BC Student Voice

March 2008

Makingadifference
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hen youre in grade 5, you dont think you can make a difference. You dont have money to donate; you cant fly to Africa to help starving children. But you really can make a difference by doing small things like donating your hair, giving clothes to charity or contributing to food banks. By doing this you dont think youre making a difference, but if everybody in the world did that the world would be a better place. I am in grade 5 and I volunteer at the Pacific Assistance Dog Society, the Queens Park Petting Farm and the Queens Park Care Home. I read that in a year many children lost their hair due to chemotherapy so my friend Chantal and I decided to donate our hair to Angel Hair for Kids, an organization that made wigs for suffering children around the world. When I traveled to Mexico I brought clothes and books to La Gloria English School in Isla Mujeres. By doing small things you are allowing a child to have a wig, training a guide dog for a disabled person and showing older people that you care. This year I am growing my hair so I can donate it again and I am hoping this will inspire you to help others and become more socially responsible in your community. Jasmine Taylor, grade 5

Copying Others
All you want to do is be like someone else Really all you are doing is lying to yourself You want to be cool You want to rule All you need is to be yourself Not like someone else Your friends will turn into enemies and fight You will tell someone and you have the right Someone will get hurt, really bad and someone will be sad Never thinking ahead You will be crying in your bed You should never copy someone else You should think ahead and be yourself!
Harjot Parmar, Katie Hiede & Jessica Durning, grade 7 students, Edgewater Elementary, Edgewater

n my school there are some articles about kindness, up on the wall, by the second-graders. Most of them talk about playing with their friends, being nice to their buddies and being kind to their pals. All of these things are pieces of kindness, but to me, kindness is something deeper. To me kindness is opening up to everybody, no matter who they are. Those grade two paragraphs all were stories about their circle of friends. And to me, when someone opens up to everybody, that is true kindness. Ivy Chao, grade 5 Herbert Spence Elementary, New Westminster

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Salia Joseph, grade 11 Stellys Secondary, Saanichton Be the change you want to see in the world is a quote that used to scare me. I know about epidemics, poverty, carbon dioxide levels, oppression, draughts and addiction. Topics with impacts but no solution. Where do we go from here? The quote pushes responsibility to the reader. All of a sudden these speakers have been coming to my school. Speakers educating us on work done in preserving traditions, water preservation and school houses in Africa. I now see the tools for change are within grasp. Theyve been there the whole time. It starts within yourself, but sometimes it takes a simple spark of inspiration to realize how possible it is to make a difference. So now, when I see the quote, Im going to nod and say yeah Ghandi, I think I just might. Kyle McLellan, grade 11 Pitt Meadows Secondary Since the end of grade 9 I was put unwillingly into a leadership class at school. Little did I know that this class I was using for credit would recommend me for our District Student Advisory Council. I attended the meetings trying to be low key it didnt work. From DSAC I went to my first conference at the youth centre. From this, I became more involved and was asked to attend the Fall BC Student Voice conference in 2006. This conference showed me that there are so many possibilities in life and it opened my eyes. Returning from that conference, we began to plan our regional forum where we became better connected with our peers. Now it is time to use the voice to create positive change in our school, community and province. Kaylea Pausch, grade 10 Bert Bowes Jr. Secondary In Fort St. John we have Link Crew, a program that helps new grade 8 students to feel comfortable in their new school. A group of about 45 grade 10 students got together over the summer and came up with different ways to connect with the grade 8s on orientation day. The grade 10s are in a grade 8 class and talk to them and help them with their school work. This program was introduced by our principal when we were in grade 9. In grade 10 he got us Tshirts to allow us to stand out. Anybody in the school can come up and talk to us at any time. We are a large support group.

Friendship Its not strange that you dont know me I barely know myself sometimes I have done things, that later Id wished I hadnt But couldnt stop from doing again It seems Im someone today when Im sad A different person than yesterday When I was happy Tomorrow Ill probably be someone else again Never the same But now I wont hurt or try to cause pain It used to bother me what others thought But since Ive come to realize that others are different They love me today, hate me tomorrow Life: What a plot until you sense What youre not Kelsey Campbell, Grade 7, Edgewater Elementary What Girls Want To Be What do girls want to be? Stars on TV Thats all teenage girls want to be They have expensive stuff and perfect hair They have perfect lives and do not care I need the perfect body, hair and legs Is most girls only thought We try to look like a celebrity because There is no boy that doesnt think theyre hot But do you know that they are fake To your mind thats what I hope you take I know it is hard to love yourself But if you do your beauty will be larger than any wealth You are beautiful! Thats what I want you to know Love yourself and just let all the bad things go Jade Belcher, Grade 7, Edgewater Elementary Sitting here by the door with the breeze Sitting here hearing the murmurs of those inside Sitting here thinking about compassion what is compassion? Its when you wave to the new student at school Its the seat you give up on the bus But its not what it is thats important Its what it does Its when it lifts the heart of the receiver And brings a smile to their face But its not what you do that is important Its that you do something Compassion simple and complex at the same time A smile or a wave leading to a community of happiness Alanah Lawlor, grade 9, New Westminster Secondary

