Divya Sivaram

As a rising Senior student at a high school in Peel region, specifically Brampton, I am a diligent honor student enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program. Engaged in various extracurricular activities both within and outside of school, I am an active member of the HOSA team, achieving placement in the national HOSA competition. Furthermore, I proudly serve as a Teenage Ambassador for Canada Learning Code and have established a Girls Coding Club aimed at empowering young girls with coding skills and encouraging their interest in Computer Science as an elective course.

Passionate about STEM fields, I have participated in esteemed competitions such as the Brain Bee competition and STEM Leadership Academy. Notably, my team secured second place in the product re-engineering category at the Global Changemakers Engineering Competition hosted by Ryerson University. In sports, I have excelled as a member of my high school's varsity Table Tennis team, clinching a silver medal at the provincial level. Additionally, I earned a scholarship to partake in the "Advanced Medical Neuroscience Internship" by Leadership Initiatives.

With over 250 hours of volunteer work across various organizations, I am dedicated to contributing to community betterment. I was awarded the Star Student by Wayfinder society for my contribution to reduce plastic usage.

As a Flight Sergeant in the Air Cadets program for Squadron 132 Spitfire, I have honed leadership skills and discipline. I have been awarded the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award for my outstanding leadership skills, personal growth, resilience, and dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of others. This achievement marks a significant milestone in my journey towards becoming a compassionate leader who empowers those around her and contributes meaningfully to society. 

Additionally, I had the privilege of working on a groundbreaking project called Pararevive, aimed at finding a cure for paralysis using nanotechnology and bionics through the The Knowledge Society. This experience allowed me to delve into cutting-edge research at the intersection of technology and medicine, further fueling my passion for innovative solutions in healthcare. I'm currently working with Youreka team from UoT to work on a research paper on youth mental health.

Looking ahead, my aspirations lie in pursuing a career at the intersection of Technology and Medical Sciences within STEM. Particularly drawn to cutting-edge biomedical innovations like deep brain stimulation devices in neuroscience, my dream is to enhance the quality of life for teenagers with neurological disorders through research and technology.

Currently, I serve as a member of the  Youth Leadership Team for the Health Canda, focusing on raising awareness among youth on critical topics such as Tobacco and Vaping , healthy relationships, impaired driving, discrimination, mental health, youth homelessness, and reconciliation. In this role, I collaborate with youth nationwide to address community concerns and develop initiatives that promote positive change. My ultimate goal is to cultivate an inclusive youth community where everyone feels valued, respected for their individuality, and supported to excel. In this capacity, I contribute insights on harm reduction strategies related to vaping and cannabis use to benefit young adults across the country.

Moreover, I volunteer for the She is the First as a Girls Advisory Council bringing in gender equality and promoting womens education world-wide.  My involvement reflects my commitment to advocating for informed decision-making and well-being within my peer group.