Expanding their horizons

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/06/2015 (3469 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s one of the hardest knocks life throws at anyone.

For the Class of 2017 — whose progress the Free Press is tracking from snack time in kindergarten to graduation in Grade 12 — it was a devastating lesson.

For this special group of kids, just wrapping up Grade 10, their second year at Glenlawn Collegiate Institute in St. Vital, it was the first time they’ve had to deal with the death of someone their own age.

On Jan. 9, at the age of 14, Grade 9 student Camryn Guenther lost her courageous battle with cancer.

Camryn was a year behind the Class of 2017, but most of the kids knew her from their years rubbing elbows in the smaller hallways at Windsor School, spitting distance from their sprawling 1,243-student collegiate at the corner of St. Mary’s Road and Fermor Avenue.

For Aby, 15, the social conscience of the Class of 2017, it wasn’t just the loss of someone she hung out with at school.

It was the loss of her best friend, a soulmate, a kindred spirit who shared her hopes and dreams.

“I grew up with her and she was a fun person to be around,” Aby tells a middle-aged visitor in the main office at Glenlawn, one of the largest schools in Manitoba. “She lit up the room instantly. She didn’t care what people thought. She was just herself.

“Losing her hair made her more comfortable. She grew more as a person. The battle just made her stronger. Our families are really close friends. She’s always been one of my very closest friends. It was really hard to see your best friend be that sick.”

Anyone familiar with the Class of 2017’s winding journey through the academic system knows Aby is a mature young woman with vast reserves of inner strength, but the pain of losing her friend remains fresh and tears are soon streaming down her face.

“I’m an easy crier; it’s not your fault,” she laughs bravely, dabbing at her eyes as the memories come flooding back. “I was lucky to have Camryn. She really changed me as a person. She made me not care about what people think of me, to just be who I am.”

It was tough for Aby to speak in front of mourners at Camryn’s funeral service, but that’s just what best friends do. “I was at jazz camp when I heard she’d passed,” Aby recalls.

Rob Monson, 43, one of the school’s enthusiastic music teachers, was at the camp and recalls with pride how the students came together at a time of crisis to comfort their grieving schoolmate.

“When Camryn passed, it got out on social media,” Monson recalls of the moment. “You could see a bunch of kids in the corner. It was pretty emotional. We found a space for a few of them to go and talk it out. Aby was visibly upset, even though she knew it was coming. The kids were very supportive.”

Administrators at Glenlawn say coping with loss wasn’t the only lesson learned this year by the 14 remaining members of the Class of 2017, but it was easily the most difficult. The school had trained staff on hand to support any student who wanted to talk.

“It’s sadness, dealing with grief,” Dionne Deer, in her first year as principal at Glenlawn, said when the Free Press dropped in on the Class of 2017 to see how their second year in the big leagues went as they prepared for final exams. “The kids have been amazing. There hasn’t been an event this year where they haven’t honoured Camryn’s memory.”

Karen Duffield, vice-principal for Grade 10 students at Glenlawn, says the former Windsor School gang has shown sensitivity and resilience beyond their years.

“Camryn’s favourite colour was purple, so they embedded bits of purple throughout the school play, the musical,” Duffield recalls. “There was a purple tea towel, a purple flag, a girl wore a purple bandana.”

It was a transformative year for these sophomore high school students, a year of major changes. In Grade 9, they were forced to step out of their comfort zone. In Grade 10, they hit their stride.

“They’re doing great,” Duffield says with obvious pride. “They’re finding out who they are. I’d say they’re becoming citizens, becoming activists and finding out what matters to them. One of the great things about Glenlawn is there are so many clubs and activities — there is a place for everyone.

“You hear a lot of negative things about teenagers all the time, but there are so many positive things going on with these students. They’re kind, they care about each other and they’re activists for the causes they care about.”

 

Sitting down with the class, the outside changes are easy to spot — they’re taller, heavier and have a blossoming sense of personal style. But the changes on the inside are even more dramatic — they’re more mature, more confident and flashing a lot more swagger, because they have a far greater understanding of who they are and how they fit into a rapidly changing world.

