They are devoted to community service, have conquered the outdoors, mastered skills in computers, music and crafts, participated in team and individual sports. For their efforts, 20 accomplished Vancouver Island youth will receive an award from Prince Andrew at Government House in Victoria today.
“It’s a pretty big sense of accomplishment,” said Nathan How, one of the recipients of the Duke of Edinburgh’s gold awards.
A 17-year-old Grade 12 student at Mount Douglas Secondary, How volunteered at an elementary school and orphanage in Africa in 2010. He supports local efforts to fund projects in Africa and here at home.
He doesn’t have a lot of free time, he admits. And unlike many young people, he doesn’t have a cellphone: “It means my parents can’t always be asking ‘Where are you?’ ” he quipped.
How volunteers at the Deeley Research Centre, helping Julie Murray, a post-doctoral fellow, with research into breast cancer.
How started assisting in the medical lab through a high-school internship, Murray said. “We worked together on a project of mine … that summer, then he asked if he could keep coming and working on his project and I was really happy that he volunteered.”
How has a natural passion for science and research, Murray said.
He said his experience in the lab has peaked his interest in research, “but I’d still be interested in doing surgery and possibly even other specialties, like radiology or something of that nature.”
Medicine appeals to him because it’s intellectually stimulating, How said.
He also plays piano, reaching the Grade 10 level of the Royal Conservatory of Music. He plays minor hockey and field hockey, and coaches children under 10 in the latter.
His older twin siblings have also earned the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, so How felt compelled to meet their expectations.
How will graduate from high school this month and was elected by his classmates to be valedictorian.
His message to youth is to work hard. “Hard work doesn’t become so hard if you’re doing something you love and you’re doing it for the right reasons. Following your passions is one of the huge aspects of life.”
Later this year, he’ll attend Queen’s University and follow an accelerated route to medical school, which he hopes to start in 2015.
Summer plans are not yet firm but How said he might be going to Quebec “or there’s a possibility I might be working at a particle accelerator at UBC.”
The award How will receive consists of a lapel pin and a certificate.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an international youth program for those between the ages of 14 and 25. There are no academic requirements, but participants are required to meet a variety of goals to receive an award.
There are currently about seven million participants in the program, in 141 countries.
About 5,000 youth in B.C. and the Yukon and 37,000 across Canada are taking part in the program.
