Graduation time is here. As senior students leave high school and enter the world, North Shore principals and teachers share advice on the road that lies ahead.
Collingwood School principal Martin Jones encourages students to try new things and figure out what it is they’re truly passionate about.
“This is such a unique period of time in young adults’ lives,” Jones said. “They’re leaving school, often moving away from family, they’re not married at this stage. So, it is just such a perfect time for them to explore.”
After high school, the next chapter for a student varies. Some pursue further education, others take a gap year to travel or volunteer, and others enter the workforce right away. Regardless of the path, Jones said it’s fine to take your time to decide.
“Don’t be in a rush to have to commit to any one thing, know that there are multiple pathways and as long as you have that great bag of learning skills, that you can figure out how to have success in your own way,” he said.
The learning skills Jones is referring to include creativity, communication and collaboration, giving students skills they need to navigate life after graduation.
Argyle Secondary principal Laura Ames echos Jones’ advice – to embrace the unknown, explore the world and be open to new ideas.
“I see so many grads going on neat journeys after high school that aren’t what they necessarily planned for. I think it’s amazing to have a plan leaving high school, and I think it’s equally great to be able to pivot from that plan as life happens,” Ames said. “To be able to embrace new challenges, ideas, experiences that come your way and let that impact what your life will become.”
Graduating high school can be an exciting time but also nerve racking. Staying true to your roots can help a student feel more grounded when entering the world, she said.
The education students receive and the relationships they’ve built with friends and school staff are a base to launch from, navigating new experiences and finding their new pathway, Ames said.
“Where we grow up is a big part of who we become,”she said.
Ames also stresses the importance of students staying curious and asking hard questions in the world and workforce.
The world and workforce are rapidly changing, but now more than ever, character and integrity are key elements people are looking for when hiring, said Windsor Secondary principal Caren Hall.
“Some of the biggest questions we get asked now for references are ‘Is the candidate dependable? Do they show up on time? What are your absences? Do you have integrity when you show up to your job?' People want to work with people that are fully invested,” Hall said.
Hall also stressed the importance of students being well-rounded in understanding the world to make informed decisions and their role in it.
Hall and West Vancouver Secondary teacher Mahesh Chugani also stressed the importance of making mistakes when out in the “real world.”
“If you didn’t make any mistakes, you’d be a perfect robot and we don’t want that,” Chugani said. “The more mistakes you make, the more you will learn. So don’t worry about mistakes, just do your best.”
But, above all, Hall said to be yourself in the world.
“Everybody has so much to offer just by being themselves,” Hall said. “Everybody brings different things to their communities, work sites, schools they’re going to, and whatever unique things that they can bring is going to serve their communities that they’re going to be in.”
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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