While hunting down for scholarships, Chamila Anthonypillai came across Royal Bank of Canada’s scholarship for students.  $3,500’s scholarship from RBC paid off for the first semester of her academics at University of British Columbia. “University education is very expensive and…cash is not readily available to me or my family, so I thought maybe if I could help my dad,” Chamila says, and this sum goes a long way in helping her and her family.

Good grades, extracurricular activities, an essay on multiculturalism and being an immigrant was all she needed. With 90 percent average, she met all the requirements.

Chamila’s parents are very much involved in her and her sister’s education. Her parents go to every parent teacher meeting, giving Chamila and her sister whatever support they need.

A lot of students choose to volunteer because it makes their resumes flashy. However for Chamila, it was much more than that. She felt that as “an immigrant you’re not really part of the community,” so you have to make an effort to belong. And community engagement is the best way to do it. She has volunteered with City of Surrey, at her Church as a teaching assistant, at day camps and a number of other activities.

Born in Sri Lanka, Chamila had come from Hong Kong to Canada in 2004. “My culture isn’t exactly the same as Western,” so she made her school her community, and started from there.

Very outspoken, Chamila has gained her confidence in Canada. She was very conscious of her accent when she came in grade 8, but multiculturalism and acceptance in Canadian society made it easy for her to accept others and to be accepted.

For now, she is exploring Faculty of Science to see what career she would want to choose. But Chamila knows she is “passionate about Sciences.” She had a dream of being a pediatrician.

“I am really grateful to RBC. The scholarship really helps. Thank you RBC,” Chamila said as we ended our conversation.

By: Asma Amanat