ELIM
YU 

My Story

During a challenging period in her life transitioning from China to Canada, Elim struggled with finding her identity and fitting into her community. During this period, she discovered the power of stories and art as an escape, a way to heal, and something she could hold onto. Creating and experiencing art gave her comfort and purpose, prompting her to realize that everything in life connects to art. This inspiration motivated her to explore ways to use art to influence the next generation, especially in a world filled with uncertainty, where art has the power to transform lives.

Currently, Elim is actively engaged in leadership roles at her school, creating art and content, and reaching out to communities in need. She has been playing the violin for over nine years, exploring the depths of music, and is passionate about mental health and psychology. Her dedication to helping people and understanding their personal stories drives her to build meaningful connections and build a supportive community through art. She has been following the recent developments by UNESCO to develop a new framework for arts and culture education. In particular, she believes it is a key opportunity to bolster the global consensus around the nexus between culture and education, and advance integrated policies and actions for the inclusive and holistic development of individuals and societies.

She has completed her RCM examinations for violin and won first prizes at Kiwanis Music Festivals and other local festivals, advancing to the BC provincials for Junior Strings, where she achieved runner-up. Elim attended the HeifetzPEG International Institute in 2021 and 2022 and has participated in similar workshops and masterclasses. She studies at Langley Community Music School and has been a member of the Surrey Youth Orchestra since 2018, winning the 2024 Concerto Competition alongside other scholarships throughout the years. In addition to music, Elim leads the nonprofit ArtLift, supporting young artists, and is active in public speaking and community outreach initiatives such as Nightshift.

Elim’s goal in attending a top university is to meet like-minded peers who share her ambition for art and science to improve people’s lives. Through the platform and empowering community there, she hopes to create meaningful change, exploring deeper connections between creativity, mental health, and community, while empowering the next generation to thrive.