Oshawa student receives $70,000 scholarship
Oshawa teen Daniyal Kashif has received a $70,000 scholarship from TD Bank, which recognized him for his efforts to promote multiculturalism at R.S. McLaughlin CVI. (Submitted photo)
By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express
Instead of allowing feelings of isolation and loneliness bring him down, Oshawa teenager Daniyal Kashif used those feelings as an inspiration to bring others together.
The R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate and Vocational Institute student was recently one of 20 across the province to earn a scholarship for community leadership from TD Bank.
As a result, Kashif will receive up to $70,000 for tuition and living expenses for his post-secondary education.
Kashif was five years old when his family moved from Pakistan to Canada.
As the only Muslim in a school with no South Asian presence, Kashif began to experience ostracization.
He is quick to point out that his classmates were friendly to him.
“It was never anything to do with bullying. It just that feeling that I was unable to connect with anybody,” he says.
However, he remembers feeling unwilling or unable to speak or share anything from his culture.
“I was definitely shy to speak about my culture. I wasn’t sure how people would interpret it.”
As he entered into high school things did not change much until the end of Grade 10.
It was then Kashif decided to act.
“What really sparked it was, I came out and said we should have a committee. We should really make this for all cultures,” he said.
That idea evolved into the establishment of a Multicultural Committee at R.S. McLaughlin.
“It started off as a meeting of eight people in a corner of one of the drama rooms,” Kashif says with a laugh, adding the group’s membership has grown to about 20 to 30.
Kashif admits there is sometimes push back and confusion around what multiculturalism truly is.
He says people of European descent do not believe they are a part, but were welcomed with open arms to the committee.
“We wanted a diversified background. They are rich in history and I told them they are so spectacular in their own right,” he says.
To help spread the message of multiculturalism, the committee has held numerous events.
On particular event that Kashif looks back on fondly is a ‘multicultural buffet.’
“It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet from all around the world. It’s just an awesome time. All the money we made we sent to charity,” he says.
While originally coming up with the idea for the committee, he notes it was far from a one-man show.
“I deeply value and appreciate the collective efforts of all the individuals who make groups such as the multicultural committee possible.”
Kashif will be studying Life Sciences at the University of Toronto.
“I’m so thankful for TD and so excited for my future. I’ve been trying to get my foot in the door with volunteering, and they’ve blown it wide open for me,” Kashif says.