and community-building. Another came through athletics, where traveling to APAC tournaments helped her form lasting friendships with teammates across grade levels.
Balancing so many commitments was not always easy, but Shuhan viewed each opportunity as part of a larger journey of self-discovery.
"I wanted to make the most of my school experience," she explains. "I never saw my commitments as burdens because I genuinely loved everything I was doing."
Her efforts have led her to Stanford University, where she will continue exploring her passions and expanding her horizons.
Yet when asked what success means, her answer has little to do with achievements or accolades.
"When I was younger, I thought success meant things that could be measured or proven. Now I think success is a lot more internal. It means finding my passion and purpose, staying curious, and positively impacting the world."
Choosing a Path Defined by Character
For many graduating seniors, the next step after high school is straightforward: university.
For Matias, it looks a little different.
And that is exactly the point.
After graduating, Matias will travel to Valencia, Spain, where he will spend a year at a soccer academy designed to help student-athletes gain international exposure while continuing their studies. His goal is to eventually play soccer at the university level in the United States.
The decision was not conventional, but it was the right fit for him.
"What I'm doing is different from a lot of people," he says. "Sometimes it might not seem like the right decision, but if you really believe in yourself and what you want to do, it's the perfect decision."
Character is often revealed when people choose their own path rather than following the expected one.
For Matias, soccer has shaped who he is far beyond the sport itself. It has taught him teamwork, leadership, resilience, dedication, and how to build meaningful relationships.
Those lessons became particularly important after experiencing disappointment during his athletic journey.
Losing the APAC finals was one of the most difficult moments of his high school career, but it taught him how to persevere through setbacks and continue moving forward.
Academically, balancing schoolwork, athletics, friendships, and family commitments required discipline and adaptability.
"A lot of things aren't going to be exactly how you thought or wanted them to be," he reflects. "Just keep putting in the work, showing up, giving it your best, and everything will work out how it is supposed to."
Throughout the process, Matias says CA consistently supported his goals.
"Everyone seems excited about it, hopeful, and optimistic. A lot of support came from the counselors. Honestly, everyone at CA has helped me."
His upcoming year in Spain represents far more than soccer. It is an opportunity to gain independence, experience a new culture, build resilience, and continue growing as a person.
For students who feel pressure to have everything figured out immediately after graduation, his message is clear:
"There is no rush. Take your time to figure out what you want to do, and do it."
There Is No Single Definition of Success
Although their stories are different, Anastasia, Shuhan, and Matias all arrived at the same conclusion: success is personal.
For Anastasia, success meant overcoming extraordinary challenges and earning an opportunity she once could only imagine.
For Shuhan, it meant embracing curiosity and discovering passions across academics, athletics, leadership, and service.
For Matias, it meant having the confidence and character to pursue a path aligned with his goals, even if it looked different from those around him.
Behind each journey is a community of teachers, coaches, counselors, and mentors who helped students discover who they are and where they want to go.
At Canadian Academy, the goal is not to guide every student toward the same destination. It is to help each student develop the confidence, skills, and self-awareness to choose the destination that is right for them.
As the Class of 2026 prepares for its next chapter, these three graduates serve as a reminder that there are many ways to succeed and that the most meaningful path is often the one that is uniquely your own.
