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By Nathan Howes SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER High school life -- viewed from Harvard 17 · Wednesday, December 12, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com For many high school students, going to Harvard University is a pipedream. Dylan Munro is living the dream. The 18-year-old graduate of White Oaks Secondary School is now undertaking a fouryear undergrad program at the world-renowned university on an academic scholarship. It's been a childhood dream of his. "My grandpa would always say, `I want to live long enough to see you go to Harvard.' I was a smart little kid, but I never thought it would actually be a reality," said Munro. "As I grew older, it was always a dream in the back of my mind." He said it was surreal when he found out he was accepted. He opened a rejection letter from Princeton and learned he was waitlisted at Yale just moments before getting the good news from Harvard. "It was unbelievable. I couldn't get over it. I screamed to my parents who were downstairs. I was so elated," said Munro. Acceptance into Harvard was the feather in Munro's cap after his classmates voted him valedictorian. During his time at White Oaks, he was involved in numerous extracurricular activities -- from sports to student council. "Throughout school, I never thought about working hard with an end in mind. I never thought I had to work hard so I can go to Harvard. I just always wanted to do my best," said Munro. "I never wanted to give less than my best effort." Other academic accolades include an Athlete of the Year nod as captain of White Oaks' volleyball, basketball and rugby teams in Grade 12. "I did a lot of things outside of school and I loved it," said Munro. "I didn't want my life to be consumed by academics, but it's a big part of my life." He chose Harvard for its diverse liberal arts and education studies, Munro said. "They want you to try economics, philosophy, math, and physics. Right now I'm leaning towards an economics concentration, but I'm really interested in physics," said Munro. "By the end of my sophomore year I have to narrow it down." Though Munro has yet to choose a career, he prefers one where he can socialize and interact with others, he said. "Almost everyone changes their mind once they get there. A lot of people go in wanting to be a doctor and come out as an economics major," said Munro. "I'm seeing mine change already. I can see myself going off to be a lawyer or a business man... or a musician." Outside of school, music is an important part of Munro's life. He learned to play drums when he was seven and was teaching others by age 13 at his father's music school, Rock This Way. Munro made an impression on one of his students, Cam Flynn, earlier this year. His mother Stephanie said Munro became a mentor of his immediately. "I couldn't have handpicked a better role model. Dylan is the kind of young man you're happy to know is influencing your child... A kind spirit with a quiet, but steady determination to achieve his dreams," said Stephanie. Munro said he was making a difference teaching because he gave his students somebody to look up to outside of drumming. "My drum students are awesome. I love teaching drums. The relationships I have with my students and their parents are phenomenal," said Munro. "When I'm at Harvard, sometimes I wish I was teaching drums in Oakville." His songwriting began when he penned a song for his aunt who battled breast cancer when he was younger. He then recorded the song, PINK, which was featured in the opening ceremonies of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's CIBC Run for the Cure in 2008. "I wanted some kind of inspiration. I couldn't believe the energy and emotion going on through that run. I couldn't believe I had written a song. I was really happy and thought I could do something with it," said Munro. After releasing PINK, Munro took his songwriting to the next level -- forming a band called everywhere, which started out as a solo project. A 10-song album was released last year with the help of his dad as producer. "Hearing something I've created from scratch in my basement come to life on a CD is the best feeling in the world," said Munro. "It was a really good experience recording (but) it took a long time to get done because we were working around my school schedule." After recording the album, Munro got a glowing review online from an unexpected source -- Toronto media personality Alan Cross. "It was really cool. I've been a fan of his and 102.1 The Edge for a long time. I sent him a cold e-mail one day and I expected nothing of it, but he got back to me and he said, `I really love this. It sounds really good. Do you mind if I write a blog about you?' Of course, I didn't mind," said Munro. "Next week, there was a blog up." For now, the band is on hiatus until Munro finishes his studies at Harvard. While he is considering music as a career, his focus right now is his academics, he said. "I will see where things take me down there. I'm going to work really hard at school. It's always an option (because) I love music," said Munro. So what advice does he have for his peers looking to follow suit? Always be yourself and do what you love, he said. "If you do what you're really passionate about, it will show. If you do everything you love to do, it will work out for the best," said Munro. "Everything I did led me to this path. This is the best path for me and I'm so happy I attained it." LOOKING BAck: White Oaks Secondary School valedictorian Dylan Munro. 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