It’s been a year of dramatic firsts for the Grade 10s, with many getting behind the wheel for the first time after earning their learner’s permits, or earning paycheques in their first part-time jobs, and a handful have finally taken a first dip in the dating pool.

Like gunslingers toting six-shooters in the Old West, most of the class wouldn’t be caught dead without their cellphones ready to hook up to social-media services like Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Vine.

“That’s a big piece of Grade 10,” Deer, the rookie principal, says with a laugh. “Nobody walks around here without a phone in their hands. Some kids, it’s their world, and some kids not so much.”

Glenlawn hands out a brochure and holds a special evening to educate parents about keeping their kids safe in the online world. “That’s where they interact, mostly,” notes Duffield. “They don’t use their cellphones to talk. It’s texting and tweeting. They’re in the digital world.”

The kids are allowed to bring their smartphones to class, the vice-principal says, “but we ask them not to use them while the teachers are teaching, though some teachers are starting to use them as an educational tool.”

While the loss of her best friend is never far from her thoughts, Aby has soldiered on, stepping out of her comfort zone by taking improv as one of her electives, and passing driver’s ed.

“It’s a bad picture, but I got it,” she says with a chuckle, flashing her learner’s licence. “I’d like to say I’m a good driver. It was nerve-racking the first time, but it’s really fun. It makes me realize Winnipeg really does have some bad drivers.”

Last year, Noah, 15, known for his outgoing personality and offbeat sense of humour, found his niche by firing up crowds at games, pep rallies, concerts and charity events while decked out in a sweltering fur suit portraying Arthur the Lion, Glenlawn’s official mascot.

This year, Arthur hasn’t been roaring quite as often. “The mascot costume doesn’t really get used that much,” Noah — who is far more confident but not much bigger than he was at Windsor School — explains. “It’s in a real bad state of disrepair. It’s expensive to be fixed and it’s not super high on the priority list. There’s just too many holes and the face cover is coming off. Student council says it’ll be fixed by 2016.”

The biggest change in his life? “I got my first job working at the soccer complex at the University of Manitoba,” he says with his trademark enthusiasm. “I do paperwork, keep the score-clock on and assist the referees if they need help. They call it time-keeping. Getting your first actual job is a big step in high school.”

Like many of the students who have found a second home in the school’s music department, Noah started his day at 7:30 a.m. in what’s known as an “early bird” class.

“It was a big change — getting up really early,” Noah sighs. “I’m walking to school while it’s still dark and the street lights are on. But playing in the band is really, really cool. It’s a higher level of playing.”

 

The school’s two music teachers say, along with the sports fields and gymnasium, the music room is where a lot of kids become connected to their school. “Sports in a school excites a student’s spirit, while music excites a student’s soul,” declares Greg Crowe, 40, another music teacher who leads the Grade 10 concert band.

“There’s been a great leap with a lot of these kids this year. Their musicianship has come a long way. They grasp concepts quickly. It’s really exciting.”

Music is potentially the most powerful force drawing them out of their shells. “I especially notice with Hailey that music is becoming quite a big deal,” music teacher and band leader Monson observes. “She takes it really seriously. When Hailey is in Grade 12, she’ll be leading the charge. She’s one of those people who lead by example.”

Emerging as a leader is a big change for Hailey, 15, who is a bit more humble about her skills playing the alto saxophone in the concert band, and the jazz and wind ensembles.

“Playing in an ensemble is something I really enjoy,” says Hailey, also a key member of the junior varsity girls basketball squad. “I don’t have a lot of musical ability, but I’m really into music. I’m sort of in between sports and music, but as I get older I’m leaning more towards music.”

As for coming out of her shell, she says with a laugh, “I don’t really know. Finding the right people, where you really fit in, helps. Some people would say I’m out of my shell, but some would say I’m pretty quiet. It’s a matter of perspective.”

But there’s no doubt about her passion for social media. “Sadly, I’m one of those teenagers who’s addicted to my phone,” Hailey confesses. “That’s just my generation. It’s how we’ve grown up. It’s not a fault.”