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What BC Student Voice means to me

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hat a remarkable opportunity it is to be part of Student Voice. It is a great way of getting your voice heard and making a positive impact in your province. During my years at Student Voice, I have developed key leadership skills that will immensely help me later on in life. Just as importantly I have made life-long friends that I will continue to stay in contact with after I graduate. Never will I forget my experiences at Student Voice and I am grateful for the opportunity to meet some wonderful people. Darian Arman, grade 12 Handworth Secondary, North Vancouver

ver the last four years, I have been given the wonderful opportunity to come to Vancouver and take part in the BC Student Voice provincial meetings. I have met a lot of new people, many of which I still keep in contact with. I always have so much fun over the weekend that my younger brother has actually begun to anticipate how annoyed he is soon going to be with me because I cannot stop talking about it. For me, Student Voice has been an amazing, not to mention fun way to voice my opinion and the opinions of other students in my region about issues that have a direct effect on our education. It is amazing how I can see programs and other initiatives that are being instigated in our schools that I know we had an opinion on. Now that it is my last year, I look back on how much I have enjoyed and looked forward to these two weekends a year. Thank you for the awesome time! Karla Carreras, grade 12 Howe Sound Secondary, Squamish

C Student Voice is a voice for the students. We cast our voices to those above and use them as ropes to climb to the top. Those on top reach down to help us up. The power of our voices will conquer the divide between teacher and student. We will cast out our ropes to the other side. And even if all but one fails to be caught, we have succeeded. For now we have the beginnings of a bridge. Now we can build a future together. Carmen Reilly, grade 9 Argyle Secondary, North Vancouver his is my second time attending a Student Voice conference and I have really enjoyed my experience. It is incredible to be around so many terrific student leaders. Through discussion with the other students from other regions, Ive enjoyed hearing about leadership groups and programs they run in their school or region. As a very involved student within my own school, I enjoyed hearing how other students improve their schools and how I may be able to apply their ideas to my school. Probably the greatest idea Ive come away with from the Student Voice meeting is the idea of a District Student Advisory Council. Other school districts already have student advisories in place and I hope to be able to implement on in my school district. I would like to thank Student Voice for allowing me this opportunity. Bennett Light, grade 12 W.L. Seaton Secondary, Vernon

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he wind whips her face and the tiny hairs dance on her neck. She hears the clatter of her buggy on the cold side walk and the rustle of the leaves. Walking all night has left her out of breath. She sees a vacant bench under a willow tree. The cold wood is unwelcoming and she feels the stares of passers-by. She bundles herself up in her hands and watches the people in the park. She knows she is out of place with her dirty hair tucked under the moth-eaten toque and her tiny white fingers emerging from her childrens gloves. She remembers life hasnt always been this way. Once, her eyes were full of fire and intensity. Her bones didnt poke out of her clothing. She never worried about where to sleep or when she would eat. Life wasnt suppose to be this way. After catching her breath she gathers her things cans, a tiny blanket and an old picture of the person she really is. Walking through the park, her buggy clanks on the sidewalk and she wishes people realized her life wasnt suppose to be this way. Kjerstin Whiteley, grade 12 Thomas Haney Secondary

handi, Mother Theresa and all the greats we recall. They followed their hearts and fought for what they believed in. We are told that they were people like us, who rose to the occasion. We are told that we too could make a difference. After all, we can do no great things, only small things with great love. But how can we ever become as selfless as those great figures? Keep dreaming we tell ourselves. Doubt fills our minds. Determination must be created, not conjured out of thin air. Our hearts burn for a cause, but our minds oppose us. How and where do I start? Face it, youll never be remembered as someone who cared. Itll never be a reality. Listen to your mind, and youre doomed. Youll barely help yourself. Listen to your heart and maybe hope will sprout. Keep your dream, your hopes, your enthusiasm, but never ever give up. Someday maybe the world will honor your name. Or maybe your goal will change and you will find happiness, but dont doubt what you can do. You will go far. Rachel Hart, grade 10 New Westminster Secondary

riting is a way to express how you feel on certain issues and topics. Im here today at a Student Voice meeting, not only writing about how I feel but discussing important topics and issues with a group of peers. Its amazing to see all the vibrant, young, intelligent faces that will soon step out the door to the real world with all this knowledge and power. Power to change themselves, friends, family and the world. Every person in this room has the ability to make a positive effect and difference on the world and I feel privileged to be able to meet and mingle with these leaders of tomorrow. I was thinking it would be interesting for this same group of people to meet in another 10 or 15 years and talk about issues in the world. Were all bright and intelligent people who will give something back to the world that gives to us everyday. Chantelle Pierson, grade 11 Kalamalka Secondary, Vernon

BC Student Voice is published on occasion to celebrate the success of BC Student Voice through the assistance of the BC Principals & Vice-Principals Association
For information write: BC Student Voice, #200-525 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver V5Z 1K9 or call 604-689-3399 or email: [email protected]

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