When Abby Nash graduated from York in 2020, she had a culminating high school experience that was certainly memorable -- just not in the ways that she had imagined. Like most seniors that year, Abby and her classmates had already spent months preparing for the time-honoured traditions of Prom, Prank Day, and Grad trip when the global pandemic was declared and the world began to shut down.

Looking back on it now, Abby thinks that navigating such an important milestone amidst so much uncertainty only brought her already tight-knit graduating class even closer together: “The school did an amazing job of celebrating us,” recalls Abby, “And the staff lining the streets to cheer us on during the car parade gave everyone an opportunity to share a special moment together that none of us will ever forget.” 

The sense of closeness Abby still feels for her classmates is something she says started as soon as she joined The York School as part of the pre-school programme located in the basement of Glebe Church. From an early age, Abby was drawn to the stage, and she was able to hone her performance skills over the years as an active member of the After-School Program and Drama Club. Abby also enjoyed public speaking and embraced opportunities to lead, eventually serving as the Student Council Co-Chair in her final year. 

In her leadership role, Abby worked alongside other student council members, faculty and staff to create a fun environment at school that kept students engaged and smiling while learning to find a healthy school-life balance. For Abby, it was the Advisory Program introduced in Grade 9 that provided her with a steady support system and a network of friends she knew she could talk to about anything: “My Advisory always felt like a very safe space where we could just hang out and chat,” explains Abby, “We were a small group that stayed together through high school and we grew very close as a result. Everyone was open-minded and those conversations were something we all looked forward to every single week.” 

Now in her third year of Commerce at Queen’s University, Abby is currently spending a semester abroad at the Kedge Business School in Bordeaux, France. “You can study International Business as much as you want but nothing compares to experiencing something first-hand,” says Abby, “At York, we got out of the classroom a lot, especially during the ICE programme, and a semester abroad provides the same kind of opportunity. These are the experiences that stay with you forever.”