Each Thursday, varsityblues.ca will highlight a U of T student-athlete and their academic pursuits. Each of these students achieved first class honours with an AGPA of at least 3.50 in the previous academic year. Â These are our Student-Athlete Stories.
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Deborah Rebello's badminton career began in the parking lot of her apartment building in Dubai at the age of seven, and over a decade later the third-year student is flourishing at U of T's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.
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It was in her hometown of Dubai that Rebello's love of architecture emerged.
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"Growing up in Dubai exposed me to all kinds of architecture; soaring skyscrapers, large malls, etc.," said Rebello, who is also taking a minor in art history. "Plus, I always had a great love for architectural history and loved to visit other countries and see the work that they produced."
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(Rebello competing the 2013 ISC Apex UAE Open in Abu Dhabi | Photo by James Varghese)
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As an only child from halfway across the world, the move to Canada certainly wasn't easy, but Rebello quickly adapted and has found at home in Toronto.
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"Being a part of the University of Toronto community was a lot for my family," she said. "It was an expensive decision because I'm an international student, and I'm an only child, so I'd be leaving everything behind. Nevertheless, my parents were adamant that I get a good education while being able to pursue badminton and keep in touch with my interests."
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After making the switch from competitive swimming to badminton, Rebello racked up quite the international resume and was a member of the first group of girls from Dubai who professionally emerged in badminton.
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"I trained under amazing coaches in Dubai, as well as in Bangalore, India, when I went back for holidays," explained Rebello. "I remember training for eight hours a day throughout our three-month summer vacations. I also got to take on great opportunities to play tournaments in Qatar and International tournaments in Bahrain, apart from the many I played in the UAE itself."
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(Rebello competing at the 2019 OUA championship at Ontario Tech University | Photo by Al Fournier)
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That made it easy for her to fit in with the five-time reigning OUA champion Varsity Blues.
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"There're a lot of things to love about badminton, but I think what stands out most to me is this sense of community," she explained. "No matter where you go, you can always find a home within the badminton community and the people you train with."
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Rebello's passion for badminton is matched by the love of her studies.
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"I couldn't have asked for a better program," she said. "I got to experiment with a variety of courses and even choose a minor in art history. U of T allows incredible flexibility in your career path. Mind you, I didn't know if architecture was what I wanted to pursue at first. I was a tad bit confused between architecture and visual studies, but I got to experiment with both and then make my decision."
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And even during this global pandemic, Rebello praises her professors for building such a tight-knit academic circle.
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"The professors here are great," she boasted. "They are extremely knowledgeable, down-to-earth and helpful. I've really seen that come through with online school. It hasn't been easy for anyone, but the way the professors and T.A.s reach out, it really makes it a lot easier."
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(The final review of Rebello's project for ARC201 | Photo courtesy of Deborah Rebello)
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When academic demands of Canada's No. 1 institution ramp up, the two-time academic all-Canadian knows how to handle it.
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"Pressure creates diamonds, right? If you push through, U of T heavily equips you with great skills to set you apart from the rest in terms of your skillset, persistence and portfolio," she said. "Plus, there are great resources on campus to help you through everything and the professors are very understanding of your situation and are always out to help."
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When she reflects on her monumental decision to come to Toronto, Rebello has no regrets.Â
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"I look back and am so grateful because I would never, in a million years, choose a different university."
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