“Hudson’s tagline of ‘be yourself’ truly resonated with me,” Alice reflects. “The school fostered my confidence to pursue my passions and make the tough choices that have shaped who I am today.”

Now in her fourth year at Dalhousie University, Alice has built a life that balances varsity athletics, sustainability, leadership, and academic excellence. Her mornings start at 4:30 AM for rowing practice, her days are filled with classes in business and sustainability, and recently helped organize the inaugural Fair Trade Youth Forum through the Office of Sustainability.

Alice’s journey from Hudson College to becoming a sustainability leader at Dalhousie University is a story of self-discovery, courage, and staying true to one’s values. Starting at Hudson partway through Grade 10, she found a place that would fundamentally shape her trajectory.

“I think Hudson was an incredible experience for me all around. I started there partway through grade 10, after being at a high school that didn’t feel like the right fit for me, and I will never shy away from telling people that I feel like Hudson really changed my course. I think just the environment that Hudson fosters is really positive. Hudson’s tagline is like, be yourself, be anything. It’s a rarity to find a place that really does embody that, and I feel as though Hudson does embody that, and really does support the individualism and uniqueness of the student body.”

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“Hudson made choosing my degree very difficult—because I loved so many different programs,” she laughs. “But that diversity of interests, and the confidence Hudson fostered in me, made it easier when I needed to switch programs later. The school taught me to value education and chase after what truly matters to me.”

Initially pursuing psychology at Dalhousie, Alice realized she wanted something more career-directed. She switched to a Bachelor of Management, but her true passion emerged in her major: Environment, Sustainability and Society.

“It’s a really unique opportunity that Dalhousie offers—being able to major in sustainability as a business student,” Alice explains. “Some people would even say it’s contradictory to include sustainability and business in the same sentence. But I believe sustainability should play a role in every sector, every field, every aspect of life. It’s the key to success, and it’s the only way to pursue business moving forward.”

Alongside her major, Alice is completing a certificate in marketing—a combination that perfectly positioned her for her role with Dalhousie’s Office of Sustainability.

Through the Clean Leadership Program, which connects young people with internships in the clean economy, Alice secured her dream role as Communications and Engagement Officer for Dalhousie’s Office of Sustainability.

Her summer was filled with diverse experiences: creating social media content, managing communications, attending conferences on indigenous teachings and the seven generations principle, visiting Halifax’s organics and recycling facilities, running waste-sorting education games, and helping coordinate Dalhousie’s Free Store.

“It was really powerful to see with my own eyes the impact that the office is making,” Alice shares. “We cleaned out donations from residence buildings that would have otherwise gone to garbage. The work I was doing was actually making a difference and impacting the people around me.”

The program also paired her with a mentor in the clean sector, providing networking opportunities and career guidance. After her four-month internship, Alice continued working with the Office of Sustainability throughout the school year.

On a whim in her second year, Alice joined Dalhousie’s Learn to Row team at her roommate’s suggestion. She’d never been an athlete before, but she discovered something transformative.

Now a varsity rower practicing six to eight times a week, Alice wakes at 4:30 AM to be on the water by dawn. “Having done a full workout with my teammates by 7 AM—that’s how my day starts, and it makes every day a better day,” she says.

For Alice, who has ADHD, rowing provides structure and improves her brain functionality. But beyond the physical benefits, it’s the camaraderie she treasures most.

“There’s something really beautiful about being on a team. It’s not like friendship, it’s not like family—though there are friendships within it. You’re all there for a reason, working towards the same goal, wanting each other to succeed. When a win happens for one of us, it feels like a win for all of us. If you need a hug in the morning, you have it. That unconditional team support is something I didn't have as a child, and I'm so grateful to experience it now.”

When asked about her future plans, Alice takes a refreshingly open approach.

“I know that I want to be a part of the clean economy. I know that I want to make a positive impact on the planet, and I know that I want to find something enjoyable where I can feel successful. But beyond that, I’m really just open for whatever comes my way.”

It’s a healthy outlook shaped by experience—understanding that life isn’t linear, and the best paths often reveal themselves gradually.

Looking back, Alice sees Hudson College as the foundation for everything that followed. The school’s commitment to individualism, its diverse international community, and its message to “be yourself” weren’t just words—they were values that gave her permission to explore, to change course, and to trust herself.

“Hudson really changed my trajectory,” she says simply. “I truly only have positive things to say.”

From a student finding her footing during a global pandemic to a sustainability leader organizing youth forums and making waves in the clean economy, Alice’s story reminds us that the path to success isn’t always linear—but with confidence, community, and commitment to your values, it leads somewhere meaningful.

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