As an educational institution, we are always looking at ways to connect with our former students and learn about their experiences after graduating from Khalsa School Calgary.
We are proud of all our alumni and are grateful for the opportunity to have played a role in shaping their educational journeys. To showcase the success of our alumni, we would like to share some testimonials from former students about how Khalsa School Calgary helped shape them for their future education.
Testimonial 1:
I graduated from Khalsa School Calgary in 2017. Since then and after high school, I have enrolled in and continued my education at the University of Calgary as a Mechanical Engineering student minoring in Mechatronics. Currently I am in my third year of studies and after this semester, I plan on taking a big shift in my learning by spending 1 year as a Mechanical Engineering intern in order to apply my knowledge towards gaining industry experience. Following my year as an intern, I will be coming back to complete my Engineering degree. My proudest achievement in my Post-secondary path has been my experience with the Calgary Solar Car team, a group of students who hand-build and race a solar energy-powered vehicle against other teams. I joined in my second year as a member of the Body & Chassis division of the Mechanical sub-team and was able to attend the race in Topeka, Kansas as a Mechanical Technician and the team Safety Officer. I had a wonderful time there, learning so much about the professional racing environment and how other aspiring engineers designed their cars. Following the race, I was appointed to be the team’s Mechanical Manager, a position I continue to hold today. As I oversee the building of our next new innovative 4-seater solar car, Helios, I continue to learn about the importance of engineering principles and the joy one feels to produce such a large project from scratch with a great team.
Of course, I would not be where I am today without the knowledge I gained as a student at Khalsa School Calgary. I was always interested in STEM courses in school and Khalsa School did everything to enrich my passion. I remember when my love of the sciences began in Grade 4 with the introduction of pulleys and mechanisms and from then on, I never lost sight of what I truly wanted to do in my career. Later on, Mrs. Aulakh saw to it that I learn more complex topics in Science by signing out a Grade 10 Science textbook for me. Learning further than the class curriculum only fueled my ambition in STEM. After my graduation, she helped enroll me in Advanced Placement courses for high school, where I met more like-minded individuals and life-long acquaintances in my field of interest. I believe the community aspect of Khalsa School is what drove me to be where I am today. From an early age, we were raised by the teachings of the Khalsa Panth and by the generations before us who encouraged us to learn and develop together, picking each other up when we stumbled along the way. The work I do today is heavily influenced by what I was taught at Khalsa School and I accredit my cooperative skills to everything I learned growing up there.
In my community, I am currently part of the Go Baby Go organization’s branch at the University of Calgary. The goal of this organization is to help bring more affordable and practical devices to ease the lives of children with disabilities. My team is currently building a prototype wheelchair for a child with extremely limited mobility using sourced materials, engineering knowledge and collective efforts. I am also joining my school’s Sikh Student Association, in which I hope to volunteer and bring more awareness of our culture to other students. To students of Khalsa School looking to embark on their own path beyond high school, I ask you to value all the resources you have been provided and use them to your full advantage. Meet new people wherever possible, join every club that interests you, take optional classes that you find enticing; do everything you can to build your identity and discover yourself. Being involved in the community is just as important as being involved in the classroom and I cannot stress enough how important it is that each and every student follow what their heart truly sets its sights on, whenever that time may come.
-Sunpreet Singh Sahota
Testimonial 2:
After graduating from Khalsa School, I completed 3 years of high school at Nelson Mandela. I’m currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Mechatronics. I’m currently on a 16-month internship with an oil and gas company located out of Calgary. I will be returning back to school in September of 2023 to finish the last year of my degree.
My biggest experience that I took away from Khalsa School that has influenced my lifestyle till this day were the bonds/connections with my teachers. The teachers did a great job teaching the curriculum with enthusiasm which helped instill a passion for learning that I carried throughout high school and into University. Besides the passion for learning, most importantly I am thankful for the life skills that they instilled within me which helped shape my attitude and behavior. Simple things such as being on time for classes and keeping your desk tidy go a long way in your career when strengthening your time management and organization skills.
