News Archives

Take a second to think about one similarity that everyone has in the room. No, it’s not the fact that we are all in spirit dress today or that most of us have class next period, it’s that fact that we all have persevered through hard times. You might not realize you have done this, but perseverance is the reason why we are all here today. Here at Stanstead College, we are always busy and faced with new challenges and have high expectations from our teachers and coaches. None of us would have made it this far without grit and determination.  

When you started your life at Stanstead College, did putting on your uniform feel like you were dressing up? Did you feel fake and hated it, or were you okay with it? Do you think you lose your identity when wearing a uniform?

I show up to Psychology 15 minutes early because I can use my time to do homework without getting distracted by my phone; my teacher thinks I have nothing better to do. I never stop talking in Stats class, even if I’m doing work; my teacher thinks I am enthusiastic. I know where the NBA Hall of Fame is; Kyle Cregan calls me a know-it-all. I ate three cookies at break; they walked past and mocked me.

When I was just a little girl, my grandpa taught me how to fish. At first, I thought fishing was boring and a waste of my time, so I simply just didn’t like it. I didn’t like the idea of doing the same thing over and over again and waiting and waiting for something to finally happen. But at least I got to spend some good quality time with my grandpa, so I was happy.

By now, you’ve been in Stanstead College for a few weeks and are getting through the motions of the adaptation curve I mentioned in the previous newsletter. One of the surprising aspects of being at a boarding school is that there are so many people around you all the time. What to do with them? You want to make friends, but how? For some of you, this might be easy, but for most, it is an effort…

For those of you who don’t recall or for all of you new to school this year, last year I talked about cultures and what a wonderful diversity this great place has, how easy it is to find a great story around every corner. I left off talking about all the opportunities that Stanstead College has, and I will pick it up just there. 

Will you be counting in weeks or days until the end of this school year? However you do this, soon you'll need to pack up your room at Stanstead College. Maybe you're already sorting through things in your mind. What to keep? What to take home? What to throw or give away? How you feel when thinking about the end of the school year depends on what your future plan is. Was this just one year in Canada for you? Will you come back in September? Are you in Grade 11 or 12 and this will be your last year at SC?

I am the 19-year-old version of yourself about to graduate from the school you are about to go to. Tomorrow will be your first day at your new school, Stanstead College. You are now also living in the town as a day student and as you can see, it is VERY different from the city. You went from having 6000 things close by to, now, having only six. The town will grow on you, though.

Like a number of you, I've lived in a world of competition, pressure and expectations my whole life. I've lived in a world where my results and my success are often a direct reflection of who I am. Navigating through this demanding and tiring reality, I've had to find what truly fulfills me, what lets me escape my overwhelming lifestyle, what genuinely makes me happy – my passion. I'm lucky enough to have two: hockey and music.

Break is right around the corner, and like many of you, I am also excited. But what I realized during this third year at Stanstead College is that everything goes by fast. Many of your teachers have certainly told you that after break, you will not see the days go by. It is true, and I have come to experience it too. 

If you’ve grown up playing sports, you would have to be among the luckiest of individuals to not have experienced failure. I use the word “failure” only to describe experiences where you may not have reached your goal at that time. However, I do not believe it is failure, but I will come back to this.

Most people tend to make their speeches about helping others, serving your community and being kind to your peers. Honestly, as much as this does matter, being there for yourself is the single most important thing you can do to live a happy, successful life.

Eating too much, too little, too fast, or not at all… If it gets extreme, then it might be an eating disorder. Last week was the National Eating Disorder Association’s (NEDA) awareness week, so I will tackle this topic today.

For as long as I can remember my birthday has been one of my favourite days of the year. A special day celebrating with my family and friends, and, oh yeah, gifts too, how could I not like it? But looking back, I realize I actually enjoyed aging. Why? I was always a really stubborn child and still somewhat am, and I loved doing things on my own and being able to say I did it.

Like most students at Stanstead College, I have had a busy year, between balancing school, sports, social time and personal time, with various struggles thrown into the mix. As this is my second year at school, I’m still constantly reminded that everything is still somewhat new to me, whether I care to admit it or not.  

Did you just get an A+ and think, “That was pure luck!”  Did you show up for the hockey game despite your stomachache, not play as well as usual and assume, “Any day, they will find out that I shouldn’t have been made captain.” Are you from a foreign country, struggling with the perfect English pronunciation and find yourself thinking, “I do not belong here, my English is just not good enough.” Well, this is imposter syndrome at its best. You feel like a sham, like you don’t belong and fear that others will find out soon, very soon!

The Chinese New Year arrived on January 22. For all Chinese, this is the time of the year when families reunite and celebrate the festival. Meanwhile, there are also other festivals from different cultural backgrounds, such as the Day of the Dead from Mexico, Christmas, Easter, Oktoberfest from Germany, etc.