Interview with Vanessa Pellicciotta.

In honor of all the girls & ladies who have inspired us, the month of March will be dedicated primarily
to them, who have had a profound impact on our lives.
When I first met Vanessa, I thought to myself, wow, Vanessa  has such great influence on people at a young age, she is  really inspirational.  As I got to know Vanessa a little better,  I realized that she is a great advocate to help girls enhance their leadership skills. She leads with heart.
 She is respectful, caring, and a strong willingness to help.  Most importantly, she is a role model to others, both young and old.  She is currently leading the efforts of the Model the way program at Senior Laval Academy and volunteers her time for Pink in the City. What a great combination. We could not be happier.
 I believe role models like Vanessa will help develop positive change who will continue to make exceptional contributions in the community and shape the next generation of female leaders.
Volunteers like Vanessa are wonderful examples of the leadership qualities that the Model the Way program instills in young students and every single one of us need to encourage these actions. So proud to see the program evolve right in front of our eyes.  What started like a dream, has now become a reality.

I am thoroughly impressed by what Vanessa has achieved and excited for what she will continue to do in the future.
Since this is the time of year to celebrate and honor women of all ages, this would be a good time to recognize all the achievements of those girls and women close to us.  

A special thank you to Vanessa for all her hard work with Pink in the City initiatives.  The thought of what can be achieved with a team of special contributors is so fulfilling and energizing.

Check out Vanessa's interview and what she has to say...  What is your happiest memory? 

I would have to say my happiest memory happened last year during spring break. I went on a philanthropic trip to Costa Rica with my school. It would have to be the greatest experience I’ve had up until now. Specifically during this trip, we went zip lining. The second to last run was the longest line in all of Central America. I remember being way up there gliding through the trees admiring the scenery. It was pure bliss. 

Why do you like being a student?

From a young age I’ve always liked going to school. How could I not? As students, it’s where we spend most of our time anyway ! In my case, I spend more time there than the average teenager. On average, I spend approximately ten hours at school before and after class a week. This is because my school gives its students so many different ways to get involved. We have music practices, robotics, afterschool sports teams, drum line and a whole variety of other things. There is something for everyone! At Laval Senior Academy there are also different academic paths you can take throughout the school year. This year I took the Science path with Music. Both of which are passions of mine. Along with all the mandatory classes, I get to take chemistry, physics and band. I love it and would encourage everyone to find something they like at school so they would enjoy being there as much as I do. Without school my life would be so dull. 

One word to describe you would be ? 

One word, I would describe myself as eccentric. “Unconventional and slightly strange. Synonyms of this word are oddity, individualist, free spirit.” I believe that the definition of the word defines me quite well, and I think that people who know me would agree.  

What advice would you give your parents?

I would tell them that despite all the difficulties and rough patches I want them to know that they are both doing a great job as individual parents.  

If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why?

If I could choose to be any animal I would be a tiger. Tigers represent determination and courage. They also epitomize personal strength, like the saying “strong like a tiger”. This particular animal denotes fierceness, drive, and audacity, several characteristics I’ve come to appreciate.    

What do you like to do for fun?

That depends. When I have free time to myself I like to read. I find it really hard to put down a good book. I also like spending time with my friends.  

What is your favorite thing to do with your friends?

My favorite thing to do with my friends would have to be getting together to play board games. It’s always so much fun and we can spend hours together going through lots of games. 

What do you love most about your sibling?

My brother’s name is Patrick. He’s 12 years old. We fight CONSTANTLY. But even though we fight, he’s always there for me and he’s super loving. When I’m sad and down, he always makes the effort to come comfort me. He’ll lie down next to me and hug me and it makes me feel better. The thing I love the most about my brother is his compassion. 

What do you think you will be doing 10 years from now?

Ten years from now I envision myself being in my final year of medical school.  

What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?

My favorite thing to do in the summer is play soccer. My whole summer revolves around soccer. I absolutely love the sport. I’ve been playing since I was 7 years old. 

If you were to get an allowance, what would be the ideal allowance ? Tell us how you would use it.

Honestly I don’t think I would need an allowance. I work part time and 98% of the money I make I save. The only time I use any of it is for lunch or coffee runs to Tim Horton's. If I did get an allowance though I would probably just deposit it, save it for a rainy day. 

Name two things families should do on the weekend.

I think families should spend as much time together as possible. Sometimes time is hard to come by though. Especially over the weekend for myself because that is when I work. An effort should be made either way. Skating has always been a fun family activity in my house during the winter. Also watching movies. In my house we marathon all the Harry Potter movies in one weekend at least once every few months.  

How has volunteering made a difference in your life ?

Volunteering has definitely influenced my life positively. In many ways it has helped shape the person I am today. It has made me more open, sociable and outgoing. I also really like how it directly impacts other people. I volunteer primarily because of how it makes me feel. It makes me happy and gives me a sense of achievement, integrity and pride. 


Who is your role model and why?

I would have to say my role model is Emma Watson. She is well known for playing the female lead role Hermione Granger in my all-time favourite book and movie series, Harry Potter. But she is not just limited to being a great actress. She is so much more than that. Watson is a humanitarian, a scholar, a feminist. I am particularly fond of this UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for her role in the gender equality movement, HeForShe. She inspired me to hold close to myself the HeForShe commitment: "I am one of billions who believe that everyone is born free and equal. I will take action against gender bias, discrimination and violence to bring the benefits of equality to us all." Emma Watson portrays all the aspects of an extraordinary woman and human being. I look up to her and aspire to be like her. For these reasons, she is my role model.