Oak Hill Blog

Motivation and Direction Boarding School – David Uponi, Oak Hill Academy Class of ’13

We first met David through the admission process at Oak Hill Academy.  He had very good intentions; habits he wanted to improve; and, beyond his love of basketball, he was largely unclear where his passions lay.  In many ways, David was the quintessential student, and person, we seek to enroll at Oak Hill Academy–one with good intentions, but needing structure and a relational environment to gain confidence and motivation.  During his time here, David embraced small boarding school life–he took advantage of the opportunities at Oak Hill to be engaged in the classroom, on campus in leadership positions, on the basketball court and in the weight room.  We recently caught up with David to find out what he’s been up to since graduation.

                 

David attended the University of Waterloo in his native Canada since graduating on The Hill in 2013.  Now, in an Honours Bachelor of Arts Program (the equivalent of grad school in the U.S.), he is wrapping up a Sports Business Major and picking up a minor in Corporate Entrepreneurship.  “I’ve taken advantage of the robust Co-Op education program here and have gotten to work with some amazing companies in real world situations–sort of an internship experience,” he explains.  As you can see in the photos above, David had the tremendous opportunity at one of his placements, Microsoft, to make some valuable connections and add to his resume.

David points to his experience in Oak Hill’s Leadership Program, and the collaborative aspects of a small student body, as inspirations to make a contribution at Waterloo.  “I’ve also started a student organization that has helped students in my program get internships in the sports industry.”

One of his goals at Oak Hill Academy was to see how far his passion for basketball could take him.  He played for the Oak Hill Red Team (second varsity) for two years and found an outlet for his talent and desire to work hard.  He was a member of the Men’s Basketball Team at Waterloo for a couple of years, before his academics became more focused, and demanding.

I asked him how his experience at Oak Hill Academy, in hindsight, impacted his future.

Oak Hill really helped me unlock my potential.  After living away from home, studying at OHA, and being part of a small community where I could develop my confidence, I became more independent, and more analytical about my future and the opportunities in front of me.  I also became more in tune with my faith (OHA is a Baptist boarding school).  It really helped prepare me for what was to come in university and in the “real world.”  21st Century Skills, a focus at OHA, means that our small student body gives everyone an opportunity–and encouragement–to develop skills in working in groups, speaking and presenting, and taking on responsibility beyond themselves.

What advice does David give to any student considering or beginning as a student at Oak Hill Academy?

Lock in!  OHA puts you in a great situation to succeed, and the faculty and staff care for each student’s individual success. There’s a lot of meaningful activity going on on campus.  If you buy into what is being taught and take an active approach to your academics, you can really do something special at Oak Hill Academy.

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