Most inconsistent high school experience ever
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/06/2023 (974 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
We are in the final push for Brandon high school students — this week is loaded with final exams, and then next week is graduation!
The 2023 graduates have had an interesting high school experience: we started high school with no pandemic in sight, and now we’re happily finishing high school with COVID-19 in our rearview mirrors.
Graduation can be a difficult time as we’ve had Neelin as our home and the staff and students as our family, and we now have to move on to a new time in our lives with so many new decisions. Reflecting on the past four years is hazy for the seniors this year but these have been some years that we will never forget.
Graduates throw their mortarboards in the air after receiving their diplomas during last year’s École secondaire Neelin High School graduation ceremony at the Brandon University Healthy Living Centre. As this year's grad approaches, students Haylie Kowal and Beth Wilson reflect on an unusual but rewarding high school experience. (File)
Haylie Kowal:
As much as I am sick and tired of writing about COVID-19 and the pandemic and its effects, it has been an important part of my high school experience. Ninth grade was cut short, then 10th grade was a mix of going to school every other day and remote learning. Eleventh grade was spent doing some more remote learning, and ultimately led towards a ‘standard’ year. Finally, we were able to have a normal year and grad for our senior year.
Through the pandemic, lots of teachers took the pressure of schoolwork off, which made school less of a priority for students. As this year went back to normal, we had to relearn how to focus and put out quality schoolwork. Although the entire COVID-19 pandemic was a stressful time, it did teach us some valuable lessons relating to work ethics and working through times of uncertainty. Neelin has provided me with such a supportive community that I’ll be able to keep in touch with in the next part of my life. The staff at Neelin has supported me through thick and thin, and I’m not sure what I would’ve done without them.
Beth Wilson:
If I’ve gained any skill from my high school experience, it would be time management.
All four years of my high school career could be described as utterly chaotic. I have been involved in sports, clubs, choirs, and many, many band ensembles and projects. On top of these extracurriculars, I have taken nearly every math and science class that Neelin has to offer, while also working a part-time job. At times, I had troubles making everything work schedule-wise, but I don’t regret a single thing.
Unfortunately, I was not able to play basketball in Grade 9 or 10 due to everyone’s best friend, COVID-19. But finally, Grade 11 came along and I was able get on the court. My Grade 12 basketball season was truly the most special and unforgettable sports season I have been part of. Our Neelin Girls Varsity Basketball team was in second place for most of the season; we then got knocked down and had to play in a wildcard game to get into the provincial championships. We fought hard to win that wildcard game, then we kept fighting and rose to take the provincial title. That lesson in determination is something I hope to carry with me as I face future challenges.
As we move forward to our post-secondary pursuits, we also take this time to reflect on the experiences the Neelin community has provided for us. Above all, it is the memories of the people we have met and the relationships we have built that will remain.
» Haylie Kowal and Beth Wilson are Grade 12 students at École secondaire Neelin High School