EDITOR'S NOTE: The Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com have invited students from local high school to submit a regular column about their education and student life. This is the first column we have received. We hope to publish more as we receive them.
High School is not always easy. From the English essays to making new friends, most students struggle from time to time, but there are factors people don’t see. There are teachers who only do schoolwork with students and that’s it, but at Central you feel cared for. There are adults within the school who truly want the best for us. It’s these connections students appreciate greatly. It is rare to find teachers who want to look deeper into students and their lives, but most teachers at Central do just that.
Before I came to Moose Jaw I lived in Regina, where life is much different. When I was in grade seven, I started to pick up some bad habits that carried with me until grade eleven. I was having a hard time juggling school and my personal life, which people didn’t seem to care about. I felt like many of my teachers didn’t put much effort into teaching or helping me when I was struggling during difficult times. This led me to stop caring about going to school, so I started skipping, not doing work, and making poor life decisions that hugely impacted my future. These actions made me want to escape my life any way I could, but instead of letting go I dropped everything and moved to Moose Jaw to live with my father.
When I first came to Moose Jaw I had a hard time blending in and following rules. I got into trouble a few times, but my teachers as well as the other adults within the school, continued to be there and pushed me to be better. I dressed differently than the other kids. I always had my hood up, constantly wore black, and lived in sweats or ripped jeans. I walked around with my head down and no smile in sight. I knew I was different, not only with my look, but also with my actions. I was battling addictions, and I almost lost a few times. It was tough, really tough, but I never gave in. That was a fight I wasn’t willing to lose, and it’s a battle that continues to this day. I got through my addictions, but I found myself being to weak at many other things. I needed constant help with my homework from teachers, and I studied one to three hours every night just so I could keep up with my classes. I was in and out of the hospital due to some personal things. Nobody really knew about it, or the other things in my life, but my teachers tried to support me to get me through and get my work done. I didn’t know and still don’t exactly know who I am or what I’m doing with my life, much like many teenagers my age. We are on a journey to find our true path, and throughout our whole lives that will change, but we just have to keep doing our best.
Some of my bad habits are still here, but I don’t mean cigarettes or drugs. I mean my negative outlook on things that can discourage me on things like passing a class or being able to make my mom and dad proud. Every day with the help of my friends and my grad coach teacher (Ms. Montgomery) I get better at being better. I am now going to my classes, doing my work, helping others, and even helping myself as much as I can. I have much more growing to do, but I have come far with the help of those in my life.
Shelby Carlson,
Central Collegiate student
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