Before arriving at Glenlawn, Windsor was the only school Sarah, one of the older kids in the class at 16, had ever known. She isn’t overly sentimental about her old alma mater.

“Glenlawn is a good school,” Sarah says. “It’s way more fun than elementary school. There’s lots more personalities here and you get a lot more independence. I loved Grade 10. It was really good. My classes were mostly easy.”

She says her life hasn’t really changed and she’s been busy once again with the yearbook committee. “I love graphics; that’s my favourite course,” she says. “I love airbrushing and photography.”

Always a man of few words, Quinn, who turns 16 in July, sums up Grade 10 with ease. “It’s all good,” he tells a visitor who demands details.

On the academic front, Quinn took a bit of a leap this year by selecting Mandarin as an elective. “I don’t know why,” he concedes. “I just wanted to try it out. I thought it might help me out later in life.”

A flutist in the Grade 10 concert band, soft-spoken Naomi, 15, proudly declares she is no longer terrified of high school. “I love it here,” she says, beaming. “It’s really fun. Grade 9 I was petrified, but now it’s fun. Last year I was only terrified because it was new, but through the year it got really good.”

Easing the transition is the joy she finds in music and her newest elective, introduction to mobile app design. “It’s coding and creating games,” Naomi explains. “It’s pretty fun. It’s not really me. Computers aren’t really my thing, but I wanted to try something new, and the teacher is great.”

She gets most excited talking about her younger brother, Jordan, 13, who just finished Grade 8 at Windsor, a year after having his right foot amputated in the wake of a string of surgeries to correct a longtime disability.

“He is doing great,” Naomi enthuses. “My parents were scared he wouldn’t be able to keep up with his friends, but his friends are having a hard time keeping up with him. He does everything his friends can.”

Next year, when Naomi starts Grade 11, Jordan will be walking the halls at Glenlawn for the first time. “Sarah and I have always talked about having our siblings in high school with us,” she reveals. “We’re going to be seeing them in the halls, which is really weird. I’m excited for him because he’s really going to love it here.”

What about the whole dating scene, Naomi? “Yes,” she finally says, giggling. “I have a boyfriend, since the beginning of the year. He’s in Grade 12. He’s my first real good boyfriend. It helps that he’s older, because most Grade 10 guys are (she frowns) yeeeech! I don’t relate to people my age at all. He’s more mature.”

Back at Windsor, hockey-loving Griffin, who turns 16 in August, was one of the leaders of the school. It’s no different at Glenlawn, where last year he led a drive to collect pop-can tabs to raise cash to help buy a motorized wheelchair for his disabled 10-year-old brother, Tyler, who just finished Grade 4 at Windsor and lives with cerebral palsy.

Griffin says he still misses walking his younger brother to school, though he’s having a blast in Glenlawn. “He (Tyler) was granted a wish from the Wish Foundation,” he says. “We, as a family, decided it would be good to go to Disney World in Florida with him. We just got back. He’s doing great at Windsor; they are really taking care of him.”

Griffin is pumped about the news Glenlawn will be icing high school hockey teams next year for the first time in the school’s history, but he speculates his commitment to the Winnipeg Warriors will prevent him from suiting up.

Any other big news? “I have a girlfriend,” he says, softly. “I got her in October. We broke up for a little bit and then we got back together. She’s my age. It’s more being friends sort of thing. We’re best friends.” Which is when his phone begins to buzz. “Oh, that’s her texting me now,” he says. “It just kind of sparked and I said: ‘Hey, let’s give it a try!’”

In Grade 9, Mackenzie, 15, sported a series of casts on her left foot, which she injured playing on the Grade 9-12 Ultimate Frisbee team. This year, sports were on the back-burner.

“I have a lot of school work,” she says. “That’s why I don’t want to do sports, because I don’t want to fall behind. I hate falling behind. Grade 9 was so easy compared to Grade 10. There’s a lot more information.”

Don’t get her wrong, though. Mackenzie loves high school and says, for the most part, everyone gets along. “There’s some times people get into cat fights, but it usually goes away because we’re more mature and stuff,” she points out.

