Graduation season marks both an end and a beginning, and for Mount Douglas Secondary valedictorians Tristan Greenwell, Sofia Jones and Conor Poulin, the future looks bright.
Though they come from very different backgrounds – Greenwell, a soft-spoken and accomplished football player; Poulin, a charismatic extrovert with the gift of gab; and Jones, a quiet straight-A student who excels in every domain – the trio came together to deliver a shared message to their peers, reflecting on their time at Mount Doug and looking ahead to what comes next.
From recalling the highs and lows to navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduation may feel like an absurd concept after spending more than a decade on school benches.
“High school is the thing that everybody looks towards, and now we're done and we're leaving, it's kind of crazy,” said Poulin. “I actually have to go be a grown-up now… and get to choose what I want to do.”
While graduation represents a major turning point for the three students, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with freedom, responsibility, and some uncertainties.
"It's a pretty big milestone, but I still have seven years of schooling left to do,” said Jones, who will begin an architecture program at UBC this fall. “It feels more like, ‘Congratulations, you finished the first part of your schooling,’ and now I actually have to go into the hard part.”
With Poulin pursuing a business program at Camosun College to one day run his own carpentry company, and Greenwell joining the Okanagan Sun in the Canadian Junior Football League, all three agree that a world of options lies at their fingertips.
“There's a lot of opportunities (opening up) and it's the first time that you really get to choose what you're doing,” added Greenwell. “I'm excited for that, but that's also a little nerve-wracking at times, and there’s a lot left to learn.”
As the Mount Doug graduates prepared to go their separate ways, they offered a few words of advice for the next generation.
“The path is never straightforward… so go with the flow,” said Greenwall. “Don't get stuck on one thing and be open to trying new opportunities; you may change paths, and you may find something you like more.”
“You're smarter than you think you are,” added Jones. “Just put your effort into everything you do and you're gonna do amazing.”
Although high school, at times, may be synonymous with note-taking, quizzes, and tests, it doesn’t mean it’s all work and no play; you need to make sure to have some fun along the way.
“All these classes are important, but these are some of the best years of your lives,” said Poulin. “I mean, every single adult around us says this is the best time of your life.
“Grades are important, but also have fun and have a life.”
