Award Winner Stories

This is a collection of profiles of students who were awarded a Merit Award in years past. Actual names have not been used to protect the privacy of the students and their families.

Grade 11 student in the International Baccalaureate Program.
• Was Vice President of the high school medical emergency response team; involved in school newspaper, various school music productions and the breakfast club.
• Was in a state of depression when both parents became unemployed. Marks plummeted at beginning of year, worked hard to gain great improvement after realizing education is important and key to a better life.
• Worked 4 part-time jobs (about 40 hours per week) to help his family’s living expenses.
• Plans to attend university to become a medical doctor.
Teachers’ comments:
“[He] is very mature, and acknowledges that education and the thirst for knowledge is a necessary part of his academic and personal life. He is dedicated, kind, intelligent and has a wonderful ethical character.”
“He is truly a man of many talents and worthy of any financial awards.”

Grade 12 student
• Has been a math tutor; helped organize multicultural events and volunteered at the school library; also involved in student council, and various school projects and other fundraisers.
• Outside of school: volunteered at an elementary school and community centres.
• From a single-parent family with 7 children and newly immigrated from a war-torn country. Parent was unemployed and the family is maintained by a few of her siblings working part-time jobs.
• Worked in the summer.
• Plans to attend university with scholarships to become a teacher.
Teachers’ comments:
“[She] excels at each of her undertakings and I can say with utter certainty that she will continue to excel in any future endeavours …”
“An award of this type would go a far way to mitigate some of the financial constraints that she will encounter in her pursuit of higher education.”

Grade 12 student
• Was guest speaker at school regarding teenage motherhood, involved in various school clubs and was dance tutor to younger students.
• Outside of school: involved in various youth programs regarding social responsibility, guns and gangs and various other issues (drugs, sex education, etc.), was host of a radio program by youth
• Is a teenage mother and pays her own rent.
• Wishes to study journalism and pursue a career in broadcast journalism.
Teachers’ comments:
“[She] is a highly capable student who has the ability to deconstruct and critically analyze her place in society… [She] is able to find a balance between being a full-time parent and a full-time student. [She] demonstrates that students have extreme adversity, resilience and can overcome barriers.”
“[She] is a very motivated young woman who is enthusiastic, intelligent, hard working, and takes opportunity to create other initiatives.”


Grade 12 student
• Worked as server at the school canteen and the kitchen.
• Outside of school: volunteered at Kids’ Help Line and as a receptionist at a community centre.
• Is a teenaged single mother.
• Came to Canada by herself 3 years ago.
• Would like to attend university and become a psychologist.
Teachers’ comments:
“[She] is a warm, confident person who strives to do her best in life in spite of all of her challenges…I strongly believe that [she] will do very well in college/or university and she will become a successful future professional.”
“[She] is a person who is driven to succeed and willing to work as much as possible to achieve her goals. She is interested in life and will be a life long learner.”

Grade 11 student
• Was member of the girls’ volleyball and the co-ed volleyball teams, participated in the 24 hour wake for aids awareness.
• Outside of school: volunteered at shopping malls and delivered community newsletters.
• Father went to jail, at the same time 2 good friends were shot and died, mother worked 2 jobs to support family.
• Worked part-time (about 20 hours per week), helped with family expenses.
• Plans to attend university for justice studies.
Teachers’ comments:
“Her dedication to earning the best marks is admirable…[She] is a very helpful and considerate student.”
“[She] has been very keen to learn, and very interested in achieving the high standards that she sets for herself…She is a peace maker, and a great peer mentor. Overall, [she] is a very well rounded young lady.”

Grade 12 student
• Was an ambassador of the school and student representative, involved in various school clubs and programs.
• Outside of school: was member of a band and a dance company, involved in various community programs.
• After years of witnessing alcoholic father physically abusing mother, and had herself been physically abused as she grew older, she reported to the police and father was put in jail. Mother had financial difficulties.
• Worked part-time (about 22 hours per week).
• Plans to go to law school to become a Crown prosecutor.
Teachers’ comments:
“Her academic achievements, great personality, and heart of gold most definitely destine her to change the face of Canada. Furthermore, she is dependable, hard-working, persistent, and kind.”
“[She] is a student that will undoubtedly achieve great things and overcome any type of adversity that may come her way due to her fierce determination, intelligence and maturity.”

Grade 12 student
• Was enrolled as an exchange student for the YES program, involved in various school clubs and programs, volunteered at the library
• Outside of school: volunteered at community programs, summer camps and at a hospital, attended various discussion groups
• Lives in Canada on her own and on welfare.
• Plans to obtain a degree in nursing.
Teachers’ comments:
“[She] has only been in North American for 2 years. She is working very hard at learning English and obtaining a good mark…”
“[She] is a very hard working student…Beside all the challenges of coping with life emotionally and financially, she is dedicated to reach her goal…”