There’s no driver’s ed and no job in her immediate future, but she has dabbled in dating. “I have a boyfriend,” she confesses. “He goes to Dakota. He’s a year older. We’ve been dating for a few months. I don’t get sick of him from seeing him every day.”

She loves singing in the choir and, like all the musically inclined kids, says the big trip in April to the Rocky Mountain Music Festival was a highlight of the year. “It was amazing,” she gushes. “We hiked up a mountain. It was cool.”

She openly admits life in high school would be tough without a cellphone.

“Everything is on my cellphone,” she admits. “If I miss a day at school, I text my friends. A lot of stuff, like our homework assignments, are posted online. And we have to search questions online, too. It’s a big thing.”

Sydney, 15, emerged as a leader this year, capturing a lot of attention when she became the only Grade 10 student on the varsity girls volleyball team. “Sydney’s a superstar,” says vice-principal Duffield. “She’s a really strong player. She was a starter. That’s unusual for somebody in Grade 10.”

It’s obvious Sydney isn’t comfortable with the superstar label. “I was really nervous at first because I was young, but everything worked out,” she says. “We won a lot, but not in the playoffs. Hopefully I can take it to the university level. I’m still pretty small right now, so I need to grow.”

Arguably the most changed member of the Class of 2017 is 15-year-old Jesse, who, at five-foot-10 and 170 pounds, is a hockey fanatic. He’s bigger and more thickly muscled now, but the biggest change is his maturity, the quiet confidence he exudes, and his willingness to share what’s on his mind.

“I’m more driven this year,” Jesse says firmly. “More motivated. I got better marks this year. I tried to do every bit of homework. This year I’ve focused on getting stronger. I’m definitely a bigger build than last year.”

His commitment to a Triple A hockey team will likely prevent him from playing for the new Glenlawn team in Grade 11. His goal is to make the grade with a U.S. college hockey program. “ A different place, a different perspective and I don’t want to be stuck here my whole life,” he says, smiling.

He’s also found another passion — cooking. “I took cooking this year,” he says, laughing. “The first couple of times, my group sunk our muffins. They collapsed. Baking wasn’t my strong suit. We’re going to make sushi the next time. I’m good at washing the dishes, but my specialty is probably something with chicken.”

When he’s not cooking or working out or trying to be less shy, he’s busy avoiding social media. His explanation caused the Free Press team and vice-principal Duffield to become a tad misty-eyed.

“I don’t bring my phone to school,” Jesse insists. “I listen to a lot of motivational videos and they say you could miss a lot of stuff if you’re staring down at your phone. You could miss something that’s really important.”

For Shelby, 16, it’s all about the hair. Last year, it was purple. This year, it’s a blondish-white colour.

“I bleached it,” Shelby declares. “I thought I’d die it a different colour, but then I decided to just leave it blond. After it was purple, I bleached it, then I went silver, then purple again, and now this.

“I just like doing hair. It’s fun to change it. I’ve had purple hair so many times. I want to do hairdressing as a career, as though that’s a surprise.”

Traditionally a man who keeps his views to himself, Garrett, while not exactly outspoken, has become far more comfortable sharing his opinions with nosy journalists. When a visitor from the Free Press arrived, the avid video-game player was fresh from a class on cyber defence and network security.

“I took that because I’m good at it,” he says, chuckling knowingly. “I’m good at stuff with computers. I’ve been using them for a long time and got an opportunity to take a class I’m good at. I’m one of the leaders in that area. I have quite an overkill computer system at home.”

If he loves computers, he’s equally passionate about automobiles. “I got that a month ago,” he says, flashing his learner’s permit. “I have to drive with my mother. That’s always fun. I just want to do it by myself.

“I think that would be a lot less stressful. I don’t want to drive my mom around with fingernail imprints in the dashboard. I need the full (licence) thing to say I’m free.”

So it’s been another memorable year for the Class of 2017. The bonds of friendship forged in kindergarten are fading quickly, and for the first time in their young lives, they’ve been forced to confront their own mortality.

But as they brace themselves for the thrill ride of Grade 11, they’ve learned the most important life lesson of all — there’s joy in simply moving forward, one step, one day, one course, one grade at a time.

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca