Christine Whelan FEO, June 6, 2024, VOL. 5 ISSUE 20

He’s Going to Harvard!

Anderson Dy is proud to represent the town of Fort Erie, where he has lived most of his life, as he prepares to set out, in a few months, to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Personal Experience Influence

Dy intends to study molecular and cellular biology. It’s an interest he developed after being diagnosed with an illness that causes chronic inflammation in his bones seven years ago.

When discussing his experiences with the medical professionals while dealing with his condition, Anderson shared, “Whenever I talked to those doctors, they were so kind to me, continuously throughout the years. Their kindness inspired me to pursue something in biology or something medical-related.

“I took courses in high school. I gradually started to learn in the area, and I thought this might be a feasible career path for me.” He added, “Not just academically, but on a personal level. I wanted to connect with people who had similar problems that I had.”

High School

Anderson is currently going to Lakeshore Catholic High School in Port Colborne. “I love it there. I’ve gone to Lakeshore for all four years.” He happily admitted, “I don’t think things would have turned out this way if I’d gone to any other school.” He couldn’t say enough about his positive experiences—the students, the teachers, feeling the support from all.

“Lakeshore is a very tight-knit community of people. For example, I know that any act of kindness that I do towards another at the school will come back to me in the future because everybody knows everybody.”

Dy is President of the Lakeshore Catholic Student Council and is an active member of his school and extended community, including playing keyboards in the Lakeshore Catholic School band. He is a part of the Fort Erie Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee as well as its regional counterpart.

Anderson’s 450 hours of Christian Community Service were mostly accumulated by playing free concerts at churches and nursing and retirement homes. Hecompleted his Grade 10 piano exam in December, around the time he completed his application for Harvard, which began in August last year, writing his SATs and essays.

About his grades, Anderson shared, “I held a 97 average for the first few years. That went up this year. I got a 1570 on my SAT score,” which puts him in the 99th percentile, according to collegevine.com.

The down-to-earth teen explained that he was reluctant to give his stats because he didn’t want to discourage anyone from applying. “Harvard has what is called holistic admissions. They look at all applicants’ backgrounds, not just their test scores. So, they look at what people have gone through and experienced in their lives.” He continued with concern, “I didn’t want others to think that if their scores are lower, they shouldn’t apply because they won’t get in.”

He says getting into Harvard is perfectly attainable if you are kind to people and live life showing all your abilities. “I want people to know that everybody from all walks of life has unique experiences, and they’ll be judged based on that, not just their scores or numbers.”

Anderson admitted that he’s always done well in school. “I’ve always been eager to learn as a kid. I’ve always been interested in growing and discovering new things, having intellectual curiosity.”

Dy Attributes A lot To Reading

The 17-year-old looks back and admits that one key factor that led to his acceptance into Harvard was reading.

One of his favourite things to do is read. “I love reading books and news articles. That level of reading, I think, helped me to become a better writer, which led me to be able to express myself in my application more.” Anderson stated that reading anything and consuming all media in general helps so much.

When asked about what he plans to do this summer, Dy shared that he’s going to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in August. “I’m taking a pre-orientation program at Harvard. They have these programs available before the school year in which you can bond with future classmates. I signed up for the First-Year Outdoor Program (FOP),” commenting that he’s looking forward to it.

Before then, he plans on taking some time to process the last couple of years that, he says, have gone by so fast. “I want to relax, read some more, and enjoy life.”

Anderson will be at Harvard for the next four years as an undergrad. After that, he says, Nothing is set in stone, and he’s keeping his options open. “There are so many things to do there. I wouldn’t be going to Harvard if I didn’t want to discover new things and go out of my comfort zone. So, I want to keep that mentality for the next four years, kind of like a sponge. I want to absorb the full extent of my environment.”

In Gratitude

When talking about his inspirations and motivations, Anderson expressed such thankfulness for both of his parents. “They’ve been amazing and very supportive of me throughout this entire application process, which was long and very complicated. I’m very grateful that they were there with me for every step.

“I’d like to thank all my teachers at Lakeshore Catholic High School for encouraging me to seek knowledge and explore things, pushing me out of my comfort zone.

“I would also like to thank my piano teacher, Susan Hannigan in Ridgeway. She pushed me like no other teacher I’ve had before. She showed me that difficult things can be possible. People can learn, be taught, and do difficult things. And she taught me that I can achieve my goals as long as I make a solid plan and work hard.” It’s far more than just piano that he learned from her.

“There is absolutely no way I would have achieved, and could now achieve, all I have without everyone beside me. My friends, my parents, my teachers—they’re the ones who motivated me and instilled that clarity in my life to know what I want to be.”

Paying it Forward

When asked how he can be an inspiration to others now, Anderson shared a couple of simple yet powerful pieces of insight. “One, be kind to people. Know that your actions make a difference. And two, read books, newspapers, and all media. Just read.”

This Fort Erie teenager, on his way to Harvard, wants people to know that they can truly make a difference. “Especially in a small town like this, your actions are magnified here. Everybody’s connected here. Contribute kindness.”

Anderson says he’s super-excited. “I’m grateful to have this opportunity to represent the town I love, the people I love, and my passions at a truly international level. I’m grateful to have the chance to make a difference.”

If you have questions for Anderson, you can message him on Instagram, @dyisyourguy.