Chen Rao
Upon hearing the tragic passing of HRH Prince Philip, I couldn’t help but reflect on what a lifetime of service means. As a past DofE Gold Award recipient and a new mother, I hope to encourage aspiring youth across the globe to get involved in their communities. Make an impact. Leave a legacy.
My experience with DofE started serendipitously. My now long-time mentor and friend, Mary Thomas, an 81-year-old college retiree in Ontario, Canada, went to a Canadian Medical Association luncheon in 1959. She was seated just beside the head table when Prince Philip introduced the DofE awards to Canada. The noble mission left an impression on her. Fast forward to early 2007, my mother became a skilled immigrant to Canada, and brought me with her to Ontario. Soon after we settled, I met Mary over afternoon tea and our bond has grown ever since. I recall the day she recommended me to try out DofE, “Here is a leadership award that’s befitting for an active young lady!” As a new immigrant of Chinese heritage, I realized I did belong immediately to the category of “youth in the Commonwealth wanting to develop leadership skills”. I embraced this opportunity. Volunteering in my local community was a big theme, as I found many venues to fine-tune and apply my skills in arts, communication, and humanities. Another highlight was the people I met in the process who helped me build confidence. Upon graduating from high school, I received the Gold Award from HRH Prince Edward. Did I bring the two most important women in my life, my mother and Mary, to the award ceremony? You bet I did. They put their hearts and minds to educating the next generation. It’s important for them to know we recognize our responsibilities as global citizens, and that we shall always keep trying and keep pushing for the next frontier.
DofE Award is a journey. Your actions matter. Your words matter. Your accumulated efforts over time matter. I hope you will find your life forever transformed.
My experience with DofE started serendipitously. My now long-time mentor and friend, Mary Thomas, an 81-year-old college retiree in Ontario, Canada, went to a Canadian Medical Association luncheon in 1959. She was seated just beside the head table when Prince Philip introduced the DofE awards to Canada. The noble mission left an impression on her. Fast forward to early 2007, my mother became a skilled immigrant to Canada, and brought me with her to Ontario. Soon after we settled, I met Mary over afternoon tea and our bond has grown ever since. I recall the day she recommended me to try out DofE, “Here is a leadership award that’s befitting for an active young lady!” As a new immigrant of Chinese heritage, I realized I did belong immediately to the category of “youth in the Commonwealth wanting to develop leadership skills”. I embraced this opportunity. Volunteering in my local community was a big theme, as I found many venues to fine-tune and apply my skills in arts, communication, and humanities. Another highlight was the people I met in the process who helped me build confidence. Upon graduating from high school, I received the Gold Award from HRH Prince Edward. Did I bring the two most important women in my life, my mother and Mary, to the award ceremony? You bet I did. They put their hearts and minds to educating the next generation. It’s important for them to know we recognize our responsibilities as global citizens, and that we shall always keep trying and keep pushing for the next frontier.
DofE Award is a journey. Your actions matter. Your words matter. Your accumulated efforts over time matter. I hope you will find your life forever transformed.
