Seniors reflect on high school transformations

It’s been a year, and another wave of seniors are graduating, departing into the vast unknown that is adulthood. At the end of every school year, the graduating members of the journalism team come together to jointly reflect upon their high school journey. However, it’s a time for everyone, not just grads, to reflect upon how their high school experience has shaped their lives and perspectives. The following are the graduating Neelin Journalism Team members’ reflections.

GEORGIA FENG:

Whoever said that high school would go by fast must have never suffered through chemistry. While I’m only half joking, these past four long years will probably be one of the most influential times of my life, especially because of how hard it was. I started out partially regretting that I hadn’t chosen a different school, and I constantly worried about how inadequate my life was going to turn out because of it. I felt so confined in this new lifestyle because it didn’t live up to how high school was depicted in all the movies that I watched growing up. As classes got harder and harder as the years went on, I kept focusing on what was lacking and forgot to take the time to appreciate the value of what I did have. Now as I think back on my high school career, I realize how much I have grown as a person because of everything that I experienced and I’m incredibly grateful for all the friends and teachers that I’m so lucky to have met.

For me, the most important thing that I’ve gotten out of high school is my appreciation for thinking. In elementary school, my range of possibilities was so small, and I thought that everything had to go a certain way or else it wasn’t worth doing. Once I got to high school and I met so many amazing teachers and peers that have challenged my beliefs and provoked me to think deeply, I questioned how I was able to live so long being so close-minded. While living in our current society, where critical thinking is constantly being pushed to the side through the easy access to artificial intelligence, I realize how thankful I am to have expanded my perspective and learned to love thinking for myself. Forming our own opinions and living through different challenges is what makes us all unique, so even if my high school life wasn’t the picture-perfect version I had envisioned, I wouldn’t have wanted it to go any other way.

COLIN SHAW:

I never could have imagined the transformation that I have undergone thanks to my experience in high school. In Grade 8, I never considered what I would be doing in the future or cared very much about education or grades. The direction of my life was unclear — it was hazy and lacked direction where I could invest energy. High school, as an inevitable element of nearly everyone’s life, acts as a pivotal era where one finds oneself: it’s a catalyst for self-discovery. The exact aspect of high school that causes this growth cannot exactly be pinpointed; perhaps it is the teachers, fellow students, class subjects, or a combination of the above that seems to completely alter an individual’s life. As I previously mentioned, in elementary and middle school, I did not pay heed to my grades or education itself. Immediately once I entered high school, this behaviour shifted; I became engrossed in the material and felt a desire to do well. Perhaps it was the nature of high school that affords one a newfound sense of agency or the realization that every action makes a difference in one’s future.

Furthermore, this lack of clarity I experienced as a middle-schooler steadily lifted as the process of learning broadened the scope of my knowledge and provided critical thinking assets. These skills emerged not only as a part of the core coursework but also as a result of the environment itself. The same idea can be seen in the flourishing of intellectualism as a product of urbanization; the density of diverging thought creates a rich plethora of perspectives that nourish one’s understanding of the world. For example, Neelin provided opportunities for growth through the many extracurricular activities the school provides, like debate club, student council, and, of course, journalism club. These activities push one beyond their limits; they uncover individual passions. Whether one plays sports or enjoys drama, the activity will reveal some individual desire and push them toward their future career.

SOPHIE HENDERSON:

Creativity has always been an important part of my life. Ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon, I’ve found solace in the scratch of a pencil or the glide of a paintbrush. However, I never showed my art to anyone. When I was younger, it was because my work didn’t match up to the impossible standards I held in my head. When I got older, I became worried that my art was derivative, unoriginal, and never truly mine.

Once I entered high school, I was presented with a plethora of new outlets in which I could channel my creative energy. I had the chance to expand my visual art techniques into printmaking, but I also found passion in the performance and literary arts. In my first year at Neelin, I was far too shy to go on stage, but after witnessing the talent of my peers I became inspired to build my performance skills as well as my confidence. Another extracurricular I joined in ninth grade was the journalism club. Since then, I’ve become a published author and written over a dozen articles for The Brandon Sun. There was a time when putting my writing out into the world for anyone to read and critique felt terrifying.

What I’ve found over the past four years is that the more I write, the more I sing, the more I paint, the less concerned I am about what anyone else thinks of my art. Thanks to all of the new experiences, perspectives and opportunities I’ve gained, I have been able to develop my own creative voice that shines through in any medium to create a piece that feels authentic to who I am. I believe that this is a truly valuable asset. There is such beauty in being able to recognize a person through their art, especially in an age where artificial intelligence continues to threaten the livelihood of artists simply by regurgitating amalgamations of stolen work. Throughout my developmental years, I have discovered what I love, what I hate, what inspires me and what makes me think. Best of all, undergoing this growth alongside so many extraordinary people and with the unwavering support of teachers continues to drive me towards improvement every day. My ability to channel all these elements into a piece of art is what makes my work truly human.

» Georgia Feng, Colin Shaw and Sophie Henderson are Grade 12 students at École secondaire Neelin High School.