“I’m from Gatineau, Quebec. Before Northwood, my life was amazing, but it got even better when I came here. Northwood really opened a lot of doors for me, not just hockey-wise, but school-wise as well. The fun here is hard to explain. You really have to live it to believe it. It’s a really special culture, and this place brought me a lot of joy and happiness.
“One moment at Northwood that really stuck with me was playing in the Spring Concert. That was a big moment for me because I had to face stage fright. It was also about presenting what we had been working on all year. Having teachers who believed in us made it even more meaningful, and it was really fun.
“I think I’ve changed a lot since coming to Northwood. I’ve become a better person. I’ve learned about integrity, and I try to stick to the five core values. That’s helped me push myself to do things the right way and always try to become better.
“What matters most to me right now is the brotherhood here. The people around me, the teachers, and the community are what make this place special. I really love this place.
“A small detail about me that most people don’t know is that I can learn new skills really quickly. I can usually learn something in under an hour, whether it’s juggling or even trying a backflip. If someone challenges me, I’ll try it, as long as it’s actually possible.
“One mindset I live by is, ‘stop looking at the mountain. Look at the steps in front of you.’ We overthink a lot in life, but sometimes you just need to take the first step. Just get out of bed. If there’s too much homework, just start doing it instead of overthinking everything.
“If I could talk to my younger self before coming to Northwood, I’d say to have fun. Time goes by really fast. And if I had advice for new students, it would be to always say yes. Say yes to opportunities, say yes when people ask you to do something, and learn from everyone around you. Always say yes.”
As told to Jacob Slagel. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