My biggest advice to current students is to always listen to your teachers. I know you may find it harsh or annoying at times, but all they want is the best for you and your future career. You’ll eventually look back and realize how the smallest things they do have a big impact on the person you grow up to become.
Another piece of advice I’d like to give is to “always ask questions”. This is something that I started doing at a young age and carried with me all the way to University interacting with my professors, and also on my internship whilst speaking to seniors/managers. Mentorship will be an extremely powerful tool later in your career and you’ll only be able to use it if you start building the habit of asking lots of questions at a young age.
-Princevir Batth
Testimonial 3:
I am currently completing my Master’s degree in Adult Education and Community Development, specializing in workplace learning and social change, at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. After my undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary, I went on to work in the community, starting with community development work with newcomer populations, and then furthering this work through advocacy and activism at a local organization in Calgary called Action Dignity. What drives my work is a passion for equity and justice, which lead me to my current place at the University of Toronto. I believe that my experiences in Khalsa School were very much formative of my career choices, and who I am as a person.
When I look at all of the work I have engaged in, what I come to see is that most of it was rooted in service. Sound familiar? A key value of Sikhi is seva. This was never an intentional choice I made, but I was always driven to do this type of work. Even when I would partake in community activities out of sheer enjoyment and celebration, my volunteer activities always involved being in service to others or creating a space for deeper conversations surrounding injustice. My capacity for love and understanding was formed within the context of this school. My ability to be soft in the face of hardship, my ability to empathize, and most importantly my hope for good all resulted from the very experiences I had at KSC.
When I look back at my time in Khalsa School, what I remember the most are the moments we came together, and the times we were able to support each other. When we worked together to succeed together, but also when we raised each other up and celebrated each other’s successes. These were pivotal moments for me. Whether it was cheering on a teammate during a competitive basketball game, or when we would come together to organize school assemblies, the small wins meant everything to me. They also continue to remind me that it is important for me to uplift the people around me, and be involved with my community. All the values I’ve carried into my daily life.
I know it might not seem like these are formative moments in your life, but cherish your time at KSC, it’ll be over in a blink of an eye, but it will stay with you forever.
-Prabhjot Kaur Malhi
Testimonial 3:
I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to you. When I was in your grade 9 english class, you introduced me to Amnesty International, and it has become such a huge part of my life. I am now a national organizer with them, and have just been posted about in their blog as I am their activist of the month. I indirectly mentioned you in the post! Thought you might like to read it:
https://amnesty.ca/blog/voices-human-rights-avreet-jagdev-national-youth-organizer
Thank you so much for being an amazing teacher! Now that I’m in grade 12, I can confidently say that you were one of the most influential ones I’ve ever had. I hope you are doing AMAZING, and that I can come and visit you and the rest of the Khalsa School teachers before I graduate this year.
You rock,
Avreet
Dear Poonam,
Congratulations! We are so excited to announce that Khalsa School Calgary has placed on our “Top Fundraising Schools of 2022” list. To help celebrate your amazing achievement, we are providing you with a digital Top Fundraiser Badge! We hope that you are as proud as we are and want to share the good news with everyone by posting this badge on your school website and social media channels. May it serve as a reminder of the unwavering commitment and passion your school has demonstrated in the fight against cancer.
When Terry set out, 43 years ago, he could have never had imagined that his torch would have been carried by so many future generations. We are so grateful to you for making sure that the flame stays lit and Terry’s passion to help those with cancer continues. We can’t thank you enough for your continued support and we look forward to working with you in 2023!
All the best,
Darcy McKenzie
School Development Officer – AB, NT, NU
Phone: (587)-392-0786
16A 6120 2 Street SE (Second Level)
Calgary, AB, T2H 2L8
Grateful to be working on the Traditional Territories of the Tsuu T’ina, Ktunaxa (Ktunaxa ɁamakɁis), Blackfoot (Niitsítpiis-stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ) ,Stoney (Ĩyãħé Nakón mąkóce) and Michif Piyii (Métis) Nations.
Every donation brings us one step closer to Terry’s dream of a world without cancer. Learn more at terryfoxschoolrun.org